Medical Director, Clinical Development (biotech research)

Medical Director, Clinical Development

Opus Genetics | Durham, NC (Hybrid) | Remote Considered - East Coast Preferred

Opus Genetics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on inherited retinal diseases. We're building a team of scientists, clinicians, and operators who are deeply committed to advancing treatments for patients with limited options - and doing it with rigor, care, and collaboration.

We are looking for a Medical Director to provide senior medical and scientific leadership across our inherited retinal disease clinical development programs.

What You'll Do:

• Provide medical oversight and direction across clinical studies, including adverse event review, protocol deviations, eligibility questions, safety surveillance, and benefit-risk evaluation


• Lead clinical development plans, target product profiles, protocol concepts, study design, eligibility criteria, assessment schedules, statistical analysis considerations, and endpoint strategy


• Lead endpoint development - including selection, clinical rationale, definition, timing, and alignment with program and regulatory strategy


• Oversee clinical data analysis in partnership with Biometrics and Clinical Operations, including review plans, interim analyses, data-cleaning priorities, interpretation, and communication of results


• Provide medical input on reading-center selection and oversight, imaging charters, acquisition standards, and adjudication approaches


• Draft and review clinical and medical documents: protocols, investigator brochures, informed consent materials, clinical study reports, regulatory briefing materials, and scientific presentations


• Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs on health-authority submissions, meeting preparation, and clinical rationale for development and registration strategies


• Support investigator selection, site engagement, investigator meetings, and enrollment strategy


• Coordinate with independent data monitoring committees to support timely data review


• Work with Translational Medicine and nonclinical colleagues to integrate natural history, biomarker, imaging, and preclinical evidence into clinical strategy

What You Bring:

• M.D. required


• Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical clinical development, academic clinical research, or a closely related setting


• Experience with OCT and microperimetry analysis and other structural/functional assessments


• Experience contributing to the design, conduct, medical oversight, analysis, or reporting of interventional clinical studies


• Strong ability to interpret complex clinical datasets and translate findings into clear conclusions, risks, and recommended actions


• Working knowledge of GCP and clinical/regulatory documentation requirements


• Excellent medical and scientific writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills


• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, Translational Medicine, and external vendors or investigators


• Experience in ophthalmology, retina, inherited retinal disease, rare disease, gene therapy, or advanced therapeutics strongly preferred


• Board eligibility or certification in ophthalmology or another relevant specialty preferred; active medical license desirable

Location: Durham, NC (Hybrid) | Remote considered for East Coast candidates

Reports to: Chief Medical Officer

$220,000 – $250,000