Senior Director, Clinical Development

Alector; United States; On-site; USD 290,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Alector in South San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Senior Director, Clinical Development to lead medical strategy for AL137 as it enters Phase 1. You will steer protocol design, safety considerations, and data interpretation while coordinating with Clinical Operations, Translational Medicine, and Regulatory colleagues.

The role emphasizes hands-on execution, independent medical judgment, and the use of AI technologies to accelerate decision-making.

Qualifications

• MD or PhD in neuroscience or related field required.
• 8+ years leading clinical development in biotech/pharma.
• Experience in neurodegenerative disease programs.
• Experience with first‑in‑human and Phase 1/2 studies.
• Regulatory submissions experience and interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical development strategy for AL137 in Phase 1 and beyond.
• Provide medical leadership for protocol design, safety, and data review.
• Collaborate with Clinical Operations, Regulatory, Safety, Biometrics, Translational Medicine.
• Champion integration of AI and emerging technologies in development.

Skills

Independent medical judgment

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking with hands-on

Data-to-decision translation

AI/LLMs proficient

Education

MD or PhD in Neuroscience/Neurobiology

Tools

LLMs

Biomarker data interpretation tools

Job description

Our mission is to develop therapies that empower the immune system to combat neurodegeneration and our team is focused on developing treatments for some of the most challenging diseases facing our society. By harnessing advancements in genetics, immunology and neuroscience, we are pioneering the development of potential therapies to counteract the devastating progression of neurodegeneration. We are supported in this mission by experienced and accomplished scientists and clinicians, a novel portfolio of programs, leading healthcare investors, and pharma company partners, who share in our commitment to bettering the lives of patients and realizing a world where we make brain disorders history.

As Senior Director, Clinical Development, you will serve as Alector’s senior clinical development physician and a key clinical leader for AL137 as the program enters Phase 1 clinical trials. You will bring your medical judgment, scientific curiosity, and drug development experience to help translate an innovative program into meaningful clinical evidence.

You will provide medical and clinical development leadership across the program, working closely with colleagues in Clinical Operations, Translational Medicine, Regulatory, Safety, Biometrics, and other functions. As the program clinical lead, you will have significant ownership and visibility, helping us make rigorous, patient-centered decisions as AL137 progresses through early clinical development.

This role is designed for a leader and “go-getter” who thrives through influence and hands-on contribution.

Key Goals & Accountabilities

• Lead the clinical development strategy for AL137! Own the clinical and medical strategy for Phase 1 and help shape the program's path toward later-stage development, integrating emerging clinical, translational, safety, and biomarker data into clear decisions.
• Deliver a high-quality Phase 1 program! Provide medical leadership for protocol design and execution, eligibility and safety considerations, dose escalation, clinical data review, and interpretation of emerging results while partnering closely with Clinical Operations and investigators.
• Be Alector's clinical voice! Serve as the internal physician expert for AL137 and provide clear clinical perspectives to program teams and senior leadership. Build productive relationships with investigators, external experts, partners, and regulatory authorities as appropriate.
• Turn data into decisions! Partner across Biometrics, Translational Medicine, Safety, Regulatory, and other functions to define evidence needed for critical development decisions and communicate the clinical meaning of emerging data.
• Integrate innovative technologies, including AI, into clinical development! Identify practical ways to use AI and emerging technologies to accelerate analysis, improve decision-making, streamline clinical-development work, and conserve valuable time and resources.

Required Qualifications

• M.D. or Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, or equivalent field required.
• 8+ years' experience leading clinical development in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry; experience taking programs through early clinical development is essential.
• Drug development experience in neurodegenerative disease.
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial design, medical monitoring, clinical data interpretation, benefit-risk assessment, and the regulatory requirements supporting clinical drug development.
• Experience designing and executing first-in-human and Phase 1 and 2 studies, including dose escalation and interpretation of early safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and biomarker data.
• Experience working with regulators and contributing clinical content to regulatory submissions and interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent medical judgment and provide clinical leadership within cross-functional development teams; you are comfortable operating as the primary internal clinical expert for a program.
• Ability to translate complex scientific and clinical information into clear recommendations and collaborate effectively with scientists, development colleagues, executives, investigators, and external experts.
• You are an active user of large language models (LLMs) and have a strong interest in evolving AI technologies and how they can improve the quality, speed, and efficiency of drug development.
• Experience working in a small or rapidly evolving biotechnology organization where clinical leaders combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

$290,000 - $380,000 a year

At Alector, our vision is bold, people are our priority, and our values are at the core of everything we do. Our dynamic and flexible environment encourages our teams to experiment, take ownership of decisions, and question convention to solve complex problems. We value shared wins, perseverance, and a growth mindset, which drives us forward, together.

Among the things you'll discover at Alector from your very first day are our committed and driven colleagues, a bold company vision, and new, modern offices designed to inspire innovation and collaboration in South San Francisco, right at the heart of Biotech Bay. Our benefits are thoughtfully designed around Alectorians and their loved ones and include flexible hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and comprehensive and unique benefits that enhance your health and well-being. Come join us!

We believe that hard-working teams include people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences who can challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives and bring creative ideas to the table. We are committed to building an open, diverse, and inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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