Clinical Development Lead

Clinical Development Lead

• Central London, hybrid
• 2-3 days a week per week

CPL Life Sciences are seeking an experienced Clinical Development Lead to help shape and deliver clinical development programmes across a portfolio of neurological diseases, with a particular focus on advanced therapies.

Working within a rapidly growing biotechnology environment, this position will play a key role in progressing clinical-stage programmes through late-stage development, evidence generation, market entry and launch readiness.

Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer, the successful candidate will combine strong scientific and clinical development expertise with the ability to operate effectively in a lean, entrepreneurial and fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute clinical development plans aligned with broader commercial and portfolio strategy.
• Lead and contribute to Phase II and Phase III clinical trial design, including protocol development.
• Provide clinical and scientific input into regulatory submissions and CTA applications, working closely with Regulatory and other cross-functional teams.
• Develop evidence-generation strategies extending beyond the clinical trial programme to support future market access and adoption.
• Work closely with regulators, physicians, external experts and HTA bodies.
• Lead ongoing medical and clinical data review, supporting interpretation of emerging clinical evidence.
• Contribute to launch and evidence-readiness activities for late-stage programmes.
• Support budget development, forecasting and broader financial planning for clinical programmes.
• Work collaboratively across Clinical Operations, Regulatory, Medical, Commercial and other relevant functions.
• Contribute to innovative approaches to clinical development, including the potential application of AI and novel clinical methodologies.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Extensive experience in clinical development within a biotechnology environment.
• Strong experience across late-stage clinical development, ideally including Phase II and Phase III programmes.
• Experience developing clinical programmes beyond the traditional clinical trial setting, including evidence generation and launch readiness.
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial and protocol design.
• Experience interacting with regulatory authorities, physicians and HTA stakeholders.
• Experience within neurology and/or psychiatry.
• Experience in gene therapy or other advanced therapy modalities.
• Experience within diagnostics, including IVD, companion diagnostics and/or software-based diagnostic tools.
• Scientific qualification such as a PhD, PharmD, MSc or equivalent.
• Experience contributing to regulatory submissions and clinical trial applications.
• Ability to work effectively within a lean, entrepreneurial and rapidly evolving biotech environment.
• Strong cross-functional communication, leadership and stakeholder-management skills.

Desirable Experience

• Experience incorporating AI, digital technologies or novel methodologies into clinical development.
• Exposure to the interface between clinical development, evidence generation, market access and commercial strategy.