Senior/Director, Medical Science

Company Background

GondolaBio is a collection of biopharmaceutical companies focused on developing next-generation therapeutics for genetic diseases. Originally carved out of BridgeBio, GondolaBio secured $300M in private financing from external investors in 2024 and became an independent company within the BridgeBio ecosystem. GondolaBio aims to leverage cutting-edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

Portal Therapeutics is an early clinical stage biotechnology company, and the lead program in GondolaBio’s portfolio. Portal is developing a novel potential best-in-class therapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a severe genetic disease of the blood which results in extreme sensitivity to sunlight and liver damage.

To learn more, visit us at gondolabio.com

Who You Are

The Director, Medical Science is responsible for building and leading field-based medical engagement in the Portal program in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) and X-Linked Protoporphyria (XLP). Reporting to the CMO and managing direct report(s), the Director executes medical affairs field strategy in alignment with business priorities and delivers high-quality, compliant scientific engagement with identified healthcare professionals (HCPs).

This is a field- and execution-focused leadership role. Working with leadership, the Director establishes and implements the Medical Affairs field plan, develops field-facing materials, and uses insights from the field to refine the plan over time.

The ideal candidate will have spent time as a Medical Science Liaison with a strong track record leading field execution with progressive managerial responsibility. Experience with a fast-moving rare-disease program is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct field-based medical and scientific engagements with identified HCPs, delivering accurate, balanced, and compliant scientific exchange on EPP/XLP disease state and program data.
• Manage and develop direct report(s): set priorities, coach, and oversee day-to-day field execution.
• Align with leadership on Medical Affairs field activities and priorities; execute against the agreed upon strategy and provide field input to refine the strategy.
• Support cross-functional development of Medical Affairs materials including field/MSL decks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and congress presentations.
• Support field engagement and logistics at medical congresses, engaging identified HCPs on-site, and coordinating field-team presence.
• Track and report field metrics and activity to demonstrate impact and inform planning.
• Develop and maintain deep scientific and clinical expertise in EPP/XLP, the porphyrias, heme biosynthesis, and rare disease.

Travel

• Significant field travel (~60–70%) to physician offices, clinical/medical congresses, and internal meetings as needed.

Education, Experience, & Skills Requirements 

• Advanced clinical or scientific degree required: PharmD, PhD, or MD.
• Established Medical Science Liaison / field medical experience required, with a demonstrated track record of field-based HCP engagement; rare disease and/or EPP/XLP/porphyria experience a strong plus.
• People-management or team-lead experience, with the ability to manage and develop direct report(s).
• Proven ability to translate strategy into field execution and to align cross-functionally with business stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial design and interpretation of scientific data.
• Excellent scientific communication skills, with a clear understanding of Medical Affairs compliance boundaries (field vs. KOL/site engagement and non-promotional standards).
• Self-directed, detail-oriented, and organized; able to work independently in the field with significant travel.

What We Offer

• Patient Days, where we are fortunate to hear directly from individuals living with the conditions we are seeking to impact throughout the year and learn how we can improve our efforts.
• A culture inspired by our values: put patients first, think independently, be radically transparent, every minute counts, and let the science speak.
• An unyielding commitment to always putting patients first.
• A de-centralized model that enables our program teams to focus on advancing  science and helping patients. Our affiliate structure is designed to eliminate bureaucracy and put decision-making power in the hands of those closest to the science.
• A  place where you own the vision – both for your program and your own career path.
• A collaborative, fast-paced, data-driven environment where we inspire ourselves and each other to always perform at the top of our game.
• Access to learning and development resources to help you get in the best professional shape of your life.
• Robust and market-competitive compensation & benefits package (Base, Performance Bonus, Equity, health, welfare & retirement programs).
• Flexible PTO
• Rapid career advancement for strong performers.
• Partnerships with leading institutions.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

The base pay range for this position is $249,000 to $454,000 per year. The actual compensation offered will be determined based on a number of job-related factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and location.  A bonus plan and equity will also be offered.