Job Description

Senior Director, Biostatistics

New York, NY; Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; Raleigh, NC

About Formation Bio

Formation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development.

Advancements in AI and drug discovery are creating more candidate drugs than the industry can progress because of the high cost and time of clinical trials. Recognizing that this development bottleneck may ultimately limit the number of new medicines that can reach patients, Formation Bio, founded in 2016 as TrialSpark Inc., has built technology platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies, research organizations, and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. The company is backed by investors across pharma and tech, including a16z, Sequoia, Sanofi, Thrive Capital, John Doerr, Spark Capital, SV Angel Growth, and others.

At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

About the Position

Formation Bio is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Director, Biostatistics to join our dynamic team. This critical role will report to the Head of Biometrics and will be responsible for leading and developing the biostatistics team and strategy, driving impactful statistical initiatives, and leveraging biostatistics to advance our drug development processes.

This person will play a key role in shaping innovative trial designs, supporting regulatory strategies, and ensuring high-quality statistical contributions across clinical development. They will also collaborate cross-functionally to integrate advanced analytics, data-driven decision-making, and AI applications into our development programs to improve efficiency and increase the probability of success.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership : Lead and develop the Biostatistics team, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with Formation Bio's mission and values. Provide mentorship and career development to ensure team growth and expertise.
• Statistical Strategy & Innovation : Drive statistical strategy across clinical development programs, incorporating optimal trial designs, simulation-based approaches, and AI/ML applications to enhance efficiency and decision-making. Guide clinical and regulatory strategies to optimize trial design and maximize the probability of success.
• Study Design & Execution : Provide expert statistical input into clinical study design, endpoint selection, analysis planning, and regulatory interactions. Explore innovative trial design options to identify the most effective clinical development strategy that aligns with business needs and optimizes decision-making. Ensure study designs are scientifically rigorous, operationally feasible, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Leverage AI-driven clinical trial automation to enhance study execution, optimize resource allocation, and improve trial efficiency.
• Regulatory & Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with Clinical, Data Science, Regulatory, and Business Development teams to support drug diligence, development and regulatory interactions, FDA briefing books, and submission-related activities. Represent Biostatistics in key regulatory meetings (e.g., FDA, EMA) to ensure statistical rigor in clinical development plans.
• Operational Excellence : Establish and refine statistical workflows, SOPs, and best practices to improve efficiency, quality control, and compliance with industry standards.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making : Champion data-driven approaches and quantitative decision-making frameworks, integrating scenario analyses and statistical trial simulations to optimize clinical trial execution and strategic development plans.
• External Engagement : Stay at the forefront of industry trends and regulatory expectations, representing Formation Bio in scientific discussions, conferences, and collaborations.
• Vendor & CRO Management : Oversee and manage statistical vendors, including consulting statisticians and CROs, ensuring high-quality statistical deliverables and compliance with GCP and regulatory standards.

About You

• Ph.D. in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a related field with 10+ years of experience in biostatistics within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, statistical consulting firms, or CROs supporting clinical development.
• Proven experience leading biostatistics teams and strategies within clinical development.
• Deep expertise in statistical trial designs, adaptive designs, Bayesian methods, and simulation-based approaches for both early and late-stage development.
• Strong understanding of regulatory guidelines for drug development, including FDA and EMA requirements for statistical practice, regulatory submissions, and health authority interactions.
• Experience in quantitative decision-making frameworks to support internal Go/No-Go decisions.
• Demonstrated track record of leading statistical contributions to progress assets from diligence, early development through regulatory submissions and approvals.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Clinical, Data Management, Programming, Data Science, Regulatory, and other teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to balance scientific rigor with operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex statistical concepts into actionable insights for non-statisticians, senior management, and regulatory agencies.
• Proficiency in SAS, R (S-Plus), and statistical software for sample size calculations (e.g., East, PASS, NQuery). Expert R programming skills are a plus.
• Passion for innovation, AI-driven methodologies, and data-driven decision-making in clinical development.

Total Compensation Range: $311,000 - $388,500

Compensation Individual compensation is determined by several factors, including role scope, geographic location, and skills & experience. Your offer will reflect where you fall within the range based on these considerations. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, and generous perks. If the posted range doesn't match your expectations, we still encourage you to apply!

Where We Hire Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with a hybrid model requiring 3 days per week in office. Applicants from the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area may also be considered. Please apply only if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate.

Equal Opportunity Formation Bio is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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