Development Physician (Medical Director) - Oncology

Astellas Pharma; Little Cawthorpe; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company in the UK is seeking a Development Physician (Medical Director) to oversee clinical trials and ensure safety monitoring. In this permanent full-time role, you will work closely with clinical teams to guide important studies while maintaining a high ethical standard. You will benefit from a hybrid working model that prioritizes work-life balance, requiring minimal office time. Ideal candidates must have extensive experience in clinical trial design and execution, strong communication skills, and relevance in multi-cultural environments.

Qualifications

• Experience in clinical trial design and execution within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Able to work in global teams and remote environments.
• High level of scientific integrity and ethical standards.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Medical Monitor for safety monitoring during clinical studies.
• Partner with Development Scientists for study-related documents.
• Ensure efficient execution of clinical trials and interpretation of data.
• Lead scientific training sessions for team members and external stakeholders.
• Position is permanent full-time.

Skills

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Cultural awareness

Scientific integrity

Education

MD or MD/PhD or equivalent

Job description

Overview

As the Development Physician (Medical Director) you will be a core member of the clinical team, responsible for the design and execution of clinical trials, whilst serving as a Medical Monitor with oversight of safety monitoring and documentation. This role supports efficient trial execution and high‑quality data collection to guide strategic decisions, contributing to clinical development initiatives, and providing scientific and medical training to internal and external stakeholders. This role reports to the Global Medical Portfolio Lead for Late Oncology and is located in Bourne, UK.

Hybrid Working

Astellas recognises the importance of work/life balance and offers a hybrid working solution, allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. Role requires a blend of home and a minimum of 1 day per quarter in the local office. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Medical Monitor with responsibility for safety monitoring on clinical studies, generating safety related documents (e.g., medical monitoring reports) and collaborating closely with the safety officer on safety narratives, investigator letters, and other safety documentation for site‑reported safety events.
• Partner with Development Scientists responsible for the medical aspects of all study‑related documents, including clinical study protocol, informed consent forms, clinical database, safety committee charters and clinical study reports.
• Work with Development Scientists and Clinical Operation Leads to ensure efficient and streamlined execution of clinical trials and acquisition and interpretation of high‑quality clinical data to inform program‑level decision making and overall development strategies.
• Support functional‑level clinical development related initiatives as needed and lead and/or participate in scientific and medical training to other team members and external clients, investigators, and other site staff as it pertains to assigned studies.
• Position is permanent full‑time.

Required Experience

• Experience working within the pharmaceutical industry specifically in clinical trial design and execution in a biopharmaceutical development organisation or a balance of experience at an academic institution and a pharmaceutical company.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience working in global teams and a global matrixed, remote working environment.
• Aware of cultural diversity and how to influence and manage in a multi‑cultural organisation.
• Highest level of scientific integrity and impeccable work ethics.

Preferred Experience

• Board certified in Oncology or Oncology‑related specialty.
• Experience in solid tumours, preferably Gastro‑Intestinal, Thoracic or Genito‑Urinary.
• Experience in all phases of Clinical Development and interfaces with Drug Discovery through Marketing.
• Direct experience leading global regulatory marketing authorisation submissions and defense of those submissions.

Education

• MD or MD/PhD, or equivalent.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.