Fortvita Biologics

The Senior Director / Head of Medical Affairs is a foundational leadership role and will serve as Fortvita’s first dedicated Medical Affairs hire. This individual will establish, define, and scale the Medical Affairs function, shaping the medical strategy, scientific narrative, and external engagement approach for Fortvita’s oncology pipeline.

As the leader of Medical Affairs, you will combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution, building medical capabilities from the ground up while serving as a trusted scientific partner to Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Business Development, and future Commercial teams.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Affairs Leadership & Function Build-Out

• Serve as the Head of Medical Affairs, owning the vision, operating model, and long-term strategy for the function.

• Build Medical Affairs infrastructure from inception, including governance, SOPs, compliant medical engagement frameworks, and scalable executional processes.

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing Medical Affairs, including a field medical function to support our growing clinical trials program. team as the organization scales.

• Operate as a hands-on leader, directly executing on core Medical Affairs activities and key deliverable while building scalable capabilities.

Scientific Platform & Medical Strategy

• Lead development and ownership of integrated scientific platforms for Fortvita’s oncology programs, ensuring consistent, credible, and differentiated scientific narratives.

• Translate clinical, translational, and biomarker data into clear medical positioning aligned across internal and external stakeholders.

• Provide strategic medical input into asset differentiation, lifecycle planning, and overall portfolio strategy.

Publication Strategy & Scientific Communications

• Define and execute a comprehensive and compliant publication strategy, including long-range planning for abstract submissions, authorship arrangements, strategy, and manuscript development.

• Oversee development of abstracts, posters, oral presentations, and peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with internal and external authors.

• Ensure scientific rigor, accuracy, and consistency across all medical communications, including in support of external partnerships and other business development activities.

Congress Strategy & Scientific Presence

• Lead global congress strategy for major oncology meetings (e.g., ASCO, ESMO, AACR), including data prioritization, scientific messaging, and external engagement plans, and vendor relationships.

• Establish and maintain a strong, credible, and differentiated scientific presence for Fortvita with patient advocacy groups and professional associations.at key congresses and medical forums.

Evidence Generation Strategy

• Develop and oversee the global evidence generation strategy, including real-world evidence, outcomes research, and investigator-initiated studies.

• Partner cross-functionally to ensure evidence supports scientific credibility, value demonstration, and long-term portfolio goals.

Field Medical Organization Design

• Design the Field Medical (MSL) organization strategy and operating model, including coverage approach, capabilities, engagement standards, and insights capture.

• Establish medical excellence frameworks to support high-quality scientific exchange and future scale-up.

Opinion Leader Strategy & External Engagement

• Lead KOL identification, mapping, and engagement strategy across priority oncology disease states areas and geographies.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with opinion leaders, investigators, cooperative groups, and scientific societies.

• Plan and execute advisory boards, expert panels, and scientific exchange initiatives.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, and Commercial/Market Access to ensure cohesive medical alignment.

• Provide medical leadership for regulatory interactions, scientific narratives, and data interpretation.

• Serve as an internal authority on compliant scientific exchange and medical engagement practices.

Operational & Budget Accountability

• Own Medical Affairs budgets, resource planning, and vendor strategy.

• Define KPIs and success metrics demonstrating Medical Affairs impact and value to the organization.

The role is hybrid 3x/week in Palo Alto office.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent).

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, or related scientific leadership roles in biotech or biopharma.

• Required: Significant oncology experience, including deep understanding of oncology drug development and standards of care (a combination of heme and solid tumor experience is preferred).

• Experience building or scaling a Medical Affairs function, ideally in a high-growth and/or early-stage organization strongly preferred.

Expertise & Leadership Capabilities

• Strong background in oncology therapeutics; experience with biologics and antibody-based therapies highly desirable.

• Proven ability to develop scientific platforms, publication plans, and congress strategies.

• Demonstrated success engaging oncology KOLs and influencing senior cross-functional stakeholders.

• Executive presence with excellent communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.

Fortvita is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. This includes but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or hair texture and style. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of any protected trait is strictly prohibited.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies or search firms. Any resume submitted without a signed agreement will be considered unsolicited, and Fortvita will not be obligated to pay any fees.

Additional Legal Disclaimers

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all new hires will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. and complete Form I-9 upon hire.

Employment at Fortvita is at-will. This means that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advanced notice. This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and does not constitute a contract or guarantee of employment. Fortvita reserves the right to modify job duties or responsibilities at any time, based on business needs.

Reasonable accommodation: If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Fortvita’s Human Resources team at hiring@Fortvitabio.com. We are dedicated to ensuring all applicants have equal access and opportunity throughout the recruitment process.