ASSET LEAD, INFLAMMATION
Biotech · San Francisco, CA · Confidential Search · Managed by TSE Executive Search
THE COMPANY
This is a high-conviction biotech operating at the forefront of inflammation biology — advancing a pipeline with the potential to meaningfully change outcomes for patients living with chronic, debilitating inflammatory conditions. The organization combines the scientific rigor of a world-class research institution with the speed and ownership culture of a startup. The Inflammation Asset Lead will sit at the center of that mission.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is not a traditional program management role. As Asset Lead, Inflammation, you will own the full strategic and operational life of the inflammation programs in your portfolio — from scientific plan to business case, from competitive landscape to partnership strategy.
You will build and own the business plan, scientific plan, budget, and strategy for each program. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage industry relationships, drive competitive intelligence, build NPV models, and translate extraordinarily complex scientific and financial information into clear, decision-ready communication for senior leadership.
This role demands someone as comfortable interrogating an inflammation clinical development strategy as they are building a financial model — and who brings equal intellectual rigor to both.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
Scientific & Program Leadership
- Develop deep command of the scientific, operational, and external-facing dimensions of assigned inflammation programs — including mechanism of action, competitive differentiation, and clinical rationale
- Set, prioritize, and manage milestones and deliverables for team members across one or more programs
- Coordinate cross-functional team meetings and delegate effectively to scientific, clinical, regulatory, and CMC experts — holding the team accountable to quality, precision, and speed
- Interpret, collate, and communicate key inflammation data findings in a succinct, executive-ready manner to senior leadership
- Develop and maintain the scientific plan for each program — questioning assumptions, stress-testing strategy, and identifying blind spots before they become problems
Business Development & Financial Analysis
- Own the business plan, strategy, and budget for inflammation programs in your portfolio
- Build and maintain NPV models and financial frameworks that underpin investment, prioritization, and partnership decisions across the inflammation pipeline
- Lead competitive intelligence efforts across the inflammation landscape — synthesizing emerging clinical data, competitive pipeline movements, and market dynamics into clear strategic implications
- Manage and develop industry relationships with partners, collaborators, and external experts that support BD objectives and pipeline advancement
- Identify problems independently, locate the right resources, and drive data-driven solutions without waiting for direction
Cross-Functional Communication & Leadership
- Distill complex inflammation science and business issues into clear, compelling narratives for diverse internal and external audiences — from bench scientists to Board members
- Serve as the authoritative voice on your inflammation programs — internally to leadership and externally to partners, investors, and collaborators
- Inspire excellence in the teams and colleagues around you — modeling the intellectual rigor, ownership mindset, and patient-first values that define the organization’s culture
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Education
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MBA, or equivalent) from a top-tier academic institution; scientific undergraduate degree with highly distinguished industry experience considered
Experience
- Deep domain knowledge in inflammation — including immunology, autoimmune disease, or related therapeutic areas; clinical development experience in inflammation strongly preferred
- Strategic planning, operating, and program management experience within a biotech startup or top-tier pharma organization
- Management consulting from a top-tier firm (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or equivalent) and/or investment banking experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and question scientific strategy across molecular biology, translational medicine, and inflammation-specific clinical development
- Track record of building financial models, business plans, and competitive intelligence frameworks in a life sciences context
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing external industry relationships in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment
Competencies
- Scientific literacy — you don’t need to be in the lab, but you need to be able to challenge what comes out of it
- Financial acumen — comfortable with NPV modeling, scenario analysis, and budget ownership
- Communication excellence — you translate complexity into clarity for any audience, every time
- Independent judgment — you identify the problem, find the data, and drive the solution without being asked
- Ownership mindset — you treat the programs you cover as if the outcomes are yours personally
THE RIGHT PERSON
The organization describes its best team members in four ways — and they mean it:
Patient Champion — Puts patients living with inflammatory conditions first in every decision. Upholds strict ethical standards without compromise.
Entrepreneurial Operator — Drives toward practical solutions with urgency. Takes ownership of outcomes end-to-end and doesn’t wait to be asked.
Truth Seeker — Detailed, rational, and humble. Asks the hard questions about the inflammation data — and finds the real answer, not the comfortable one.
Excellence Inspirer — Holds themselves and those around them to the highest standard. Makes every team they join better by being in it.
LOCATION
San Francisco, CA — in-person or hybrid
HOW TO APPLY
This search is managed exclusively and confidentially by TSE Executive Search.
Please submit your resume/CV and a brief cover letter to:
jobs@tseworldwide.com