Medical Director, Oncology

Summit Strategic Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work in New Jersey

25% target annual cash bonus

Long-term incentive awards

Job summary

Summit Strategic Search is seeking a Medical Director to lead pivotal oncology trials from concept to patient. Based in Central New Jersey with a hybrid schedule, you will own the science, investigator relationships, and emerging data for registration-directed studies.

The role requires an MD with 3+ years in oncology (6+ for senior) and a proven track record as a Medical Officer for clinical trials, plus strong matrix‑leadership and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• MD (or equivalent) with board certification not required.
• At least 3 years direct oncology industry experience (6+ for Senior).
• Deep solid tumor oncology knowledge; antibody-drug conjugate or checkpoint inhibitors a plus.
• Experience as Medical Officer for a clinical trial.
• Strong ability to lead in a matrixed organization and communicate across levels.

Responsibilities

• Direct study design, protocol development, and execution for pivotal cancer studies as the accountable Medical Director.
• Contribute to the overall medical strategy of assigned clinical development program(s) and the broader product pipeline.
• Act as Study Lead and, when needed, represent the program or disease area internally and externally.
• Oversee patient safety and support signal detection in partnership with the Safety physician.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and plan publication and clinical communication strategies.

Skills

Medical leadership

Oncology experience

Stakeholder engagement

Education

MD

Job description

Lead pivotal oncology trials that carry next-generation antibody-based therapies from clinical concept to the patients who need them most.

Our client is a global biopharmaceutical company with a growing, late-stage oncology pipeline spanning solid tumors, including gynecologic and other high-unmet-need indications. As the organization advances multiple registration-track studies, its Global Clinical Development team is adding a Medical Director to provide hands‑on medical leadership for one or more pivotal clinical trials.

This is a study‑level medical leadership role, not a data‑review or protocol‑support seat. You will serve as the accountable Medical Director for an assigned clinical trial — owning the science, the investigator relationships, and the emerging data — while also contributing to program‑level strategy as the compound(s) advance toward registration. The role sits within a collaborative, matrixed Clinical Development team and reports to a physician‑leader with broad oncology program oversight.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list represents the major duties of the role and is not all-inclusive. The Employee may be asked to perform related duties beyond those described here.

Study & Program Medical Leadership

• Direct study design, protocol development, and execution for pivotal cancer studies as the accountable Medical Director.
• Contribute to the overall medical strategy of assigned clinical development program(s) and the broader product pipeline, including in‑depth medical input on potential new projects.
• Act as Study Lead and, when needed, represent the program or disease area internally and externally.

Data, Safety & Documentation

• Oversee the safety of patients enrolled in clinical studies and support signal detection in partnership with the Safety physician.
• Generate and review clinical components of key regulatory, registration, value, and pharmacoeconomic documents supporting the compound(s).
• Ensure the quality of clinical documents, including Investigator's Brochures, protocols, study reports, and clinical components of regulatory and safety submissions.

External & Internal Stakeholder Leadership

• Serve as medical expert and lead interactions with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, key opinion leaders, advisory boards, and patient advocacy groups.
• Partner closely with internal functions — Research, Translational Medicine, Safety, Regulatory, Global Medical Affairs, and Commercial — and with internal decision‑making boards.
• Plan and execute publication and clinical communication strategy alongside Scientific Communications, and provide input to key external presentations.

Team & Organizational Contribution

• Support the career development of functional reports (particularly Clinical Research Scientists) and other Clinical Management Team colleagues through active participation in performance management and talent planning.
• Provide onboarding, training, and mentoring support, and contribute to performance evaluations as appropriate.
• Participate in interviews for new hires within the Medical department, and remain proactive in cross‑functional alignment with the objectives of the Medical department.

Qualifications

The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this role successfully.

Required

• MD (or equivalent medical degree) from an accredited institution; board certification is not required.
• Minimum of 3 years (6 for Senior level) of direct industry experience in oncology or hematology.
• Scientific background and/or deep understanding of solid tumor oncology.
• Experience serving as the responsible Medical Officer for a clinical trial.
• Demonstrated ability to represent the organization credibly in internal and external settings, with persuasive, effective interpersonal skills at all levels.
• Proven success operating within a matrixed organization, with the ability to inspire trust and build alignment across functions.

Preferred

• Experience in gynecologic oncology is a plus. Candidates without direct gynecologic oncology experience but with strong, transferable solid tumor development experience (e.g., breast, lung, GI) plus experience on an antibody‑drug conjugate or checkpoint‑inhibitor program will also be considered.
• Experience with global regulatory submissions (e.g., US, EU, Japan) is a plus.

Nice to Have

• Comfort operating across more than one tumor type or disease area as program needs evolve.
• A track record of mentoring or developing junior clinical colleagues.

Engagement & Location

• Reporting structure: This is an individual contributor, matrixed leadership role with no direct reports at this time.
• Location: Based in Central New Jersey, with a hybrid work arrangement, in‑office 3x per week on average

Compensation:

• $300,000 – $330,000

Bonus & Equity:

• 25% target annual cash performance bonus
• Generous, annual long‑term incentive awards

*The compensation offered will be commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, and other relevant factors.

About the Search

This search is being managed by Summit Strategic Search on behalf of our client. This is a full‑time, permanent position where the successful candidate will be hired directly by the end client.

Equal Opportunity Commitment:

Summit Strategic Search and our client are equal opportunity partners. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Accommodations & Support:

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and interview process. If you require assistance, please contact us at [e-mail]. We maintain a zero‑tolerance policy for harassment and provide all employees with dedicated reporting channels to ensure a safe, professional work environment.

Selection & Onboarding:

As this is a direct‑hire role within a regulated industry, the end client's standard hiring protocols apply. This includes, but is not limited to, a comprehensive background check and drug screening prior to the start of employment. All hiring decisions are made solely by the end client.