Exelixis Inc Posted July 6, 2026

Executive Director, Biostatistics

Alameda, United States Full time
Clinical Development Executive/VP
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Exelixis Inc is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE:

Leads the biostatistics function in developing statistical strategy, design, and analyses for conducting clinical trials in all phases for multiple compounds. Understands at a deep level clinical trials principles and norms. Applies sound statistical methodology to meet project objectives, health authority guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Develops and/or applies statistical theories, methods, and software. Partners in clinical development program, study design, establishing standards for clinical conduct, and the collection, management and/or reporting of data. Recruits, develops, and supervises project statisticians. Develops and implements biostatistics department policies, standards, practices, and work-instructions in coordination with senior department leader and leaders in other functions. Leads initiatives for process improvement and or standardizations for biostatistics activities and deliverables. Provides strategic statistical and regulatory guidance to anticipate challenges, mitigate risk, and ensure project success. Manages timelines, deliverables, and budgets of contract research organizations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

Provide vision and direction for the development and implementation of department standards and practices.

Provide oversite of standardization and/or process improvement initiatives

Provide strategic input on Exelixis clinical development programs

Provide technical oversight of the statistical design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials in all phases.

Review protocols and case report forms for soundness of trial design.

Review statistical analysis plans for all phases of a trial.

Direct analysis, interpret study results, and collaborate with study team to deliver interim reports, final reports, safety updates and publications.

Guide the successful completion of major programs, projects and/or functions by identifying and implementing appropriate techniques and evaluation criteria.

Lead or manage the work of others by providing guidance to subordinates or teams based on organizational goals and company policy, with responsibility for results, including costs, methods, and staffing.

Management and statistical analysis of data obtained from Phase I – IV clinical studies in support of NDAs.

Interact with FDA or EU Authority staff to ensure clinical studies meet regulatory requirements.

Attend meetings with FDA or EU Authority to ensure ongoing agreement on project development.

Contribute to the development of Requests-for-Proposals for evaluation of Contract Research Organizations for biostatistics, programming, and data management activities.

Evaluate and manage contract research organizations and other vendors, including scope-of-work, timelines, deliverables, and budgets.

Responsible for all statistical oversight within the biostatistics function.

Interpret, execute, and recommend modifications to companywide policies and/or divisional programs. May establish organizational policies in a major segment of the company.

Build strong relationships both within and outside biostatistics

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise biostatisticians.

Indirectly supervise employees in other functions through a dotted line structure or via other subordinate supervisors.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Education/Experience:

MS/MA degree in Statistics/Biostatistics or related discipline and a minimum of 16 years of related experience; or,

PhD in Statistics/Biostatistics or related discipline and a minimum of 15 years of related experience; or,

Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in oncology.

May require certification in assigned area.

Experience/The Ideal for Successful Entry into Job:

Managed clinical trials in the therapeutic area of oncology for at least 5+ years and other therapeutic areas for 10+ years.

Supervision of multiple statisticians required.

Has led phase 1-4 (preferably phase 3) oncology studies.

Knowledgeable regarding FDA/EMA/ICH guidelines for drug development, new methodology in statistics and statistical/clinical data analyses.

In-depth knowledge of CDISC standards.

Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects and multiple compounds, and to deliver high-quality work according to tight timelines.

Direct experience with FDA/EU Authority preferred.

Knowledge/Skills:

Strong people management and interpersonal skills

Strong communication skills

Strong conflict management skills

Comprehensive and detailed knowledge of statistical experimental designs, analyses, and clinical trial requirements, particularly pertaining to oncology trials.

Developed/reviewed SDTM/ADaM specifications.

Excellent knowledge of FDA/EU/ICH statistical guidelines.

Must have experience in state-of-the-art data organization and statistical analyses using statistical software such as SAS, EAST, nQuery, Cytel Studio.

Has understanding of other disciplines such as data management, clinical operation, clinical science, regulatory affairs, and drug safety.

Project management and contract negotiation with outside vendors.

Uses broad expertise or unique knowledge and skills to contribute to development of company objectives and principles and to achieve these goals in creative and effective ways.

Develops technical and/or business solutions to complex problems.

Applies strong analytical and business communication skills.

JOB COMPLEXITY:

Works on significant and unique issues where analysis scenarios require an evaluation of intangibles.

Works on complex issues where analysis scenarios require an in-depth knowledge of the company.

Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation of criteria for obtaining results.

Participates in corporate development of methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for projects, programs, and people.

Ensures budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements.

Creates formal networks involving coordination among groups. Regularly interacts with executives and/or major customers.

#LI-JP1

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this position is $271,000 - $385,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate’s geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.

In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the application and/or recruitment process, please email us at: recruiting@exelixis.com .

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

DISCLAIMER: 

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Job details

Seniority
Executive/VP
Function
Clinical Development
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Alameda, United States
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Clinical Development role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 74 comparable Executive/VP Clinical Development roles across 26 biopharma companies.

74Comparable roles tracked
70Currently active
26Companies hiring similar roles
7Countries represented

Salary context

42 of 74 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $271,000/yr – $385,000/yr
Lowest disclosed · Sr Director CDOS Process Owner - Clinical Trial Foundations · Lilly $156,000/yr – $228,800/yr
Peer group range $192,400 – $458,800 (median $319,838)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 74 comparable roles

United States63
India3
United Kingdom3
Italy2
Sweden1
Ireland1

+ 1 more countries

Seniority mix

74 of 74 peers have a known seniority level

Senior Director44
Executive/VP30

Therapeutic area mix

30 of 74 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology13
Immunology8
Respiratory5
Neuroscience3
Gastroenterology1

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How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

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Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.