Executive Medical Director, (Retina Program)

4D Molecular Therapeutics; United States; Remote; USD 350,000 - 398,000; Full time

Job summary

The Executive Medical Director at 4D Molecular Therapeutics will report to the CMO and oversee the design, execution, and analysis of clinical trials in the ophthalmology therapeutic area.

You will lead cross-functional study teams, ensure safety and data integrity, and guide regulatory and biomarker strategies to support program decisions.

Qualifications

• Medical Degree (M.D.) with ophthalmology residency; retina subspecialty a plus.
• 10+ years of clinical ophthalmology research in biopharma.
• Experience leading Phase 1 retina trials and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, execution, and analysis of Phase 1 retina trials in ophthalmology.
• Serve as medical monitor and provide data interpretation and safety oversight.
• Coordinate cross-functional study teams to deliver high-quality trial readouts.
• Contribute to regulatory submissions (INDs) and early regulatory interactions.
• Develop biomarker strategies and support regulatory strategy for programs.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Ophthalmology research

IND submissions

Regulatory affairs

Data interpretation

Education

Medical Degree (M.D.)

Ophthalmology residency

Job description

Attention recruitment agencies: All agency inquiries are vetted through 4DMT’s internal Talent Acquisition team. No unsolicited resumes will be accepted. The 4DMT Talent Acquisition team must expressly engage agencies on any requisition. Agencies contacting hiring managers directly will not be tolerated, and doing so may impact your ability to work with 4DMT in the future.

4DMT is a leading late-stage biotechnology company advancing durable and disease-targeted therapeutics with potential to transform treatment paradigms and provide unprecedented benefits to patients. The Company’s lead product candidate 4D-150 is designed to be a backbone therapy forming the foundation of treatment of blinding retinal vascular diseases by providing multi-year sustained delivery of anti-VEGF (aflibercept and anti-VEGF-C) with a single, safe, intravitreal injection, which substantially reduces the treatment burden associated with current bolus injections. The Company’s lead indication for 4D-150 is wet age-related macular degeneration, which is currently in Phase 3 development, and second indication is diabetic macular edema. The Company’s second product candidate is 4D-710, which is the first known genetic medicine to demonstrate successful delivery and expression of the CFTR transgene in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis after aerosol delivery

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Executive Medical Director will report to the CMO, with a dotted-line relationship to the SVP of Research & Early-Stage Product Development, and will be responsible for the design, execution, and analysis of clinical trials in the ophthalmology therapeutic area

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Clinical Development Leadership
  • Serve as the clinical lead for Phase 1 retina clinical trials, including study design, protocol development, dose escalation strategy, and safety oversight
  • Maintain accountability for study execution, data interpretation, and clinical readouts, including early signal detection and go/no-go recommendations
  • Serve as medical monitor for assigned studies, ensuring subject safety and data integrity
  • Lead cross-functional study teams (clinical operations, clinical science, biometrics, regulatory, safety, CMC, etc.) to ensure high-quality and timely trial delivery
  • Provides clinical leadership to multidisciplinary study execution teams drawn from clinical operations, clinical science, biometrics, regulatory affairs, CMC, pharm/tox, drug safety, commercial, and alliance partners
  • Has lead accountability on the study teams for delivery of study protocols, study conduct, and study readouts
• Biomarker & Translational Strategy
  • Lead development and implementation of biomarker strategies for GA and broader retina programs
  • Collaborate with research and translational teams to identify, validate, and integrate imaging, molecular, and functional biomarkers into early-phase trials
  • Ensure biomarkers are aligned with mechanism of action, dose selection, and clinical endpoints to support decision-making and regulatory strategy
• Regulatory & Clinical Documentation
  • Serve as the primary clinical author of development plans, protocols, IBs, INDs, CSRs, and regulatory responses
  • Lead clinical contributions to IND submissions and early regulatory interactions, including Health Authority meetings for Phase 1 programs
  • Ensure accuracy, scientific rigor, and regulatory compliance of all clinical documents
• External Scientific Leadership
• Organizes and leads scientific advisory board meetings. Interacts with external experts and stakeholders to gather input.
• Works with the research organization and the portfolio management team to identify and support new project opportunities.
• Collaborates to identify program risks, and to create and implement mitigation strategies
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Medical Degree (M.D.), other degrees considered with relevant experience
• Residency training in Ophthalmology with a preference for subspecialty training in retina
• Board certification/retina fellowship training are a plus

Experience:

• 10+ years of clinical ophthalmology research in the biopharmaceutical industry
• Experience with medical monitoring and oversight of Phase 1 retina clinical trials
• Experience with gene therapy clinical studies
  • Experience in other phases (Phase 2, 3) of clinical research.
  • Experience with NDA/BLA/MAA submission planning and execution
  • Experience in data analysis, data interpretation, and medical writing

Other Qualifications/Skills:

• Knowledge of ICH-GCP and FDA regulatory guidelines.
• Knowledge of international regulatory guidelines
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking

Travel: up to 20%

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Physical Activity - Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling. Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Physical Requirements - Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Working Conditions - The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as in typical office or administrative work).

Base salary compensation range: $350,000 - 398,000

Please note, the base salary compensation range and actual salary offered to the final candidate depends on various factors: candidate’s geographical location, relevant work experience, skills, and years of experience.

4DMT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities