Medical Director, Clinical Development - Oncology

Medical Director, Clinical Development - Oncology

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.

The Director, Clinical Development will serve as a key clinical contributor embedded in Lyell's small, high-impact development team. This individual contributor role is responsible for providing medical and scientific leadership across one or more clinical trials, supporting protocol development, regulatory interactions, and data interpretation as Lyell advances toward its first approval and commercial launch.

Key Roles And Responsibilities

Clinical Trial Leadership & Execution

• Provide clinical leadership in the design, implementation, and oversight of cell therapy trials in oncology.
• Contribute meaningfully to clinical development plans (CDPs) and clinical trial protocols.
• Analyze and interpret clinical trial data; provide medical input for clinical study reports and regulatory documents.
• Ensure scientific integrity of clinical studies and compliance with GCP standards and regulatory requirements.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs to support preparation and review of regulatory submissions (IND, BLA, etc.).
• Serve as a medical representative in agency meetings (e.g., FDA, EMA) as appropriate.
• Oversee monitoring and reporting of adverse events and safety signals; contribute to risk management strategies.
• Ensure ethical conduct of clinical trials and adherence to all applicable regulatory guidelines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs.
• Contribute medical expertise to support cross-functional project teams and strategic planning.
• Support development and review of scientific content for regulatory documents and scientific communications.

External Engagement

• Represent Lyell at scientific conferences, industry meetings, and in interactions with KOLs.
• Build and maintain scientific relationships with clinical investigators and academic centers.

Preferred Education

• MD required; MD/PhD or additional advanced training a plus.
• Board certification (current or prior) in oncology, hematology, or a related field preferred.

Preferred Experience

• Minimum 5 years of clinical research experience in oncology, with a focus on cell therapy or immuno-oncology.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, execution, and oversight of clinical trials.
• Experience with regulatory submissions and agency interactions (IND, BLA, FDA meetings) highly desirable.
• Prior industry experience in a pharmaceutical or biotech setting required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Deep scientific expertise in oncology; ability to analyze and communicate complex clinical data to diverse audiences.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, GCP standards, and clinical development best practices.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills; ability to work effectively across disciplines without direct authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable engaging with external experts and internal senior leaders.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.
• Demonstrated adaptability: thrives in a pre-commercial biotech setting with evolving priorities and a leaner organizational infrastructure.
• Openness to adopting new technologies, including AI-assisted tools for clinical data synthesis and regulatory workflows; demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt as new capabilities are introduced into the development environment.

The salary range for this position is $240,000 to $300,000, 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. 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.