Chief of Staff

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Chief of Staff (COS) to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) enables the CMO to work most effectively with internal and external stakeholders, drive strategic priorities, and ensure alignment across teams. This is a highly strategic and facilitative role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play an active, behind-the-scenes role.

As the CMO’s trusted counsel, the COS must be a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and excellent analytical and communication skills. The role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex environments, connects the dots quickly, and is energized by helping a team deliver results through thoughtful planning, coordination, and execution.

• Provide timely strategic advice and support CMO through collaboration with the Clinical Development Leadership Team and key stakeholders
• Partner with the Chief Medical Officer to prioritize initiatives, manage complexity, and ensure follow-through on strategic goals
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve organizational performance and support execution of clinical development strategy, bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and innovation.
• Drive clarity, accountability, and alignment across stakeholders—connecting teams to strategy and supporting collaboration
• Play a key role in defining Clinical Development’s strategic direction and translating goals into operational plans
• Drive implementation of strategic initiatives, ensuring follow-through, accountability, and timely reporting for decision-making
• Identify and initiate new concepts or approaches that improve cross-functional alignment, delivery, and organizational agility
• Facilitate strategic planning, headcount tracking, and budget oversight in partnership with finance, HR, and department leads
• Collaborate with Finance and HR to set organizational objectives during annual planning and evaluate performance throughout the year
• Coordinate Clinical Development leadership team meetings and offsites, including agendas, facilitation, and action tracking
• Support goal-setting processes across Clinical Development and ensure quantitative follow-up on progress toward objectives
• Prepare and support executive-level communications including presentations, talking points, and messaging for internal and external audiences
• Act as a liaison between the CMO and internal teams to support communication, transparency, and alignment
• Support decision-making by surfacing critical issues, aligning on next steps, and ensuring actions are carried through
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CMO on organizational structure, resourcing, and talent-related considerations
• Foster team cohesion and alignment by connecting people to shared objectives and supporting leadership development efforts
• Collaborate closely with functions such as Clinical Operations, Commercial, Program Management, HR, and Finance to ensure aligned execution of strategic priorities
• Coordinate engagement with external stakeholders such as CROs, consultants, and external partners as needed
• Prepare and present updates and insights to the Clinical Development leadership team to support decision-making and communication across the organization

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (PhD or MD) strongly preferred
• 5–10 years in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with broad experience in strategic roles and a strong understanding of clinical development
• Deep understanding of clinical development processes, including operations, governance, and execution
• Proven experience leading cross-functional strategic and organizational initiatives in a global, matrixed environment
• Demonstrated success in driving organizational development, change management, and performance improvement initiatives
• Strong project management and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams across stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills—written, verbal, and visual—with experience developing materials for senior and executive audiences
• High emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and the ability to build trusted relationships across teams and geographies
• Strong leadership presence and the ability to influence without formal authority
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, complexity, and high-stakes environments
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed

The base range for this role is $283,250 - $326,875 per year. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location, and relevant education or training. Kura's compensation package also includes generous benefits, equity, and participation in an annual target bonus.

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