Clinical Development Lead (UK)

Make your mark for patients. Are you ready to shape the future of medicine on a global scale? As Clinical Development Lead, you will play a pivotal role in advancing UCB’s most strategic assets—from early-stage development through global registration and launch.

About the Role: As a Clinical Development Lead, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on patients’ lives by driving innovative, patient-centric clinical strategies in a highly visible, high-stakes environment. Reporting to senior R&D leadership, you will lead the end-to-end design and execution of global development programs, working cross-functionally to translate science into access, and strategy into action. You’ll collaborate with global thought leaders, guide multifunctional teams, and influence decisions that shape both science and the business.

Who You’ll Work With: You will work in close partnership with leaders across Global Clinical Science, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Commercial, Medical Affairs, and Market Access. You will also engage directly with global regulatory agencies, KOLs, external partners, and scientific communities.

What You’ll Do:

• Set the global clinical development strategy for assigned asset(s), ensuring alignment with TPVP, regulatory requirements, and commercial goals.
• Lead external engagement with global thought leaders, investigators, and stakeholders to continuously refine strategy based on emerging insights and unmet needs.
• Design and adapt robust clinical development plans that integrate the latest scientific, regulatory, operational, and payer perspectives—balancing innovation with executional feasibility.
• Oversee the execution of pivotal studies and regulatory submissions across all relevant markets, ensuring clinical excellence, data integrity, and timely delivery.
• Shape clinical narratives and regulatory strategy, acting as a key representative in interactions with global health authorities and strategic partners.
• Contribute to corporate strategy, supporting business development initiatives and representing the clinical perspective in asset evaluations.
• Ensure inspection readiness and regulatory compliance, maintaining the highest standards of GCP and quality throughout program execution.
• Serve as a global ambassador for UCB, presenting at major conferences, symposia, and advisory forums.

Interested? For this position you’ll need the following education, experience and skills:

Minimum qualifications:

• Master’s degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in global clinical development within a biopharmaceutical environment.
• Minimum of 10 years of proven leadership of clinical strategy experience through Phase 3 and global regulatory submission and approval.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent).
• Track record of leading complex global programs across multiple indications.
• Familiarity with digital health technologies, real-world data, and AI-enabled trial innovation.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, make informed decisions in uncertainty, and drive results across organizational boundaries.
• Strategic mindset with a bias for innovation, speed, and operational excellence.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including C-suite level.
• Global experience and cultural fluency; willingness to travel internationally as needed.

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About us: UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are around 8,500 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us? At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.