Clinical Research Lead (Therapeutic Development)

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary: 
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Clinical Research Lead (Therapeutic Development) position.  You will play a critical role in shaping and executing strategic programs that accelerate the development of Parkinson’s disease treatments. This role will manage strategic funding and partnership programs, leading efforts to advance promising therapies while driving the scalability and adoption of new drug development tools to de-risk clinical development. The role involves cross-functional collaboration to optimize the Foundation’s clinical portfolio and maximize impact on both the patient community and the Parkinson’s research ecosystem.

This position may be hybrid-flex with the opportunity to work from the Foundation’s office in NYC or based remotely from anywhere within the U.S.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership: Lead and execute strategic programs that align with the Foundation’s patient-centered priorities and therapeutic research vision, ensuring a de-risked and patient-centric clinical development approach
• Program and Portfolio Management: Manage research and clinical program portfolios at all stages—from concept development, review and grant contracting to milestone management and troubleshooting during execution. Evaluate and establish mechanisms for sourcing and supporting clinical-stage therapeutic programs, including grants and strategic partnerships
• Clinical Development & Strategy: Develop new initiatives to clarify clinical, regulatory and commercial development paths for novel Parkinson’s treatments. Proactively monitor emerging trends to position the Foundation for maximum impact in the Parkinson’s clinical landscape
• Patient Integration: Ensure the voice of the patient is integrated into all the Foundation’s therapeutic strategies. Leverage patient experience data to inform clinical development and decision-making
• Resource Allocation & Prioritization: Manage resource allocation and prioritization to meet clinical development goals with urgency. Ensure efficient use of resources across internal and external teams to achieve high-impact results
• Executive Communication & Reporting: Develop and deliver executive-level communications to highlight the impact of the Foundation’s therapeutic funding programs. Track and report program progress, milestones and risks to ensure strategic alignment and cross-functional coordination
• Stakeholder Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including biopharma companies, KOLs, regulatory bodies and patient advocacy organizations to drive strategic collaborations
• Collaboration & Cross-functional Leadership: Serve as a thought leader and accountability partner to cross-functional initiatives, driving alignment and ensuring progress against department and business unit Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Strategic Planning Support: Contribute to annual strategic planning for the Clinical Research department, including resourcing, prioritization and assessing performance against scientific and funding goals

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Advanced scientific (PhD, MD) or business degree (e.g., MBA) is strongly preferred
• Proven experience in clinical research, biopharma or healthcare consulting, including managing cross-functional teams, developing therapeutic programs and driving strategic initiatives in biopharma, academia, or non-profit sectors
• Proven ability to lead complex programs, manage resources effectively and ensure accountability for deliverables. Ability to independently identify program needs, formulate strategies and execute plans
• Proven record of success at both strategic and tactical levels, with the ability to execute initiatives while maintaining a focus on patient-centric outcomes
• Demonstrated success in driving collaboration across diverse teams and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence, motivate teams and clearly articulate complex strategies to a variety of stakeholders
• Core Values Alignment: Strong alignment with the Foundation’s core values of Optimism, Tenacity, Collaboration, Boldness, Adaptability and Curiosity

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $120,000 to $145,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.  

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.  

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.