Director/Medical Director, Medical Affairs

Lyell Immunopharma; South San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 260,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

A clinical-stage biotechnology company is seeking a Director/Medical Director to lead Medical Affairs strategy focused on oncology, utilizing an advanced degree and 6-10 years of related experience. The successful candidate will build relationships with external stakeholders and contribute to the preparation of future product approvals. This is a fully remote role offering a salary of $260,000 to $320,000 annually, plus comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Equity Incentive Plan

Subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) Plan with Company match

Paid time-off benefits

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or Pharm.D.) required.
• 6–10 years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with at least 4+ years in Medical Affairs.
• Strong background in publications and scientific communications.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical and scientific input into the design and execution of U.S. Medical Affairs plans.
• Build and sustain relationships with KOLs and advocacy groups.
• Lead or contribute to the development of medical narratives and educational materials.

Job description

Overview

Using living cells to treat – and sometimes even cure – cancer is one of the most dramatic advances in modern medicine. Patients with hematologic malignancies have been successfully treated with cell therapies. However, these profound results have not yet been achieved in patients with solid tumors, representing approximately 90% of all cancers. And for patients with hematologic malignancies, there is a need for next-generation cell therapies that can deliver increased response rates and longer duration of response. We are a clinical-stage company advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. Lyell’s product candidates are enhanced with novel technology designed to generate T cells that resist exhaustion and have qualities of durable stemness in order to drive durable tumor cytotoxicity and achieve consistent and long-lasting clinical response. We were founded by cell therapy pioneers whose decades of research elevated the broader understanding of T-cell biology and its interaction with cancer. In our quest to advance next-generation CAR T-cell therapies, we have built a fully integrated company capable of discovering new technologies, translating science into therapies, manufacturing cell therapy products, and clinically evaluating them in patients. Our culture is based on Science, Respect, Collaboration, and Courage and reflects who we are, the environment we create, and our mission\'s urgency. This is a fully remote role.

Position Summary

The Director / Medical Director, Medical Affairs will contribute to and help lead the execution of Lyell’s Medical Affairs strategy, ensuring alignment with clinical development, regulatory, and other cross-functional objectives. This role requires an advanced degree (M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or Pharm.D.) and strong scientific expertise in oncology or related fields. The successful candidate will serve as a credible medical/scientific voice with external stakeholders while guiding the development of medical initiatives, evidence generation, and scientific engagement. The role will ensure that insights from the medical and scientific community inform Lyell’s programs and will play a critical role in preparing for future product approvals and launches.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Leadership & Scientific Contribution

• Provide medical and scientific input into the design and execution of U.S. Medical Affairs plans for lymphoma and solid tumors.
• Guide or support study design, recruitment strategies, and protocol refinement in collaboration with Clinical Development.
• Gather and integrate clinical and scientific insights from the external community to shape Medical Affairs initiatives.
• Conduct and synthesize competitive intelligence to inform strategy, highlight differentiation, and anticipate shifts in the treatment landscape.

External Engagement

• Build and sustain relationships with KOLs, investigators, advocacy groups, cooperative groups, and professional societies.
• Represent Lyell at major congresses (ASH, ASCO, EHA, ICML), advisory boards, and other scientific forums.
• Incorporate insights from clinical practice, scientific advances, and competitor activity into Lyell’s medical planning.
• Serve as a trusted external voice for Lyell in medical and scientific exchange.

Medical Excellence

• Lead or contribute to the development of medical narratives, scientific platforms, publications, and educational materials.
• Draft, review, and/or approve medical and scientific content for compliance, accuracy, and relevance.
• Provide training to internal teams to ensure consistency of scientific messaging.

Compliance & Governance

• Participate in medical review committees and ensure compliance with FDA/ICH guidelines and Lyell’s governance standards.
• Contribute to authorship policies, steering committee charters, and publication planning.

Required Education & Experience

• M.D./D.O. (for Medical Director level) or PhD or Pharm.D. (for Director level).
• Oncology/hematology specialty or expertise preferred (not required).
• 6–10 years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with at least 4+ years in Medical Affairs.
• Experience in oncology preferred, cell therapy, immuno-oncology, or hematologic malignancies desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with study design, clinical development interface, and evidence generation.
• Strong background in publications, scientific communications, or external engagement.
• Familiarity with U.S. regulatory, compliance, and healthcare environment.

Lyell offers its employees a range of compensation and benefits. To assist you with your decision to apply for this role, the following information and links to our site highlight our competitive market position and support to our employees and their dependents.

The salary range for this position is $260,000 to $320,000 annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual bonus. The salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on Lyell’s compensation practices and an applicant’s qualifications and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in Lyell’s Equity Incentive Plan.

Our Employee Benefits program is extensive and includes subsidized medical, dental and vision plans from your first day of employment, FSA, Company provided Life and AD&D Insurance as well as STD and LTD Insurance, ESPP, a 401(k) Plan with Company match, mass transit commuter benefits, cell phone reimbursement and a range of supplemental benefits that you may choose to elect. Our paid time-off benefits currently include 18 days’ vacation, 9 day’s sick leave, 8 observed holidays as well as a floating holiday. We also have a summer and a winter office shutdown.

At Lyell, we believe that highest performing teams include people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences who respectfully challenge each other. We are committed to building an open, diverse and inclusive culture for all employees. Lyell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.