Blackbird - Director/Senior Director, Clinical Development Strategy and Operations

About Raven:
We are Raven, RA Capital’s healthcare incubator. From discovery to delivery, whether we incubate, accelerate or rejuvenate, Raven’s goal is to turn scientific breakthroughs into transformative therapies and get them quickly, safely and efficiently to the patients that need them most. Raven’s experienced scientists, operators, and healthcare innovators have deep sector expertise across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and services. They have brought hundreds of therapeutics into development, managed hospital systems, optimized clinical trials and navigated payor and regulatory systems to deliver patient impact - and they are ready to work with you.

About RA Capital:
Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital's knowledge engine is guided by our Tech Atlas internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital’s company building team, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 150 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management.

About Blackbird:

Blackbird is an integrated development team comprised of Clinical Development, Operations, Regulatory and Patient Engagement within Raven Venture Capital, part of RA Capital Management.  Blackbird’s mission to transform clinical trial planning and execution, resulting in lower costs and expedited timelines across RA Capital’s portfolio. Blackbird provides companies with strategic, data-driven clinical study design assessments, operational optimizations, and innovative best practices to minimize inefficiencies and prevent the need to “reinvent the wheel” at each portfolio company.

About the Role:

The Director/Senior Director, Development Strategy and Operations will play a key role in supporting Blackbird’s mission to drive innovation and operational excellence in clinical trial execution. Reporting to the VP of Development Strategy and Operations, this individual will take a strategic and hands-on approach to improving trial operations across RA Capital’s portfolio, identifying and implementing best practices, and supporting the execution of clinical programs at various stages of development.

This role will also include serving as a Clinical Development Operations Lead for RAVen new companies as needed, helping to build strong operational foundations and guide early development strategy. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who is comfortable working at all levels—from the operational details of trial execution to high-level strategic interactions with Boards and C-suite executives. They must also be highly skilled at influencing without direct authority, effectively guiding portfolio companies and stakeholders while respecting their autonomy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Clinical Operations & Development Support
• Provide operational insights and recommendations to improve trial efficiency and execution across the RA portfolio.
• Support portfolio companies by offering guidance on clinical operations strategy, vendor selection, trial design considerations, and executional best practices.
• Contribute to the refinement and implementation of data-driven approaches to optimize study design, site engagement, and patient enrollment strategies.
• Stay abreast of emerging clinical trial methodologies and technologies, evaluating their potential impact on trial execution.
• Serve as Clinical Development Operations Lead for select RAVen new companies, helping to establish operational strategy and executional frameworks in early-stage development.
• Portfolio & Cross-Company Collaboration
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and portfolio company teams to facilitate knowledge sharing and promote operational excellence.
• Support companies in navigating key clinical development challenges by providing strategic input and operational expertise in a consultative capacity.
• Maintain strong relationships with portfolio companies, offering insights and support as needed while respecting each company’s autonomy.
• Engage with stakeholders at all levels, from study teams to executive leadership and Boards of Directors, to drive alignment on development strategy and execution.
• Influence without direct authority by leveraging expertise, strategic insights, and strong relationship-building skills to guide decision-making acro