The Associate Director Drug Product SME is an experienced scientific leader, with responsibility for advancing the CMC development of Madrigal's small molecule portfolio. This role focuses on drug product formulation and process development, ensuring preclinical and clinical studies are supported with phase appropriate quality investigational medicinal product, delivered on time and guided by scientific rigor, risk assessment and data-driven decision-making. The Associate Director is expected to lead at least one cross-functional CMC team, supporting the development of a clinical-stage asset. As a key member of CMC development project teams within Technical Operations, this leader may also serve as a program-level CMC lead across preclinical development, clinical development, scale-up, registration, and commercialization.
This role executes drug product development deliverables by translating drug product strategy into protocols, data packages, and external partner deliverables. Responsibilities include leading hands-on technical evaluation of formulation and processing options, supporting drug product troubleshooting, and ensuring readiness and oversight for clinical supply manufacture. The Associate Director will produce high-quality reports and documentation inputs that support CMC authoring, regulatory traceability, and program decision-making. This role requires strong internal partnership with Quality, Research, Regulatory Affairs, Drug Safety, Clinical, and Supply Chain teams, as well as effective oversight of external CDMO and CRO relationships supporting candidate development across all phases. Ultimately, the ideal candidate is a collaborative technical leader, with expertise in small molecule modalities, who can build and contribute to a high-performing Pharmaceutical Science team supporting the development of an industry-leading MASH-focused pipeline.
Key Responsibilities:Drug Product Development and Technical Strategy- Lead or support the generation of comprehensive pre-formulation data packages and asset profiles to inform developability assessment, development strategy, and program planning.
- Lead or support phase-appropriate development, optimization, and delivery of small-molecule formulations, associated processes, and material supply from preclinical through clinical development.
- Provide expertise in formulation and process development strategies to address bioavailability risks and enable fixed-dose combination development with Rezdiffra® (resmetirom), where applicable.
- Lead or support registration, final scale-up, process validation, and commercial presentation development in accordance with cGMP, ICH, FDA, and internal target product profile requirements.
External Partner and CDMO Oversight- Serve as or support the primary drug product contact for CDMOs and oversee key deliverables, including protocols, batch records, reports, investigations, and technical documentation.
- Troubleshoot drug product issues, develop root-cause hypotheses, and coordinate resolution with cross-functional internal and external partners.
- Support drug product technology transfer readiness, including process descriptions, control strategies, sampling plans, comparability considerations, and transfer documentation.
- Support leadership and Global Procurement in defining and maintaining a CDMO/CRO network that meets current and future CMC business, regulatory, and quality needs.
Quality, Regulatory, and CMC Documentation- Implement Quality-by-Design and Quality Risk Management principles throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring clear decision logs, assumptions, data traceability, and alignment with Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain standards. Ensure adherence to sound decision-making processes established through strong scientific rigor and robust data, leveraging cross-functional expertise.
- Use statistical design-of-experiment practices and AI-enabled tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness in generating CMC knowledge and phase-appropriate control strategies.
- May author, compile, and/or review drug product technical reports, regulatory source data, CMC regulatory documents, and quality documentation as required.
- Review quality agreements, participate in audit programs, maintain inspection readiness, and represent the company as a CMC subject matter expert in regulatory inspections and audits as required.
Cross-Functional Leadership and Operational Excellence- Partner across Technical Operations, MSAT, Quality, Research, Regulatory Affairs, Drug Safety, Clinical, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment across all stages of development.
- Promote or support early development collaboration with MSAT to support future product robustness, supply resilience, and cost efficiency.
- Support creation, submission, and tracking of fiscally responsible project budgets aligned with phase-appropriate and risk-tolerant project goals.
- Champion a Right-First-Time culture focused on data integrity, scientific rigor, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across CMC and Technical Operations.
Qualifications and Skills Required:Education:PhD degree in Pharmaceutics, Chemistry or Material Sciences, or BS/MS degree and commensurate Pharmaceutical Science development and leadership experience
Experience:- Minimum of 10 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Science and CMC leadership within the biopharmaceutical industry, with a strong background in CMC and Drug Product development.
- Proven experience in small molecule drug product formulation/process development.
- Proven experience working with CDMO/CRO's in a fully outsourced paradigm, providing technical leadership and oversight for development & clinical supply manufacture, and driving technical solutions in an external environment.
- On-boarding and accelerating the mobilizing of new assets post-acquisition is desirable.
- Demonstrated success in transitioning programs from clinical development to commercial manufacturing is desirable, including process validation and regulatory approval, in a cross-functional matrixed organization.
- Working knowledge of statistical design of experimental approaches, execution and analysis, development of CMC risk assessments & control strategies.
- Knowledge of cGMP & ICH guidelines, global regulatory requirements & regulatory document authoring
- Regulatory agency interactions desirable
Skills:- Strategic and operational leader with a balance of scientific depth and business acumen
- Strong Leadership skills with an ability to both influence and empower
- Excellent problem-solving and risk management skills to address complex issues
- Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across functions, with external partners, and present to stakeholders
Attributes:- Detail-oriented with a focus on maintaining high standards of quality and compliance
- Meticulous in review of documentation to ensure regulatory and quality robustness
- Proactive and strategic thinker with an empowering approach to solving technical challenges
- Aptitude for identifying inefficiencies, driving process improvements
Madrigal offers a competitive Total Rewards strategy to attract and retain top talent and is inclusive of base pay, bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package. Full-time employees are eligible for base salary, bonus, equity, and a comprehensive benefits suite.
Base salary is determined by several factors including the candidate's qualifications, skills, education, experience, business needs, and market demands. As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position, applicable to all candidates, is $174,134 - $199,621 per year. We comply with all applicable minimum wage laws.
All full-time employees receive equity, which reinforces our ownership culture and offers meaningful opportunity for our employees to share in the success they help create. By aligning individual and company performance, we empower employees to think like owners, giving them a stake in the organization.
Full-time employees are also eligible for comprehensive benefits, including flexible paid time off, medical, dental, vision and life/disability insurance, and 401(k) offerings (i.e., traditional, Roth, and employer match) in accordance with applicable plans. We also offer additional voluntary benefits like supplemental life insurance, legal services, and other offerings. In addition, we offer mental health benefits through our Employee Assistance Program for employees and their family. The company also provides other benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis and can be submitted through our Madrigal Careers site.
