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# Chief Medical Officer (CMO) with a Public Diagnostics Firm – St. Louis, MO


Role Overview for Chief Medical Officer (CMO) with a Public Diagnostics Firm – St. Louis, MO
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a pioneering, publicly-traded diagnostics company based in the vibrant hub of St. Louis, MO, in their search for a visionary and strategic Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Our client is at the forefront of developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic solutions that are transforming patient care, enabling earlier disease detection, and guiding personalized treatment decisions. This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic executive leadership team and shape the future of medicine.
The Chief Medical Officer will serve as the senior clinical leader for the entire organization, providing medical, clinical, and scientific direction across all facets of the business. This executive will be the primary voice of the company to the medical community, regulatory bodies, and investors on all clinical matters. You will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive clinical strategy that aligns with the company’s ambitious growth objectives, ensuring the highest standards of scientific rigor, ethical conduct, and patient safety. This role demands a unique blend of deep medical expertise, strategic business acumen, and inspirational leadership. You will be instrumental in driving the clinical development pipeline, from early-stage feasibility to late-stage validation and post-market studies, ultimately bringing groundbreaking diagnostic products to patients and clinicians worldwide. The ideal candidate is a seasoned physician-executive with a proven track record in the in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry, possessing extensive experience in navigating the complex global regulatory landscape and building high-performing medical and clinical affairs teams.
As a key member of the C-suite, the CMO will collaborate closely with the CEO, Chief Scientific Officer, and heads of R&D, Commercial, and Operations to define corporate strategy and drive long-term value creation. You will be the clinical conscience of the company, ensuring that the patient’s perspective is central to every decision. This is more than a job; it is a chance to leave an indelible mark on a fast-growing public company and significantly impact global health outcomes. If you are a transformative leader passionate about the power of diagnostics to improve lives, we invite you to explore this exceptional opportunity.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) with a Public Diagnostics Firm – St. Louis, MO
The Chief Medical Officer’s responsibilities are broad and critical to the company’s success. You will be accountable for the following key areas:
Clinical Development & Strategy

Develop, articulate, and execute the overarching clinical vision and long-range strategy for the company’s entire diagnostic portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and commercial objectives.
Provide expert medical and clinical leadership for all product development programs, from concept and discovery through commercial launch and life-cycle management.
Oversee the design, planning, and execution of all clinical studies, including analytical validation, clinical validation, and clinical utility studies, ensuring they are scientifically sound, ethically conducted, and meet regulatory requirements.
Champion innovation by identifying and evaluating new diagnostic technologies, clinical applications, and strategic opportunities to expand the product pipeline.
Collaborate with the R&D team to define target product profiles (TPPs) and clinical development plans (CDPs) for new diagnostic assays.

Regulatory Affairs & Compliance

Serve as the primary medical liaison with global regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and other international bodies.
Lead the preparation and review of the clinical sections of regulatory submissions, including 510(k)s, De Novo requests, Premarket Approvals (PMAs), and CE-IVDR technical files.
Ensure that all clinical activities are conducted in strict compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), relevant ISO standards, CLIA, CAP, and other applicable national and international clinical trial regulations.
Provide medical oversight for risk management activities, health hazard evaluations, and post-market surveillance to ensure product safety and effectiveness.

Medical Affairs & Scientific Communications

Build and lead a world-class Medical Affairs organization responsible for evidence generation, scientific communication, and external stakeholder engagement.
Establish and cultivate strong relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), academic institutions, professional societies, and patient advocacy groups to gather insights and support product adoption.
Oversee the development and execution of a robust publication strategy, including manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, abstracts, and presentations at major medical and scientific conferences.
Act as the company’s lead medical spokesperson, effectively communicating complex clinical data and the value proposition of the company’s products to medical, investor, and media audiences.
Direct the development of medical and clinical educational materials for internal teams (e.g., sales, marketing) and external stakeholders (e.g., clinicians, laboratory professionals).

Leadership & Management

Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of professionals in clinical development, clinical operations, biostatistics, and medical affairs.
Foster a culture of scientific excellence, integrity, collaboration, and urgency within the medical organization and across the company.
Manage the departmental budget, resources, and timelines effectively to achieve strategic objectives.
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to overall corporate strategy, business development decisions, and investor relations activities.

Requirements for the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) with a Public Diagnostics Firm – St. Louis, MO
The successful candidate will be a distinguished physician leader with a deep understanding of the diagnostics industry and a passion for innovation.
Educational & Professional Qualifications
Medical Degree (MD or DO) is required.

Board certification in a relevant specialty (e.g., Pathology, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine) is highly preferred.
An advanced degree such as a PhD, MBA, or MPH is a significant plus.
Must hold an active and unrestricted medical license in at least one U.S. state.

Experience & Expertise

A minimum of 15 years of progressive clinical and medical leadership experience within the diagnostics, medical device, or biopharmaceutical industry.
At least 7 years of experience in a senior leadership role (e.g., Vice President, Senior Medical Director) with direct management responsibility for clinical development and/or medical affairs teams.

Direct experience with a publicly-traded company is strongly preferred,
including involvement in investor relations and public disclosures.

Proven track record of successfully leading the clinical development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) products.
Deep, hands-on experience in designing and executing clinical trials for diagnostic products and navigating the global regulatory submissions process (FDA, CE-IVDR).
Demonstrated success in building and maintaining relationships with KOLs, investigators, and regulatory agencies.
Experience in relevant therapeutic areas such as oncology, genomics, infectious diseases, or immunology is highly desirable.

Skills & Attributes

Exceptional leadership and team-building skills with a demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve ambitious goals.
Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, capable of integrating clinical, scientific, regulatory, and commercial perspectives.
Unquestionable personal and professional integrity, with a commitment to the highest ethical standards.
High level of business acumen and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic public company environment.
A collaborative and influential leader who can build consensus and drive alignment across a matrixed organization.

Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier executive talent and offers a highly competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:
Competitive Executive Base Salary
A highly attractive base salary commensurate with experience and market standards.
Annual Performance Bonus
A significant annual cash bonus opportunity based on individual and company performance.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
A substantial equity grant (stock options and/or RSUs) to ensure alignment with long-term shareholder value creation.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your eligible dependents, with low employee contributions. Includes access to wellness programs and mental health resources.
Retirement Savings
A 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Executive Relocation Package
A comprehensive relocation package is available for the successful candidate and their family to St. Louis, MO.
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
A flexible and generous PTO policy, in addition to paid company holidays, to support work-life balance.
Professional Development
A dedicated budget for continuing medical education (CME), professional society memberships, and attendance at key industry conferences.
Additional Perks
Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and other executive-level perquisites.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is exclusively managing this executive search. If you are a visionary medical leader ready to drive the clinical strategy of a leading public diagnostics company, we encourage you to apply.
To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your curriculum vitae and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the role. All applications will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. We look forward to connecting with you and discussing this transformative role in more detail. JRG Partners is an equal opportunity employer.