Medical Director, Safety Sciences
Listed compensation
$272k-$336k
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Denali Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of biotherapeutics designed to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using its proprietary TransportVehicle™ platform. With the first FDA-approved biologic specifically designed to cross the BBB, a clinically validated delivery platform and a growing portfolio of therapeutic candidates across all stages of development, we are advancing toward our goal of delivering effective medicines to transform the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases, lysosomal storage disorders and other serious diseases.
We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.
This job provides senior clinical leadership for safety strategy and oversight across multiple development programs or a therapeutic area. Leads complex safety assessments, drives cross-functional safety decision-making, and contributes to portfolio-level benefit–risk evaluation.
Key Accountabilities / Core Job Responsibilities
- Provides strategic safety leadership across multiple programs or therapeutic area.
- Leads safety signal detection (including complex cases), evaluation, and risk assessment and management activities across development programs.
- Owns and drives benefit–risk assessments for assigned products and informs program and portfolio decisions.
- Oversees preparation and review of aggregate safety reports, regulatory safety submissions, and safety sections of regulatory filings.
- Provides medical review and causality assessment of individual case safety reports
Provides senior medical safety leadership in safety governance forums, including Safety Review Committees and Data Monitoring Committees.
Partners with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Biostatistics to shape safety monitoring strategies for clinical programs.
Leads development and implementation of risk management strategies, including Risk Management Plans (RMPs) and REMS where applicable.
- Represents Drug Safety in cross-functional program teams and governance discussions.
- Mentors and develops Medical Directors and other safety scientists within the function.
- Contributes to safety process improvements, standards, and best practices across the organization.
- Participates in regulatory inspections and internal audits.
Qualifications/Skills
MD or MD/PhD required.
10+ years of relevant experience in drug safety, pharmacovigilance, or clinical development with progression to program or multi-program safety leadership.
Deep understanding of global pharmacovigilance regulations, signal detection methodologies, and safety risk management.
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional decisions and lead complex safety discussions.
- Recognized clinical and scientific credibility.
Salary Range: $272,000.00 to $336,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at denalitherapeutics.com
This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
Key Responsibilities
Provides senior clinical leadership for safety strategy and oversight across multiple development programs or therapeutic areas. Leads complex safety assessments, drives cross-functional decision-making, and manages benefit-risk evaluations for the portfolio.
Requirements
Requires an MD or MD/PhD degree with over 10 years of relevant experience in drug safety, pharmacovigilance, or clinical development. Candidates must possess deep knowledge of global regulations and demonstrated ability to lead complex safety discussions.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 10+ years of experience
Key Skills
Medical Affairs — Physician Career Context
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$304k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $275k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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