Chief Development Officer

About the role

You will own development strategy across the Lindus Therapeutics portfolio. We are building out a first tranche of 4 to 5 in-licensed assets, with trials starting in 2027. You report to our CEO, lead the Lindus Tx team, manage our VP Corporate Development and asset leads, and sit on the company executive committee.

You are the senior development voice on every asset: you determine whether and how each can be advanced quickly and capital-efficiently to a Phase 2 proof-of-concept readout that an acquirer will pay for. You set the development strategy, design the clinical studies, define the target product profile, and drive the regulatory path behind each program.

Responsibilities

• Owning clinical development strategy across the LTx portfolio, determining how each asset reaches a value-generating Phase 2 proof-of-concept readout quickly and capital-efficiently.
• Designing Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies, including FIH and dose-escalation strategy, endpoints, patient population, biomarker approach and go/no-go criteria, and building the regulatory and CMC plans behind them.
• Leading scientific and clinical diligence on shortlisted assets alongside the deal team and external experts, and making the developability call.
• Building and directing a virtual development organization: recruiting and managing fractional and consultant CMC, regulatory, pharmacology and clinical talent, and the development lead on each program.
• Designing each program backward from the exit, ensuring the Phase 2 clinical and CMC package is built for what a strategic or specialty pharma buyer will pay for.
• Partnering with the VP Corporate Development on asset evaluation, deal structuring and negotiation, providing the development view into diligence.
• Leading regulatory interactions with the FDA, EMA and other agencies, including pre-IND meetings, Type B interactions and scientific advice procedures.
• Representing LTx's development thesis with investors, partners and the board.

Requirements

A senior clinical development leader. You have led clinical programs through Phase 1 and Phase 2 at pharma or biotech companies across more than one non-oncology therapeutic area. You've designed Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies, and you understand what it takes to generate a clean, interpretable signal in each. You've engaged with the FDA and ideally the EMA on IND strategy and early development interactions, and you know what the agencies will want to see at each stage.

You have experience with in-licensed and partnered assets. You have experience developing assets that originated from 3rd parties can build a development plan around it, based on gaps in the dataset and what a future partner or acquirer might want to see. You design around the exit. You understand what a partner needs to see in the clinical and regulatory package at Phase 2 proof-of-concept, including the endpoints, the dose selection rationale and the biomarker strategy, and you build the program to get there without gold-plating it.

You have portfolio experience. You've led or overseen multiple programs simultaneously and are comfortable making hard prioritization calls between assets. Able to run lean in a biotech setting. You've delivered strong Phase 1 and Phase 2 data within tight constraints and you'd rather build development capability through a small core team and a network of specialists than a large internal department. A network to draw on. You can stand up regulatory, CMC, pharmacology and clinical capabilities as each asset needs them, bringing in the right people on the right terms. Comfortable with AI tools. You use them across research, planning and analysis, with a clear sense of where they help and where scientific judgment is needed.

Qualifications

• Experience leading clinical programs through Phase 1 and Phase 2 at pharma or biotech companies across more than one non-oncology therapeutic area.
• Experience designing Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies.
• Experience engaging with the FDA and EMA on IND strategy and early development interactions.
• Experience developing assets that originated from 3rd parties.
• Experience delivering strong Phase 1 and Phase 2 data within tight constraints.
• Experience using AI tools across research, planning and analysis.

Skills

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience with in-licensed and partnered assets.
• Ability to prioritize and make tough decisions.
• Experience with AI tools.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary plus meaningful equity, a $2,000 annual Learning & Development budget, health and wellbeing benefits, a $800 monthly employer contribution toward insurance for US team members (via TriNet PEO), a $40 monthly wellness allowance, and access to gym and retail discounts through Happl Culture & Connection.

Pay

$XXXX per year (to be determined)

Schedule

Full-time