Vice President of Clinical Development

Menlo Park, CA, United States

About Us:

Oruka Therapeutics is a newly launched company whose mission is to restore skin health. We were founded by well-known investors at Fairmount Funds, in the same model as Apogee Therapeutics and Spyre Therapeutics which together have raised $700M+ over the past two years and have made successful public debuts. We have a lead program that we expect will be in the clinic in 2025 and could offer transformative efficacy for a disease that affects millions of people. As we build our core team, we're seeking a Program Management leader who is not just looking for a job, but an opportunity to be part of something bigger. Someone who is passionate about making a difference and eager to contribute to establishing an engaged, inclusive, and positive company culture.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated hands-on physician leader to serve as Vice President, Clinical Development who will lead a portfolio of the company’s clinical studies for current and future indications.

This position will play a key role in driving the execution of studies from indication selection, protocol concept, design, and conduct, to final report including interpretation of clinical data, and preparation of documents for filing with regulatory agencies.

As a subject matter expert, the incumbent will work with key stakeholders on the development of clinical protocols to support the company’s product strategy, data collection and management, and final reports development in compliance with appropriate standard operating procedures, and regulatory and medical standards. This position interacts with various groups within the company and externally to the business to ensure alignment and oversee clinical research activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide clinical leadership of trial execution from first-in-human through registrational studies.

Provide clinical leadership in the conduct of clinical activities including recruitment, data review, analysis, and reporting that conforms to the highest ethical, safety and quality standards and in compliance with GCP and regulatory standards.

Attend and present at investigator meetings and site initiation visits as applicable.

Provide clinical leadership in the preparation of Clinical Study Reports, Annual Reports and other safety reports, Health Authority pre-meeting packages, Investigator Brochures and other periodic clinical reports.

Collaborating with cross-functional groups to provide input in publication strategy including active participation in authoring, preparation, and review of manuscripts, conference abstracts and presentations, and other external presentations of clinical data.

Partner with R&D to provide clinical perspective to target selection and development strategy. Offer clinical input/direction on early-stage, pre-clinical projects.

Remain current on the therapeutic landscape in the relevant therapeutic areas through review of the scientific literature, interactions with key opinion leaders and other external experts, and attendance at relevant scientific meetings, in order to provide input and guidance for the strategic direction of the company.

Partner with Medical Affairs on the overall strategy for Target Product Profiles, clinical trial design, and ensuring dissemination of medically accurate information related to the company’s product candidates.

Qualifications:

MD degree or equivalent is required. Board Certification or Board Eligibility in internal medicine, subspecialty training or experience in drug development in dermatology medicine is highly desirable.

10 years or more of experience in pharmaceutical clinical drug development in industry including protocol development; study initiation and follow-up; IRB/EC submissions and interactions; review of clinical study data listings; review and/or preparation of clinical study reports.

The candidate should have experience with U.S. and European Health Authority interactions and have experience with submissions of clinical regulatory documents.

A clinical background that includes experience in dermatology is a plus.

Exceptional execution, and implementation of practices and initiatives to ensure timelines and budgets are met.

The ability to build and maintain excellent interpersonal relationships, both within and outside the company, at all levels.

A hands-on, entrepreneurial style with a sense of urgency, a bias toward action, comfort with calculated risk, and the ability to analyze situations rapidly and make prudent decisions.

Engaged, hands-on, independent, and goal-oriented mentality; willingness to work in a highly dynamic work environment and embrace uncertainty.

Skills and Abilities

Highly dynamic work environment and embrace uncertainty.

Ability to multi-task and willingness to flexibly contribute simultaneously in multiple facets of drug development; willingness to learn new therapeutic areas.

Self-motivated; strong commitment to follow up on tasks and action items; organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills; risk identification and management; creative and innovative thinking all highly desirable.

Strong ability to work within and lead and motivate a cross-functional matrixed team.

The requisite scientific acumen and communication skills to influence and collaborate with key scientific, regulatory, and business leaders.

Sound strategic, clinical, technical, operational, and ethical judgment with uncompromising integrity.

What We Offer:

A chance to be part of a vibrant startup culture where your work can directly impact bringing new medicines to patients.

Competitive salary and benefits package.

Flexible work arrangements – opportunity for hybrid work between home and our Boston Area office.

A supportive and inclusive team environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work.

Opportunities for professional growth and development.

We're looking forward to hearing how you can contribute to our team and mission. Join us in shaping the future of our company and making a real impact every day.

Are you currently fully eligible to work in the United States of America?

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Do you now or will you, at a future date, require visa sponsorship to work in the United States?

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If not located in the San Francisco Bay Area, are you open to relocation?

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