Senior Clinical Pharmacology Trial Leader

Overview

In this role you drive early clinical pharmacology programs, leading studies from protocol through Clinical Study Report. You act as the main link among Novartis, study teams, investigators, and CROs to ensurePK/PD and safety data inform program decisions. You’ll lead cross-functional teams, manage study execution, and contribute to regulatory documents and program updates. This position blends scientific leadership with operational delivery in a hybrid London setting, offering impact across early-stage development.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible and hybrid working options
• minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave
• insurance plans
• retirement plans
• wellbeing resources
• global recognition programs

Responsibilities

• Lead first-in-human and clinical pharmacology studies from protocol development to final Clinical Study Report
• Develop protocols and synopses with cross-functional partners (medical, PK, biomarker, statistics)
• Coordinate with Contract Research Organisations to provide direction, oversight, and issue resolution
• Lead cross-functional study teams and align internal and external contributors around objectives
• Oversee start-up, conduct, and close-out of studies, including timelines, risks, and execution
• Review and interpret PK/PD, safety, and other emerging data throughout studies
• Prepare and lead dose-escalation meetings with timely data for decision-making
• Manage study-level risk and mitigation strategies during trial lifecycle
• Contribute to Clinical Study Reports, regulatory documents, publications, and program updates
• Manage study budgets and vendor strategies, sharing lessons learned to improve delivery

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Healthcare, or related discipline
• Approximately six or more years in clinical trial development, clinical pharmacology, or early clinical development
• Experience leading or contributing to first-in-human or other early-phase studies
• Strong protocol development and early-phase study design capabilities; interpretation of PK/PD and safety data
• Experience delivering studies through CROs or external partners
• Strong leadership, operational project-management, planning, prioritisation, and organisation skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and influence stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of GCP, ICH, regulatory requirements, and high-quality trial conduct
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Desirable: Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, MD)
• Desirable: Experience managing multiple complex global studies; clinical finance knowledge; mentoring or capability-building activity

• leadership
• cross-functional collaboration
• influence and negotiation
• clinical pharmacology
• pharmacokinetics
• pharmacodynamics

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