Chief Executive Officer

Magdalena Biosciences is a pioneering joint venture developing novel, plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines for mental health disorders, initially focusing on ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

Location: Remote, anywhere in USA

Responsibilities

• Define Strategy: Refine the company’s scientific and corporate trajectory, ensuring an efficient path from preclinical study initiation to validated programs.
• Prioritize Indications: Establish milestone-driven development plans for high-value targets (adult ADHD, depression, and anxiety) optimized for a capital-efficient seed-to-Series-A timeline.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify and derisk scientific, regulatory, and operational assumptions early in the development lifecycle.
• Capital Acquisition: Lead all financing activities, maximizing seed expansion and driving the strategy for a successful Series A raise.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain high-trust relationships with venture capitalists, impact investors, and strategic partners.
• Corporate Narrative: Craft and articulate a compelling, scientifically credible company narrative to external stakeholders.
• Recruitment: Build and lead a lean, elite, cross-functional team across R&D, clinical operations, and program management.
• Culture Champion: Foster a hands-on, data-driven, and execution-focused culture that rewards smart risk-taking and rapid learning.
• Advisory Governance: Engage and manage scientific founders, advisors, and the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to maximize platform development.
• Alliances: Identify, negotiate, and execute strategic partnerships with academic institutions, biotechnology startups, and large pharmaceutical companies.
• Vendor Operations: Oversee relationships with contract service providers, specialized funding bodies, and CROs to ensure disciplined, externalized execution.

Requirements

• Proven track record as a Founder, CEO, CRO, COO, CSO, Head of R&D, or senior Business Development executive within an early-stage biotechnology startup.
• Demonstrated success raising capital, building investor trust, and securing venture financing.
• Direct experience in botanical drug development, appetite suppression, or neuropsychiatric/CNS drug pipelines.
• Proven capability to execute disciplined prioritization and achieve results within resource-constrained environments.

Benefits

• Ground-Floor Impact: Lead the creation of a revolutionary botanical drug asset from raw extract through data generation to FDA approval.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Shape the company culture, scientific strategy, and pipeline architecture from day one with true autonomy.
• Elite Network: Work directly alongside visionary founders, leading institutional investors, and world-class scientific advisors.
• Clinical Meaning: Transform the landscape of mental health care by delivering a safer, natural class of prescription medicines to patients in need.

Additional Information

• Business travel required