[Hiring] Executive Director - Clinical Development @Lilly

Role Description

The Executive/Senior Director, Clinical Development will play a leadership role in advancing Centessa’s clinical programs in CNS indications. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Clinical Development, this role will provide leadership for the strategic and operational execution of the company’s early-stage Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist Programs, which includes targets in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.

This position is ideal for those seeking:

• The opportunity to lead an early-stage asset with the potential to transform standard of care for individuals living with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
• A role within a lean, fast-paced, growth-oriented biotech environment requiring deep CNS expertise.
• A collaborative, science-driven, and patient-focused culture.
• A remote working environment with high visibility and strategic impact.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a clinical leader for assigned early-stage program(s), providing medical and scientific ownership, while maintaining readiness to support later-stage or emerging programs.
• Author and oversee clinical study protocols for orexin receptor agonists, ensuring scientific rigor, operational feasibility, and alignment with regulatory expectations.
• Contribute to and help develop integrated clinical development plans (CDPs) spanning preclinical translation through late-stage trials, enabling efficient advancement of multiple candidate molecules.
• Collaborate closely with Clinical Operations to meet quality, timeline, and budget expectations across all studies within the assigned program(s) and other CNS programs as needed.
• Provide real-time medical and scientific guidance for ongoing clinical trials, including data review, safety oversight, and acceleration of development programs.
• Partner with our translational groups to support biomarker strategy, dose selection, and evaluation of indication expansion opportunities.
• Communicate clinical and scientific updates clearly across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the preparation, authorship, and review of clinical sections of regulatory submissions, including INDs, protocol amendments, briefing documents, annual reports, safety reports, and clinical study reports.
• Ensure robust oversight of safety monitoring and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), pharmacovigilance standards, internal SOPs, and quality requirements.
• Support regulatory interactions with global health authorities, including preparation for key meetings, responses, and ongoing communication.
• Provide oversight of study integrity, safety, efficacy data, and risk-benefit assessments across assigned programs.
• Ensure that clinical insights and external evidence are synthesized and used to guide strategic decision-making across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• MD in neurology or psychiatry (board certification preferred).
• Clinical and/or academic experience in neurological disorders; and 8+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Translational medicine expertise highly desired.
• Experience in early clinical development through late stage with successful design and implementation of proof-of-concept studies; submission experience in the neuroscience area is desired.
• Knowledge of US and EU regulatory guidelines and experience in interactions with regulatory agencies.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, with a passion for problem solving and effective cross-functional stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced dynamic matrix environment.
• An entrepreneurial spirit with high degree of energy and personal accountability.

Work Location

The Executive / Senior Director, Clinical Development role is a remote position based in the US, with approximately 15% travel.

Benefits

• Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits.
• Flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts).
• Life insurance and death benefits.
• Certain time off and leave of absence benefits.
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).