Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Clinical Development

at Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

🏢 About Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

CEPI is a unique global partnership that accelerates vaccine development against emerging infectious diseases, operating at the intersection of public health, philanthropy, and scientific innovation. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical companies, CEPI focuses specifically on epidemic preparedness, working collaboratively with governments, academia, and industry to address global health threats before they become pandemics. This mission-driven organization offers the opportunity to contribute to global health security while working on cutting-edge vaccine platforms.

About This Role

As Director of Clinical Development at CEPI, you'll establish and implement the overall clinical strategy for vaccine development programs, overseeing everything from trial design to execution across global sites. This role is particularly impactful because you'll be shaping clinical development plans for vaccines targeting emerging infectious diseases, directly contributing to CEPI's mission of epidemic preparedness. You'll lead a multidisciplinary team while managing relationships with CROs, implementing partners, and investigative sites worldwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing clinical data from ongoing vaccine trials across multiple regions, strategizing with scientific teams about upcoming trial designs for emerging pathogens, and meeting with CRO partners to ensure study milestones are met. You'd likely spend time mentoring your multidisciplinary team on complex regulatory challenges while preparing presentations for CEPI's leadership about clinical development progress against strategic objectives.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Is Looking For

  • A physician (MD or equivalent) with 10+ years of global clinical development experience in infectious diseases or vaccines, specifically with demonstrated success designing and implementing clinical study plans across multiple regions
  • An internationally recognized clinical expert who has successfully managed productive engagements with external partners, investigators, and regulatory bodies in both high-income and low/middle-income countries
  • A proven senior leader with experience managing multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced, international environments, with specific expertise in resource management and performance accountability
  • Someone with deep understanding of ICH GCP guidelines and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, particularly as they apply to vaccine development and epidemic response scenarios

📝 Tips for Applying to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

1

Highlight specific experience with vaccine clinical trials, particularly for emerging infectious diseases, and quantify your impact (e.g., 'Led clinical development for X vaccine that progressed to Phase Y in Z months')

2

Demonstrate your understanding of CEPI's unique model by referencing specific CEPI-funded vaccine programs (like the 100 Days Mission) and how your experience aligns with their collaborative, partnership-driven approach

3

Provide concrete examples of managing clinical development in resource-limited settings or across diverse regulatory environments, as CEPI operates globally including in LMICs

4

Showcase your experience with both strategic planning and tactical implementation by describing how you've translated clinical strategy into operational plans with CROs and investigative sites

5

Emphasize your ability to work in fast-paced, mission-driven environments by providing examples of rapid response to emerging health threats or accelerated clinical development timelines

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific experience with vaccine clinical development and how it prepares you to establish CEPI's clinical development strategy for emerging infectious diseases", 'Examples of successful external partnership management with CROs, investigators, and implementing partners in global settings, particularly highlighting work in diverse geographic regions', 'Your leadership philosophy and experience mentoring multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced, international environments, with emphasis on resource management during epidemic response scenarios', "Your understanding of CEPI's unique mission and how your background aligns with their focus on epidemic preparedness and equitable access to vaccines"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → CEPI's current vaccine portfolio and pipeline, particularly their work on Disease X and the 100 Days Mission to respond to future pandemics
  • → CEPI's partnership model and how they collaborate with organizations like WHO, Gavi, and various governments and manufacturers
  • → CEPI's specific initiatives in low- and middle-income countries and their equity-focused approach to vaccine access
  • → Recent publications or presentations by CEPI's scientific leadership to understand their current strategic priorities and challenges

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a clinical development strategy for a novel vaccine platform targeting an unknown pathogen (Disease X) within CEPI's 100 Days Mission framework?
2 Describe your approach to managing clinical trials simultaneously in high-income countries and resource-limited settings, addressing regulatory and operational challenges specific to each
3 How have you successfully managed relationships with multiple external partners (CROs, implementing partners, sites) while maintaining quality and compliance with ICH GCP?
4 What metrics would you establish to measure the performance and impact of CEPI's clinical development function, and how would you resource this globally distributed team?
5 How would you balance the need for rapid vaccine development during an epidemic with maintaining rigorous scientific standards and regulatory compliance?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on pharmaceutical industry experience without demonstrating understanding of CEPI's unique public-private partnership model and global health mission
  • Presenting generic clinical development experience without specific examples related to vaccines, infectious diseases, or global/emergency response contexts
  • Failing to demonstrate experience working across diverse geographic and regulatory environments, particularly in resource-limited settings relevant to CEPI's work

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)!

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