Senior Medical Director (Neurology & Early Development) (South San Francisco)

Medical Director / Senior Medical Director (Neurology & Early Development) Location: South San Francisco, CA (Onsite) Category: Clinical Sciences / R&D Our client is seeking a Medical Director or Senior Medical Director to lead their Neurological and Neuropsychiatric clinical portfolio. This is a high-impact role reporting directly to the Head of Clinical Sciences. You will be the clinical architect for programs moving from preclinical discovery into human Proof-of-Mechanism and Proof-of-Concept trials.

The Impact You Will Make Strategic Leadership: Lead high-performing cross-functional teams to translate preclinical data into robust human clinical strategies and biomarker development. Experimental Medicine: Design and execute innovative Phase 0 through Phase 2 studies to demonstrate proof-of-mechanism for novel targets in the neuropsychiatric space. Collaborative Discovery: Act as a key interface between research and drug development, working closely with discovery scientists and external partners to shape disease indication strategies.

Clinical Expertise: Utilize your medical background to guide the development of preclinical models and ensure they align with human clinical needs. Regulatory & Scientific Content: Author and provide expert medical oversight for protocols, Investigator Brochures (IBs), Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), and regulatory submissions. Who You Are Physician-Scientist: You hold an M.D. or an M.D./Ph.D. with a deep scientific mindset.

Neurology Expert: Board certification or eligibility in Neurology or Pediatric Neurology is highly preferred. Proven Industry Veteran: You have 5+ years of translational or clinical drug development experience within biotech, pharma, or a top-tier academic research setting. Early Phase Specialist: You possess direct experience or a deep working knowledge of early clinical trial methodology (Phase 0, 1, and 2).

Collaborative Leader: You excel in a matrixed environment, possessing the ability to lead through influence and bring out the best in cross-functional teams. Why This Role? This is not a traditional late-stage medical monitoring role.

This is a position for a scientist-clinician who wants to be at the forefront of Early Development (Translational) , working on novel targets that have the potential to redefine how we treat neurological diseases.