The Role

This is a senior-level contract opportunity for a Chief Veterinary Officer with deep expertise in animal clinical trials and CRO management. This is a 50% FTE role over a 24-month period, supporting the strategic and operational delivery of innovative animal clinical development programs.

You will work across global clinical initiatives, developing and overseeing animal clinical trial strategies, protocols, and data interpretation within a translational research environment. The organisation is advancing novel therapies through studies in naturally occurring disease settings, generating high-quality clinical data to support development.

The ideal candidate enjoys a dynamic, science-driven environment, is proactive, organised, and confident in delivering consistently high-quality outputs. Strong experience in animal clinical trials and hands-on CRO management is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide veterinary leadership across all animal clinical development programs

• Design and oversee animal clinical trial protocols, ensuring scientific rigor and regulatory compliance

• Lead the selection, onboarding, and management of CROs, including performance oversight, budget management, and timeline delivery

• Oversee outsourced studies to ensure quality, timelines, and objectives are met

• Act as the primary veterinary expert interfacing with internal teams, CROs, and external partners

• Ensure all studies are conducted in accordance with animal welfare standards and relevant regulatory frameworks

• Review and interpret clinical data to inform development strategy and decision-making

• Support regulatory strategy and interactions related to animal clinical studies

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (R&D, regulatory, project management, external partners) to ensure timely and high-quality delivery

• Conduct quality checks of internal and external deliverables, ensuring scientific accuracy and alignment with study objectives

• Maintain awareness of evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial methodologies, and best practices in animal research

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in animal clinical trials, ideally within biotech, pharma, or translational research environments

• Proven expertise in CRO selection, management, and oversight across multiple studies

• Strong understanding of regulatory and ethical frameworks governing animal research

• Experience designing and executing clinical protocols

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific data into clear insights

• Ability to manage multiple workstreams effectively in a part-time, high-impact role

• Highly collaborative, comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving environment

• DVM/VMD or equivalent veterinary degree required; advanced specialization or board certification preferred

The Offer

• Competitive daily or hourly rate

• Flexible remote working options

• 50% FTE commitment over a 24-month period

• Opportunity to play a key leadership role in innovative animal clinical development programs

• Collaborative environment with strong emphasis on scientific quality, execution, and impact

Apply below if you think you've got the right capabilities.