---
title: 'Sr Director, Clinical Sciences at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-director-clinical-sciences-tarsus-pharmaceuticals-irvine-california-q60faq8s7ngt'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Sr Director, Clinical Sciences at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

- **Company:** Tarsus Pharmaceuticals
- **Location:** Irvine California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-08-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://tarsusrx.com/careers/apply/?gh_jid=6145690004

## Job description

## About the Role

The Sr Director, Clinical Sciences will lead Clinical Science (Eyecare) function, accountable for the scientific integrity, quality, and strategic impact of all eyecare clinical studies from early development through late-stage registration and lifecycle management. This role partners closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory, Biostats, Medical Affairs, and Commercial to translate target product profiles into robust clinical development plans and high‑quality trial designs.

Let’s talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role:

- Provide scientific leadership to cross‑functional study and program teams, ensuring timely study start‑up, enrollment, database lock, analysis, and readouts.
- Lead the design of clinical development plans and individual study protocols (objectives, endpoints, inclusion/exclusion, assessments, statistical assumptions)
- Maintains direct ownership of clinical deliverables, actively contributing to protocol development, document authoring, data review, study-level problem solving and execution decisions to ensure scientific rigor and operational excellence.
- Shape clinical plans including timelines, budgets and oversight of clinical teams.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with investigators, KOLs, and external partners; contribute to publication strategy and scientific communications
- Drive innovation in clinical endpoints, biomarkers, and digital tools, and champion continuous improvement in clinical science processes, templates, and data review frameworks
- Author and critically review key clinical and regulatory documents, including protocols, SAPs, CSRs, IBs and clinical value dossiers, ensuring scientific rigor, regulatory alignment and quality execution.
- Conduct research to develop foundational education material to inform the early development program strategies.
- Interpret clinical data and support data-driven decisions.
- Serve as program lead on early development Core teams, investigator meetings and scientific advisory boards.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including KOLs and regulators.
- Exhibits and fosters key leadership competencies, including an innovative mindset, strong business acumen, an outcome-driven orientation, and a commitment to growing and expanding the capabilities and capacity of the team.
- Collaborate with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Translational Sciences, Biostatistics, Medical Affairs and others to ensure robust trial design, scientific and operational alignment and execution .

Factors for Success:

- Advanced degree in sciences (e.g. PharmD, MD, PhD) with deep experience in early clinical development
- Experience in ophthalmology is preferred; dermatology or infectious diseases a plus.
- Minimum of 10 years of biotech/pharmaceutical clinical development experience, with a minimum of 8 years leadership in clinical trial management experience required
- Established leadership track record with evidence of excellent performance-based people management experience, problem solving, collaboration, cross functional leadership and effective communication skills.
- Expertise with SOPs, GCPs and regulatory and compliance guidelines for clinical trials.
- Must be willing to be “hands on” and delve into details

Leadership Competencies - This role requires mastery of the Tarsus Leadership Competencies for Leading Teams, including:

- Empowering Others - Fosters empowerment by aligning authority with accountability, developing leaders’ decision-making capability, and creating systems that support performance and growth.
- Emotional Intelligence - Foster trust and psychological safety, navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with compassion and accountability, and adapting leadership style to support others while maintaining composure under pressure.
- Grows Capacity - Builds organizational capacity by developing talent systems, coaching cultures, and strategic partnerships that grow leadership strength and prepare the next generation of leaders.
- Business Acumen - Demonstrates strong business acumen by anticipating market dynamics and using financial and strategic insight to guide investments, manage risk, and align priorities with long-term organizational value.
- Innovative Mindset and Action - Demonstrates an innovative mindset by championing new ideas, investing in enabling systems and partnerships, and translating innovation into sustainable growth and organizational resilience.

Few Other Details Worth Mentioning:

- The position will be based in our beautiful Irvine office, complete with onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals. We provide a hybrid work environment. Remote work is an option.
- We are passionate about our culture! Our Tarsans live our values of commitment to patients, empowerment to champion innovation, and teamwork to amplify impact!
- This position reports directly to our SVP, Development
- Some travel may be required – up to 30%

At Tarsus, we understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. The expected base pay range for this position is $255,000 - $357,000 plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base pay range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by additional factors such as job-related skills, experience and relevant education or training. Our benefits include health, dental and vision insurance benefits to ensure your well-being. We believe in work-life balance and offer generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days. For more details regarding Tarsus benefits, please visit: https://eb.alliant.com/26tarsusbenefitssnapshot.

#LI-Remote Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

## About Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: A biopharmaceutical company creating novel therapies to treat the root cause of diseases, starting with eye care and expanding into dermatology and infectious disease prevention.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: TARS)
- **Headquarters**: Not publicly available in provided sources (inferred to be Irvine, CA, but not confirmed)
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Bobak Azamian, MD, PhD and Michael Ackermann

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals (eye care, dermatology, infectious disease prevention)
- **Target customers**: Patients with high unmet medical needs; prescribing eye care professionals, dermatologists, and other healthcare providers (B2B/B2C hybrid)
- **Mission or purpose**: To revolutionize treatment for patients with unmet needs by pursuing the root cause of disease, not just symptoms.

## Products & Services
- **[XDEMVY® (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25%]**: The first and only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis, an eyelid disease affecting approximately 25 million Americans. (Product, prescription medicine)
- **[TP-03 (lotilaner ophthalmic solution)]**: Investigational treatment for Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD), currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)
- **[TP-04]**: Investigational treatment for Rosacea (ocular rosacea), currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)
- **[TP-05]**: Oral tablet for the prevention of Lyme disease, currently in Phase 2a clinical trial. (Pipeline candidate)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (public company, stock price available via LSEG with 15-minute delay)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue – Not disclosed in provided sources (public company, quarterly earnings reported; Q1 2026 results mentioned but figures not included)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Initial backing from Versant Ventures and Third Rock Ventures (per founder background); global partnerships mentioned but not specified.
- **Growth Signals**: FDA approval of first product (XDEMVY); advancing three pipeline candidates into Phase 2a trials; partnership with John Cena to raise awareness of Demodex blepharitis; public listing enabling further financing.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover category**: XDEMVY is the only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis, creating a new category in eye care.
- **Root-cause approach**: Focus on treating the underlying cause of disease rather than symptoms, potentially offering more durable solutions.
- **Expanding pipeline**: Leveraging the same platform (lotilaner) to address multiple large, underserved conditions (MGD, rosacea, Lyme disease prevention).
- **Strong leadership and culture**: Experienced management team with deep biotech expertise; culture of teamwork, empowerment, and commitment.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Commercialize XDEMVY and expand its reach; advance Phase 2a trials for TP-03, TP-04, and TP-05; pursue new categories in eye care, dermatology, and infectious disease prevention.
- **Direction for growth**: Build on the success of XDEMVY to establish a pipeline of novel therapies addressing high unmet needs, with potential to expand beyond the eye.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Driven by core values of teamwork, empowerment, and commitment; described as nimble, differentiated, and patient-centered.
- **Work model**: Hybrid work options available; on-campus gym at headquarters.
- **Perks & benefits**: Comprehensive health & wellness program (medical, dental, vision with significant employer contribution), flexible time off, paid parental leave, sabbatical program, 401(k) match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, gym reimbursement, Calm and LifeBalance memberships, cell phone allowance, in-office meals and snacks, family-building assistance via Carrot.
- **Growth opportunities**: Learning and career development resources; recognition programs; exposure to a fast-growing public company with a promising pipeline.

## Sources
1. [tarsusrx.com](https://tarsusrx.com/)
2. [tarsusrx.com/careers](https://tarsusrx.com/careers/)
3. [tarsusrx.com/our-story](https://tarsusrx.com/our-story/)
4. [ir.tarsusrx.com/investor-relations](https://ir.tarsusrx.com/investor-relations)
5. [tarsusrx.com/our-leadership](https://tarsusrx.com/our-leadership/)

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