About MMV
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is the world’s leading product development partnership (PDP) dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering affordable and effective antimalarial drugs.
MMV collaborates with government agencies, private and public sector partners, and clinical centers in malaria-endemic regions to bring lifesaving solutions to the people most affected by malaria. Our work is made possible through funding from various sources, including government agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to join our executive team and lead MMV’s medical strategy through innovative research and development, ensuring the highest standards of product safety and efficacy. This is a unique opportunity for a senior leader committed to global health to shape the future of malaria eradication efforts and play a critical role in transforming lives across malaria-endemic regions.
About the Role
The job holder will oversee, and provide leadership, direction, and vision to the medical team in developing and executing MMV’s clinical development and medical strategy across the organization’s portfolio to support the development, approval, and delivery of medicines. Reporting to the CEO, the CMO will have executive oversight across Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Safety, while playing a leadership role in matrix committee including R&D, APM, and Business Development. The CMO will have a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with medical and safety standards in partnership with external stakeholders and in accordance with MMV’s mission and values.
Responsibilities
- Co-leading with R&D heads the development of the clinical strategies and the implementation plans in partnership with internal and external resources to achieve MMV’s organizational goals/objectives.
- Providing leadership to clinical, and regulatory for the successful planning and execution of each clinical trial.
- Ensuring that clinical, safety, and regulatory teams fully adhere to good clinical practice
- Providing guidance to cross-functional teams on clinical strategies aligned with MMV’s product development objectives.
- Advising CEO on product stewardship and benefit risk questions.
- Working closely with other departments and external partners to integrate clinical strategies into project plans, ensuring clinical quality, patient safety, and risk management.
- Leading and developing a small, dedicated team of medical professionals - hiring and retaining world class talents.
- Providing expert medical oversight and leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare products, with a focus on malaria treatment and prevention.
- Contributing to the development of pharmacovigilance strategies within the broader malaria community.
- Ensuring all communications maintain medical accuracy and adhere to regulatory standards, and address inquiries regarding medical information related to antimalarials.
- Validating project and trial documents for patient safety and reporting protocols.
- Ensuring that all medical events in MMV-sponsored or led clinical trials are managed in accordance with ICH standards.
- Consulting with safety boards and experts to address specific medical safety concerns.
- Identifying critical medical issues requiring expert advice and provide guidance to relevant committees, e.g. Expert Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC), Access and Project Management Committee (APMAC).
- Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with key opinion leaders and experts to gather insights, disseminate scientific knowledge, and foster collaboration in alignment with MMV’s goals.
- Supervising, with the members of the Medical Team, the medical monitors and ensure their training in safety protocols for MMV-sponsored trials.
- Lead medical and safety efforts in groundbreaking research (MiMBa project and Safire study)
- Providing together with the other members of the Medical Team ongoing medical education for medical staff, focusing on safety and infectious diseases medicine.
Qualifications and Skills
- MD degree is required.
- Minimum 15 years of experience in R&D and clinical development within a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical environment, including experience as a chief medical officer or a global safety leader with responsibility for product safety, pharmacovigilance and benefit risk analysis for products in development and post marketing settings is required.
- Experience in early, mid, and late-stage drug candidate development, lead and adjacent indication identification, and the generation of relevant clinical data.
- Demonstrated knowledge and prior success with global regulatory requirements and guidelines governing drug approval and market access processes.
- Scientific background in malaria or other infectious diseases and experience in working in resource limited settings are preferable.
- Proven team leadership skills with track record of project delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to function in a matrix organizational environment.
- Fluency in English (verbal and in writing); good working knowledge of French.
- Strong technical writing abilities for reports and manuscripts.
Behavioural Skills
- Excellent sills in analytical and strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem solving in complex and dynamic environments.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders.
- Commitment to highest standards of compliance in GCP, safety reporting, health care practitioner, government and normative body interactions and all aspects of the role
- Self-motivated, approachable, articulate team player with the highest level of integrity and core value system that is consistent with the organization.
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Starting date: ideally 1 October 2025
Interested applicants should send their CV and a motivationletter explaining their interest in the position by 30th January 2025.
MMV is committed to building a talented and diverse workforce, selecting candidates based on their skills, abilities, and experience. We foster an inclusive workplace, free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, political beliefs, age, nationality, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
Our hybrid working model encourages in-office collaboration. For candidates residing in Switzerland, we expect a minimum of two days per week in the office; for cross-border candidates residing in France, at least three days per week. Please note that this is not a remote role, and MMV offers relocation support for highly qualified candidates from abroad.
For more information about MMV’s activities please refer to our website www.mmv.org
Non-mandated recruitment agencies are kindly requested to refrain from submitting applications.
