Director, Development Sciences

Scholar Rock is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and delivers life-changing therapies for people with serious diseases that have high unmet need. As a global leader in the biology of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily of cell proteins and named for the visual resemblance of a scholar rock to protein structures, the clinical-stage company is focused on advancing innovative treatments where protein growth factors are fundamental. Over the past decade, the company has created a pipeline with the potential to advance the standard of care for neuromuscular disease, cardiometabolic disorders, cancer, and other conditions where growth factor-targeted drugs can play a transformational role.

Scholar Rock is the only company to show clinical proof of concept for a muscle-targeted treatment in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This commitment to unlocking fundamentally different therapeutic approaches is powered by broad application of a proprietary platform, which has developed novel monoclonal antibodies to modulate protein growth factors with extraordinary selectivity. By harnessing cutting-edge science in disease spaces that are historically under-addressed through traditional therapies, Scholar Rock works every day to create new possibilities for patients. Learn more about the company’s approach at ScholarRock.com and follow @ScholarRock and on LinkedIn.

Summary of Position:

The Director of Development Sciences is a key position in our Clinical Development Group that will help drive the next phase of Scholar Rock’s growth with energy and dedication. This candidate will provide scientific leadership, accountable for driving strategy and decision-making in collaboration with other functions by ensuring relevant information, analysis, and expertise are considered. This position requires a highly organized and collaborative and adept clinical scientist with strong critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and agility. The position is focused on specific therapeutic areas, with responsibilities across stages of clinical development from phase 1 through phase 3. 

• Provide scientific leadership, accountable for scientific and development evaluation of new clinical development opportunities in specific therapeutic areas

• Provide cross-functional clinical sciences support to internal stakeholders for portfolio decision-making and clinical development strategy/planning. This may include review and synthesis of scientific literature, clinical & competitive landscape analysis, and summaries of clinical development innovations.

• Serve as key contributor to program level documents. Independently support the development of regulatory documents such as IND, MAA, BLA, and responses to health authorities.  

• Ensure currency with innovative development strategy and competitive approach in key disease areas of interest. Independently conceive and communicate program- and study-level strategies that are well-grounded in supporting literature.  

• Provide strategic scientific expertise to develop and oversee all aspects of clinical projects including design, start-up, execution, analysis, and reporting of clinical studies. Identify and apply advanced analysis strategies to ensure accuracy and deep understanding of scientific and clinical data. 

• Anticipate opportunities or challenges well in advance; can effectively gather insight from internal stakeholders and external consultants for depth of the issue and perspective

• Ensure strong representation of clinical sciences team at key governance bodies and teams (e.g., PRC, early program teams).  Articulately convey key considerations to an issue and creative ideas or solutions for leaders to consider. 

• Provide scientific and content support on a broad set of activities, including study advisory boards, development leadership meetings, board presentations, and R&D Day presentations

• Foster and maintain relationships with key external advisors and partners

• Ensure highly organized and accessible content management: e.g., literature related to new indications, innovative trial designs, relevant scientific data.

• Provide clinical sciences support to clinical stage programs, including manual data review and authoring or reviewing study related documents (study concepts, clinical protocols and amendments, investigator brochures, statistical analysis plans, clinical study reports, and safety updates).  

• Provide development support for business development activities

• Advanced degree in Life Sciences (MD, PhD, Pharm D, or MS) required.
• Therapeutic expertise: Neuromuscular disease strongly preferred
• 3+ years of experience in biopharmaceutical industry in clinical development or clinical science with a proven track record of driving for results
• Strong critical thinking skills, including ability to synthesize large body of information and make decisions based on robust available information
• Experience with clinical study design, clinical data interpretation and publications, and working knowledge of biostatistics and pharmacology
• Experience to build strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external scientific and medical community
• Highly organized, results-oriented, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to integrate diverse perspectives to drive timely decision-making
• Exceptional communication skills & extensive experience and excellent skills in developing powerpoint presentations
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (~10%). 

Scholar Rock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.