Chief Medical Officer/Chief R&D Officer

Location: UK-Oxford/London or location in Africa to begin with. Will also consider a remote based contractor. This role may require relocation to African HQ at some point in the future.

Hours: Full-time

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer - Africa Clinical Research Network

Our Mission

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) works to develop and deploy advanced technology in pursuit of solving some of humanity’s most challenging and enduring problems. Guided by world leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, EIT seeks to accelerate innovation by driving scientific and technological advancements across four humane endeavours: medical sciences and healthcare, food security and sustainable agriculture, clean energy and climate change, and government policy and economics.

Please visit eit.org for more details.

Job Summary:

We are establishing a clinical research network and are on a mission to revolutionise clinical research in Africa. Our vision is to build a sustainable, African-led research ecosystem that drives health equity and innovation. By establishing a network of world-class clinical research sites and capabilities, we aim to generate the evidence Africa needs to inform health decisions and policies, while cultivating the next generation of African scientific leaders.

Africa has been underrepresented in global clinical research, conducting only 2% of clinical trials despite shouldering 25% of the world's disease burden. While there have been significant investments in disease-specific clinical research sites and networks, these approaches have often led to fragmented infrastructure, limited capacity, and reliance on expatriate leadership. Such models have struggled to drive long-term sustainability or meet the broader health needs of African countries and regions beyond narrow therapeutic areas. Consequently, health products and policies in Africa are often informed by data from other settings, which may not fully account for the rich diversity of African populations and local contexts. This lack of locally-relevant evidence hinders the development of tailored health solutions that effectively address Africa's unique challenges and priorities.

Our clinical research network is on a mission to transform this landscape. By partnering with leading institutions and trial units across the continent, we will establish a network of clinical research sites that serve two critical goals: diversifying global research and empowering Africa to meet the healthcare needs of its rapidly growing population.

Our network will be designed to catalyse Africa's self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical and vaccine R&D and manufacturing, ensuring the continent can drive its own health innovation agenda. We will establish digital and clinical infrastructure, while prioritising deep community engagement to foster trust, relevance and impact.

At our sites, we will conduct rigorous, ethical research that puts African populations and priorities at the centre. By generating high-quality local data that reflects the diversity of African contexts, we can accelerate the development and delivery of tailored global health solutions - for Africa, by Africa. Our goal is to build sustainable research capacity that outlasts any single study or funder, empowering African institutions to become global leaders in clinical research and scientific innovation for generations to come.

The role:

We are seeking a visionary Chief Medical Officer (CMO)/Chief R&D Officer to bring this ambitious vision to life. Reporting to the CEO, the CMO/Chief R&D Officer will develop and drive the network's research strategy, establish world-class sites, and build trusted partnerships with network partners, stakeholders and strategic partners that can enhance Africa's presence in the global research agenda across multiple therapeutic areas. The CMO/Chief R&D Officer will direct and drive medical research across the network, overseeing the network's clinical trial performance and ensuring it is high quality. This role will be instrumental in shaping the network's mission to advance sustainable, innovative, collaborative and community led clinical research across Africa.

Key tasks and responsibilities include:

• Develop a leading network owned and operated sites and administrative centre, building best-in-class teams and capabilities across clinical operations, biostatistics, data management, pharmacovigilance and beyond
• Craft a bold research agenda that addresses Africa's most pressing health needs, with a focus on delivering affordable, accessible and scalable innovations
• Build and oversee a portfolio of sponsored and investigator-initiated trials across the network, ensuring the highest standards of scientific and ethical rigor
• Drive adoption of innovative trial designs and technologies to accelerate timelines, optimize efficiency and strengthen data quality
• Forge strategic partnerships with global and African funders, pharma, CROs, regulators and policymakers to expand the network's reach and impact
• Develop and implement quality management systems to ensure compliance with international and local regulatory requirements
• Serve as an inspiring scientific leader and spokesperson for the network, engaging diverse stakeholders from community advisory boards to international scientific forums
• Cultivate the next generation of African research leaders through capacity building and professional development initiatives

Candidate profile:

The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial physician-scientist with a passion for health equity and a talent for building sustainable organizations. While candidates do not need to be from Africa, they must have a strong commitment to leveraging their expertise to build local capacity.

Beyond the initial few years of establishing the network, the CMO will be expected to focus on identifying talent and empowering African leaders to assume key leadership roles. This includes developing a clear succession plan and creating opportunities for rising African talent to steer the organization's strategy and growth.

The ultimate goal is not just to achieve sustainability, but to cultivate a thriving, African-led institution that continues to drive research excellence and innovation for decades to come.

Qualifications include:

• MD or PhD or equivalent with subspecialty training and 15+ years' experience leading late-stage clinical development in industry, CRO, academic or global health settings; experience in Africa or Asia strongly preferred
• Proven track record of building high-performing clinical development organisations and leading global trial portfolios in multiple therapeutic areas
• Deep expertise in clinical operations, innovative trial design, data management, biostatistics, pharmacovigilance and navigating complex global regulatory pathways
• Experience securing funding and managing trial portfolios
• Experience with establishing early phase trial units with capabilities in immunobridging studies, ethnobridging studies, bioequivalence studies
• Extensive scientific network and partnership experience engaging pharma, CROs, global health funders and regulatory agencies
• Exceptional communication skills and gravitas to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, from community leaders to global policymakers
• Passion to play a key role in our clinical research's mission and commitment to building African research capacity for long-term sustainability and impact

This is a unique opportunity to build a legacy and shape the future of clinical research in Africa. The CMO will have the backing of a dedicated team and founding partners to build an innovative, purpose-driven organization that advances both scientific breakthroughs and rising scientific leaders for Africa.

Please apply online providing a CV and covering letter specifically highlighting how your existing skills and experiences support fulfilling the responsibilities of this exciting role.

The Ellison Institute of Technology is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that an inclusive, collaborative team environment is just as important to our mission as stethoscopes and microscopes. We strive to always provide employees a supportive atmosphere, so they feel confident taking creative risks towards innovation. EIT values emotional intelligence and communication with empathy and respect for others. We seek to build a diverse group of people who are curious, have a deep sense of responsibility, and the grit needed to achieve excellence.

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