Executive Medical Director
$260k - $400k+ Discretionary annual bonus + Restricted stock units
Expert
MD
Boston, MA, USA
HybridHybrid role requiring Boston office attendance in coordination with department and business needs.
Biology & Biotech
About the job
Requirements
- A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or equivalent international medical degree is required.
- A minimum of 8–10 years of clinical development experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including experience leading global clinical development programs and regulatory interactions.
- Demonstrated success serving as a senior medical leader within a Clinical Development organization, including mentoring and developing other physicians and providing technical leadership across multiple studies or programs.
- A demonstrated track record of successful clinical trial design, medical oversight, and execution across Phase 1 through Phase 3 clinical studies, including registrational or pivotal trials.
- Proven experience leading clinical components of global regulatory filings (IND/NDA/BLA/MAA) and direct participation in formal interactions with regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMA, and PMDA.
- Deep expertise in GCP/ICH guidelines, pharmacovigilance reporting standards, ethical conduct of clinical trials, and global clinical regulatory policies.
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and external stakeholders and serve as a trusted subject matter expert and mentor within a Clinical Development organization.
- Ability to balance scientific rigor, patient needs, regulatory requirements, and business priorities within a fast-paced biotech environment.
- Written, verbal, and presentation communication skills sufficient to convey complex medical and scientific concepts clearly to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as necessary, up to 20%.
- Willingness and ability to be in the Boston office in coordination with department and business needs.
Responsibilities
- Serve as Clinical or Medical Lead across multiple complex clinical studies and development programs, ensuring high-quality trial execution, patient safety, and scientific integrity.
- Act as a senior clinical development resource, providing scientific and operational guidance to fellow Medical Directors and study teams.
- Lead the creation, optimization, and execution of comprehensive Clinical Development Plans and study protocols for new indications, lifecycle management activities, and future pipeline opportunities.
- Provide strategic medical and scientific leadership across cross-functional matrix teams, including Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, Data Management, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Translational Research, and Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance.
- Provide physician oversight for medical monitoring activities, including subject eligibility evaluation, protocol deviations, endpoint assessment, and emerging clinical issues.
- Provide clinical safety leadership across assigned programs, including review of aggregate safety data, serious adverse event evaluation, and benefit-risk evaluation, collaborating with Pharmacovigilance to support patient safety.
- Lead the clinical authoring, review, and defense of key regulatory documents, including INDs, Briefing Packages, Investigator’s Brochures, Clinical Study Reports, and NDA/BLA/MAA clinical modules; serve as a primary clinical representative in meetings with the FDA, EMA, and other global health authorities.
- Direct interpretation, synthesis, and reporting of complex clinical data from ongoing and completed trials, contributing to peer-reviewed publications, congress presentations, and internal executive briefings.
- Support less-experienced team members in developing data interpretation and communication skills.
- Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with external Key Opinion Leaders, investigators, academic collaborators, and study sites; support and participate in Scientific Advisory Boards and Data Safety Monitoring Boards.
- Mentor, guide, and support Medical Directors and cross-functional study team members, sharing clinical development expertise and serving as a resource for protocol design, medical monitoring, regulatory strategy, and study execution.
- Help strengthen organizational capabilities through knowledge sharing, best practices, and informal leadership across the Clinical Development function.
Desired Qualifications
- Board certification in Endocrinology, Pediatrics, Genetics, Internal Medicine, or a related specialty.
- Experience in rare disease, endocrinology, obesity, metabolic disease, pediatrics, or related therapeutic areas.
About the company
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals develops and commercializes therapies for rare neuroendocrine and genetic obesity disorders. Its lead drug, IMCIVREE (setmelanotide), is an MC4R agonist that helps restore signaling in the melanocortin-4 pathway to regulate hunger and energy use. The company earns revenue primarily from global IMCIVREE sales and reinvests in research, development, and commercialization. Its aim is to broaden MC4R-targeted treatments for underserved patients and advance additional candidates like bivamelagon and RM-718 through clinical development.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
2008
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Second-quarter 2026 product revenue hit $71.3 million, up 19% sequentially.
- More than 400 acquired-HO start forms came from roughly 300 prescribers by June 30, 2026.
- AJ Joshi became chief medical officer on August 17, 2026, strengthening late-stage execution.
What critics are saying
- Rhythm depends on IMCIVREE; August 2026 revenue still came entirely from one drug.
- RM-718 and bivamelagon must succeed after 2026 data; failure leaves no next growth engine.
- Hypothalamic obesity launches in Japan and Europe need reimbursement speed; delays hit 2027 demand.
What makes Rhythm Pharmaceuticals unique
- Rhythm owns the only approved MC4R franchise for rare genetic obesity, built since 2008.
- IMCIVREE won Japan MHLW approval on August 24, 2026, extending global rare-obesity reach.
- Rhythm published a Bardet-Biedl diagnostic algorithm, improving patient identification for prescribers.
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Benefits
- Hybrid Work Options
- Performance Bonus
- Company Equity