Chief Medical Officer

Company: Clinical-Stage Oncology Biotechnology Company
Location: San Diego, California
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

Brio has partnered with a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel, tumor-activated immunotherapies to recruit a Chief Medical Officer.

The CMO will provide enterprise medical and clinical development leadership across the portfolio, shaping program strategy from early clinical development through later-stage planning and regulatory advancement. This executive will translate emerging clinical and scientific evidence into clear portfolio decisions while building the capabilities required to advance multiple innovative oncology programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the company’s medical, clinical development, and translational strategy.
• Establish integrated clinical development plans aligned with scientific, regulatory, and corporate priorities.
• Provide medical leadership for oncology programs from first-in-human development through proof of concept and later-stage planning.
• Guide protocol design, dose escalation, dose optimization, patient selection, endpoints, and clinical-development decision criteria.
• Oversee medical monitoring, safety evaluation, benefit-risk assessment, and interpretation of clinical data.
• Translate emerging clinical results into actionable recommendations to advance the program and prioritize the portfolio.
• Lead clinical and medical contributions to INDs, briefing documents, regulatory submissions, and health-authority interactions.
• Partner closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biometrics, Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Research, CMC, and Business Development.
• Build relationships with investigators, key opinion leaders, scientific advisors, cooperative groups, and patient communities.
• Establish and chair appropriate clinical and medical governance forums.
• Recruit, lead, and develop a high-performing clinical and medical organization.
• Present clinical strategy, program risks, and development recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Provide medical and scientific leadership for business-development evaluations, partnerships, and due-diligence activities.
• Represent the company at scientific conferences, investor discussions, regulatory meetings, and other external forums.

Qualifications

• MD or MD/PhD with board certification or eligibility in medical oncology, hematology/oncology, or a closely related specialty.
• Significant clinical drug-development experience within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Executive leadership experience overseeing oncology clinical development programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated success advancing programs from early clinical development through meaningful regulatory or development milestones.
• Deep knowledge of oncology trial design, dose optimization, safety assessment, biomarkers, and benefit-risk evaluation.
• Experience with immuno-oncology, T-cell engagers, bispecific therapeutics, solid tumors, or precision oncology is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience leading interactions with the FDA and other global health authorities.
• Strong record of interpreting emerging clinical data and making evidence-based portfolio decisions.
• Experience building clinical development capabilities within an emerging or rapidly growing biotechnology company.
• Strong external relationships with oncology investigators, academic institutions, and scientific experts.
• Exceptional executive communication, organizational leadership, and cross-functional influence.
• Ability to work within a hybrid structure in San Diego and travel as needed.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Enterprise leadership: Shape the medical and clinical strategy for a growing oncology organization.
• Platform innovation: Guide the development of novel tumor-activated immunotherapies designed to improve therapeutic precision.
• Portfolio impact: Influence program investment, clinical priorities, and development decisions across multiple assets.
• Organizational growth: Build the medical and clinical capabilities required as additional programs enter the clinic.
• External visibility: Represent the company with investigators, regulators, partners, investors, and the broader oncology community.

Interested?

Submit your resume to Brio to learn more about the company, its oncology pipeline, and this executive opportunity. We will provide additional details on compensation, equity, benefits, and the full position description after an initial resume review.

Brio Resource Group partners with emerging and high-growth life sciences companies to recruit executives, functional leaders, and specialized professionals.