Chief of Staff

JOB TITLE: Chief of Staff

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LOCATION:

Hybrid – Palo Alto office  

Travel up to 10% required

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ABOUT THE COMPANY

Fortvita Biologics is a San Francisco Bay Area–based biopharmaceutical company advancing next-generation biologics with the goal of addressing critical health needs. Building on our foundation in oncology, we are expanding into cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, and ophthalmology, applying our scientific rigor and platform capabilities to areas of growing global health burden. Our expertise covers antibody discovery and engineering, including monoclonal, bispecific, and polyspecific antibodies, as well as antibody-drug conjugates, all supported by development strategies rooted in thoughtful design and agile execution.

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Our clinical development footprint covers the U.S., Australia, and key regions across APAC and Europe, including the EU, UK, South Korea, and Japan. With more than 100 professionals across research, development, regulatory, and operations, we bring deep expertise and a global perspective to every program. Guided by our mission to transform research breakthroughs into therapeutic excellence and driven by our vision to improve lives through scientific innovation, we are committed to delivering meaningful impact for patients around the world.

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POSITION SUMMARY

Fortvita Biologics is seeking a Senior Director or Executive Director, Chief of Staff to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), to serve as a trusted strategic partner and lead the execution of key priorities across the clinical development organization.

Working closely with the CMO and functional leaders, this individual will strengthen cross-functional collaboration, support oncology and general biomedicine portfolio planning, and translate strategic objectives into actionable plans. The role requires direct experience supporting oncology programs, deep clinical development knowledge, and a comprehensive understanding of the drug development process from discovery and preclinical development through clinical trials, regulatory approval, manufacturing, and commercialization.

The ideal candidate combines scientific expertise, business judgment, and operational leadership with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, anticipate challenges, and drive results. Title and level will be determined based on experience, leadership capabilities, and scope of responsibility.

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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Partnership and Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CMO on strategic, operational, and organizational priorities.
• Translate the CMO’s priorities into actionable plans with clear ownership, milestones, and measures of success.
• Lead strategic initiatives that advance clinical development objectives and support broader corporate goals.
• Develop analyses and recommendations to inform portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, and organizational planning.
• Represent the CMO in designated meetings and initiatives within delegated authority, ensuring alignment and timely follow-through.

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Oncology/General Biomedicine Portfolio and Clinical Development

• Partner with clinical and program leaders to advance oncology programs, maintaining visibility into development strategies, milestones, risks, and dependencies.
• Evaluate and synthesize scientific, clinical, and operational information to support informed decision-making by the CMO.
• Facilitate alignment across Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Translational Medicine, Biostatistics, Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance, and Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC).
• Support integrated development planning by connecting clinical priorities with preclinical evidence, regulatory requirements, manufacturing readiness, and clinical supply needs.
• Anticipate program challenges, escalate significant risks, and coordinate resolution with accountable leaders.

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Cross-Functional Execution and Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead complex initiatives across functions, driving progress through influence, collaboration, and clear accountability.
• Partner with functional leaders to resolve competing priorities, clarify responsibilities, and remove barriers to execution.
• Establish practical governance and reporting processes that improve visibility into program progress and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR on budget planning, workforce needs, and organizational capabilities.
• Identify and implement improvements that strengthen decision-making, operational effectiveness, and the organization’s ability to scale.

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Executive Communications and Governance

• Lead the preparation of executive presentations, portfolio updates, briefing documents, and recommendations for leadership and board discussions.
• Partner with the CMO to organize leadership and portfolio review meetings around key decisions, risks, and actions.
• Ensure decisions and commitments are documented, communicated, and translated into timely execution.
• Support external partnerships, joint governance forums, and strategic collaborations, as appropriate.
• Handle sensitive scientific, business, and organizational information with discretion and sound judgment.

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Other duties as assigned

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD, PharmD, MD, or another relevant advanced degree; MBA complemented by substantial scientific or clinical development experience.
• 10 or more years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical experience, including substantial experience in clinical development, development program leadership, portfolio strategy, or a related function.
• Direct experience supporting or leading oncology drug development programs.
• Deep understanding of clinical development, including development strategy, clinical trial design fundamentals, endpoints, safety considerations, and regulatory milestones.
• Strong knowledge of the end-to-end drug development lifecycle, including the interdependencies among research, preclinical development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, biostatistics, drug safety, CMC, manufacturing, and commercialization.
• Ability to interpret complex scientific and operational information, assess implications, and develop actionable recommendations.

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PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience as a Chief of Staff or in a senior clinical strategy, development operations, or program leadership role.
• Experience supporting multiple oncology assets across different stages of development.
• Experience working with global development teams, strategic partnerships, and joint governance committees.
• Experience building processes and organizational capabilities within an emerging or growing biotechnology company.

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COMPETENCIES/CORE SKILLS

• Demonstrated success leading complex strategic initiatives and driving execution across senior, cross-functional teams.
• Experience partnering with C-suite executives or senior development leaders and contributing to strategic and operational decisions.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority, manage competing priorities, and operate independently in a dynamic biotechnology environment.
• High integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.

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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.

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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.

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Additional Legal Disclaimers

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and any other requirements permitted by law.