The Vice President, Clinical Development
- Cardiovascular is a board-certified cardiologist (M.D.) with deep expertise in lipid disorders and cardiometabolic disease who is responsible for defining and driving the clinical development strategy for Ionis’ cardiovascular portfolio, including Phase 4 and post-marketing programs. This is a hands-on, working VP role that combines strategic leadership with active ownership of key studies and deliverables and plays a critical role in enterprise-level development and portfolio decisions.
This role operates with a high degree of independence and accountability in a fast-paced, highly engaged, intense environment where active participation and clear points of view are expected. The Vice President, Clinical Development
- Cardiovascular partners closely with senior leadership across Development, Research, Regulatory Affairs, and Commercial to ensure that clinical programs are scientifically rigorous, operationally executable, and positioned to deliver meaningful value to patients and the company.
The Vice President, Clinical Development
- Cardiovascular is accountable for advancing multiple clinical programs across stages of development, including Phase 4 and post-marketing studies, and for making complex, high-impact decisions in areas where data may be limited and risk is significant. This role will report to the Senior Vice President, Global Cardiovascular Development and will manage direct reports.
- Maintain deep expertise and a broad, integrative view across cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease, including lipid disorders such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and lipoprotein(a) mediated risk.
- Apply current and emerging science in lipid biology and cardiovascular risk reduction to inform clinical development strategies and portfolio decisions.
- Guide development of clinical programs targeting lipid-modifying therapies, including selection of appropriate patient populations, biomarkers, and endpoints.
- Provide leadership on the design and interpretation of cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) and other studies evaluating impact on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
- Integrate translational insights (e.g., mechanism of action, biomarker response, genetic validation) into clinical development plans to strengthen probability of success.
- Guide interpretation of complex clinical and biomarker data, including lipid parameters and cardiovascular risk markers, and translate findings into strategic program decisions.
- Lead Phase 4 strategy and post-marketing evidence generation plans, including post-marketing commitments and lifecycle management studies.
- Partner with Medical Affairs to redefine and optimize the Clinical Development/Medical Affairs partnership model across the cardiovascular and cardiometabolic portfolio.
- Provide thought leadership with regulatory agencies and external experts, including investigators, key opinion leaders, and advisory boards.
- Manage and develop direct reports, building a high performing, engaged, and inclusive team culture aligned with Ionis values.
- M.D., board-certified cardiologist with significant experience in clinical development within the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Substantial pharmaceutical/biotech industry experience with a track record of leading late-stage and Phase 4/post-marketing cardiovascular programs.
- Deep expertise in cardiovascular disease, with strong experience in lipid disorders and cardiometabolic disease (e.g., dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, triglyceride metabolism, Lp(a)).
- Demonstrated success leading development of therapies targeting cardiovascular risk factors, including experience with lipid-modifying agents and/or outcomes-based clinical programs.
- Demonstrated success leading clinical development programs across multiple stages, including late-stage development.
- Experience driving Phase 4 strategy and post-marketing commitments.
- Experience designing and interpreting studies involving lipid biomarkers, surrogate endpoints, and cardiovascular outcomes (e.g., MACE).
- Proven ability to translate mechanistic and translational science (including genetics and biomarker data) into clinical development strategy.
- Experience influencing portfolio strategy and contributing to investment or prioritization decisions.
- Experience interacting with regulatory agencies and external experts.
- High learning agility and curiosity; quickly absorbs new science, data, and business context and adjusts strategy accordingly.
- Strong emotional intelligence (EQ) and self-awareness; seeks feedback, reflects on impact, and adapts communication and leadership style.
- Inclusive, respectful leader who proactively recognizes and values the contributions of employees at all levels and tenure.
- Demonstrated strength in change management; communicates the "why" behind decisions, brings people along, and helps teams navigate ambiguity.
- Decisive and accountable, comfortable making complex trade-offs when data are incomplete.
- Speaks up and constructively contributes/challenges in a high-performing, intense environment.
- Hands-on, working VP who rolls up their sleeves, balances strategic work with detailed execution, and uses delegation thoughtfully rather than as a default.
- Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize across multiple programs and stakeholders without dropping critical details.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to drive outcomes across cross-functional teams.
- People management experience with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing teams.
- Adaptable leader - moves fluidly between clinical strategy, hands-on protocol and data work, team leadership, and regulatory interactions, comfortable shifting gears quickly.
- Working VP mindset - rolls up their sleeves, dives into documents and data, and models execution as well as vision.
- Inclusive people leader - shows respect for diverse perspectives, honors the history and contributions of long-tenured Ionis employees, and develops talent across levels.
- Change leader - communicates clearly through change, reduces ambiguity, and helps teams stay focused on what matters most.
- Out-of-the-box thinker - brings fresh ideas on evidence generation, lifecycle management, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Self-aware and collaborative - reads team dynamics, builds trust across levels and departments, and invites constructive criticism.
- Driven owner - owns outcomes for a high-stakes franchise proactively and follows through to impact.
- Courageous communicator - brings a clear point of view, asks hard questions, and leans into healthy debate in a driven, intense environment.
- Strong communicator - adapts across scientific, commercial, and executive audiences, making complex topics clear and actionable.
Please visit our website, http://www.ionis.com for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position; reference requisition # IONIS003999