Head of Medical Affairs
$310k - $420k+ Two annual cash bonuses
Expert
PharmD, PhD, MD
South San Francisco, CA, USA
HybridOn-site at least four days per week; travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 25%.
Biology & Biotech
About the job
Requirements
- An MD, MD/PhD, PharmD, or PhD in a relevant scientific or clinical discipline is required.
- At least 10 years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience, including at least 5 years of leadership in medical affairs; prior clinical practice experience is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading or building medical affairs functions in a launch setting, including oversight of medical communications.
- Deep expertise launching first-in-disease therapies for rare genetic diseases, including orphan drug dynamics, small addressable markets, patient finding, and advocacy engagement.
- Ability to design strategies around the patient journey and experience.
- Ability to comprehend complex clinical data, mechanism of action, and endpoints, and translate them into clear, compelling, compliant medical affairs strategy.
- Experience operating in the US health care system; knowledge of global or international markets is preferred.
- Strong understanding of health care systems, especially the US system, compliance guidelines, and the diagnostic and regulatory landscape unique to rare diseases.
- Ability to work across multiple disciplinary experts to achieve shared launch milestones.
- Willingness to work onsite at least four days a week.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 25%.
Responsibilities
- Lead, develop, and execute the global medical affairs strategy in alignment with Clinical, Regulatory, and Commercial priorities.
- Serve as the Medical Affairs lead on the cross-functional launch team.
- Build core Medical Affairs capabilities to support the launch, including medical communications, a field medical team, and post-marketing support functions as needed.
- Establish and oversee external Medical Communications and Medical Information functions, including leading publication planning and execution, developing standard response letters and global FAQs, and building infrastructure to handle unsolicited medical inquiries post-launch.
- Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with global leading Key Opinion Leaders, clinical investigators, and expert centers in the rare disease space.
- Understand scientific interests and gaps, and design and execute medical education initiatives, advisory boards, and scientific exchange programs.
- Lead development of the scientific messaging platform, publication strategy, and scientific communication plans.
- Partner with Commercial colleagues to develop and implement initiatives aimed at reducing the diagnostic journey, including physician education, screening initiatives, genetic testing efforts, and partnerships with diagnostic specialists and laboratories.
- Partner closely with rare disease patient advocacy organizations to embed the patient voice in medical strategy.
- Oversee early access programs, investigator-sponsored research, and real-world evidence initiatives to support the full product lifecycle.
- Design and execute post-marketing requirements and commitments while establishing medical information capabilities and standard response documents.
- Collaborate cross-functionally on data interpretation and label optimization.
- Ensure all Medical Affairs activities comply with applicable regulations, industry codes, and internal policies.
- Build and lead the medical affairs function, including hiring and leading field medical and medical information teams.
Desired Qualifications
- Prior experience in clinical practice.
- Knowledge of global or international markets.
About the company
Calico Labs conducts research to understand aging biology and develops treatments for age-related diseases in the biopharmaceutical space. It uses basic and translational science with advanced technologies and collaborations with universities and other pharma companies to study aging mechanisms and translate discoveries into therapies. Its main value comes from partnerships, shared intellectual property, and co-development of new therapies funded by grants and research contracts, rather than selling products directly from its own labs. The goal is to slow or prevent diseases linked to aging by turning biological insights into real-world therapies, leveraging a network of researchers and industry partners to accelerate progress.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$2M
Headquarters
South San Francisco, California
Founded
2013
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- FDA granted fosigotifator Breakthrough Therapy Designation on June 23, 2026.
- Calico’s clinical-trials page lists Phase 2 ABBV-CLS-628 and Phase 1b/2 fosigotifator.
- Philip Kym joined as Head of Drug Discovery, and Calico posted peptide openings.
What critics are saying
- AbbVie ended its alliance in November 2025, cutting roughly 100 jobs.
- AbbVie’s exit leaves Calico’s small-molecule engine exposed before Nexo delivers candidates.
- If Nexo and fosigotifator fail, Calico stays a science project dependent on Alphabet.
What makes Calico Labs unique
- Alphabet backs Calico, giving it patient capital for decade-long aging programs.
- Calico’s May 21, 2026 Nexo deal targets hard-to-drug aging biology with small molecules.
- Broad Institute collaboration runs through September 2029, sustaining neurodegeneration and discovery work.
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Benefits
- Performance Bonus
- Professional Development Budget