Vice President, Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology
Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Position Summary
- The Vice President, Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology is a senior scientific leader integrating translational medicine, clinical pharmacology, DMPK (drug metabolism/pharmacokinetics), bioanalysis, toxicology, and PK/PD & biomarker strategy across the portfolio.
- Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, provides strategic and functional leadership from development candidate selection and IND-enabling through clinical development, regulatory submission, and life-cycle management.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Define and lead integrated translational medicine and clinical pharmacology strategy across the portfolio.
- Lead clinical pharmacology strategy and development plans (ADME, DDIs, PK/PD, exposure-response, bioavailability/bioequivalence).
- Oversee DMPK activities (drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, bioanalysis) supporting discovery through regulatory filings.
- Use translational/quantitative pharmacology (population PK, PK/PD, pharmacometrics, modeling/simulation) to inform first-in-human strategy, dose escalation/optimization, go/no-go, and late-stage dose justification.
- Develop translational and biomarker strategies (target-engagement, PD, predictive/prognostic/safety biomarkers) for indication selection, patient enrichment, and proof-of-concept.
- Partner cross-functionally to translate preclinical biology into executable clinical development strategies.
- Provide scientific leadership for protocol/IB/clinical study report/IND-CTA/NDA-BLA-MAA content; interact with health authorities.
- Evaluate/manage external partners (labs, consultants, academic collaborators) with GxP compliance.
- Build and lead the team; manage resources, budgets, priorities.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, or equivalent); PhD or PharmD strongly preferred.
- Typically 15+ years biopharmaceutical industry experience in drug development, translational medicine, DMPK and/or clinical pharmacology; senior leadership and people management.
- Deep expertise in clinical pharmacology, PK/PD, ADME, bioanalysis, DDIs, exposure-response, and quantitative dose-selection/optimization.
- Experience integrating preclinical pharmacology and translational biomarkers/PK/PD to advance programs from IND through proof-of-concept and later stages.
- Strong biomarker strategy/assay development knowledge; patient-selection/precision-medicine preferred.
- Extensive regulatory submission and health authority interaction experience; strong knowledge of FDA, ICH, GLP, GCP.
- Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication.
Compensation and Benefits
- Anticipated salary range: $306,000 to $365,000.
- Eligible for annual bonus and equity incentive awards (not commission-based).
- Comprehensive benefits: medical/dental/vision, life/disability, flexible spending accounts, 401(k), paid time off and holidays.
- The Vice President, Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology is a senior scientific leader integrating translational medicine, clinical pharmacology, DMPK (drug metabolism/pharmacokinetics), bioanalysis, toxicology, and PK/PD & biomarker strategy across the portfolio.
- Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, provides strategic and functional leadership from development candidate selection and IND-enabling through clinical development, regulatory submission, and life-cycle management.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Define and lead integrated translational medicine and clinical pharmacology strategy across the portfolio.
- Lead clinical pharmacology strategy and development plans (ADME, DDIs, PK/PD, exposure-response, bioavailability/bioequivalence).
- Oversee DMPK activities (drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, bioanalysis) supporting discovery through regulatory filings.
- Use translational/quantitative pharmacology (population PK, PK/PD, pharmacometrics, modeling/simulation) to inform first-in-human strategy, dose escalation/optimization, go/no-go, and late-stage dose justification.
- Develop translational and biomarker strategies (target-engagement, PD, predictive/prognostic/safety biomarkers) for indication selection, patient enrichment, and proof-of-concept.
- Partner cross-functionally to translate preclinical biology into executable clinical development strategies.
- Provide scientific leadership for protocol/IB/clinical study report/IND-CTA/NDA-BLA-MAA content; interact with health authorities.
- Evaluate/manage external partners (labs, consultants, academic collaborators) with GxP compliance.
- Build and lead the team; manage resources, budgets, priorities.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, or equivalent); PhD or PharmD strongly preferred.
- Typically 15+ years biopharmaceutical industry experience in drug development, translational medicine, DMPK and/or clinical pharmacology; senior leadership and people management.
- Deep expertise in clinical pharmacology, PK/PD, ADME, bioanalysis, DDIs, exposure-response, and quantitative dose-selection/optimization.
- Experience integrating preclinical pharmacology and translational biomarkers/PK/PD to advance programs from IND through proof-of-concept and later stages.
- Strong biomarker strategy/assay development knowledge; patient-selection/precision-medicine preferred.
- Extensive regulatory submission and health authority interaction experience; strong knowledge of FDA, ICH, GLP, GCP.
- Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication.
Compensation and Benefits
- Anticipated salary range: $306,000 to $365,000.
- Eligible for annual bonus and equity incentive awards (not commission-based).
- Comprehensive benefits: medical/dental/vision, life/disability, flexible spending accounts, 401(k), paid time off and holidays.