Fractional & Interim Chief Development Officer Services
Strategic drug development leadership for biotech companies – from investor readiness to clinical execution.
Senior development expertise, exactly when you need it.
Fractional Chief Development Officer, biotech program management and development consulting for biotechs, research groups, and pharma companies – without the permanency, cost, or lead time of a full-time hire.
Three ways Boyds can help you to accelerate your pipeline.
Whether you need a CDO-level strategic lead, a seasoned program director, or expert drug development consulting, we embed seamlessly into your organization at whatever level of commitment you require .
Fractional Chief Development Officer
C-suite development leadership on a part-time or interim basis. Ideal for early-stage companies that need Board-level strategic direction without a full-time salary commitment.
- Clinical & regulatory strategy
- Investor and partner-facing leadership
- Drug development strategy and portfolio planning
- Portfolio prioritization and go/no-go decisions
- CMC and translational oversight
- Partnering and licensing strategy
- Build and mentor internal team
Fractional or Interim Program Management
Experienced R&D program directors overseeing cross-functional delivery end-to-end, from IND filing to Phase III NDA submissions and partnership handovers.
- Integrated development plans
- Risk registers and scenario planning
- CRO/vendor governance and oversight
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Timeline, budget and resource management
- Governance and committee support
- Cross-functional drug development coordination
Product Development Advisory
Deep scientific and operational expertise applied to critical development inflection points through pharmaceutical development consulting and strategic product development support – from target product profile to regulatory submission strategy.
- TPP and indication strategy
- Regulatory pathway design
- Clinical program design
- Pre-IND and pre-NDA advisory
- Due diligence and asset evaluation
- Academic-to-industry translation
- Clinical development strategy consulting
Built for the full life sciences ecosystem
Biotechs and Start-ups
Series A/B companies that have compelling science but lack the operational infrastructure to advance it. We provide drug development consulting and development leadership to take you from discovery to clinical proof of concept.
Academic & Research Groups
University spinouts and research institutes translating academic findings into commercial assets. We bridge the gap between publication and program, bringing industry rigor to academic innovation.
Pharma Companies
Established companies navigating capacity gaps, leadership transitions, or accelerated timelines. We integrate rapidly with existing teams to provide pharmaceutical development consulting, program leadership, and strategic delivery support.
Investor & Deal Teams
VC and PE investors requiring development due diligence, portfolio company support, or post-acquisition program stabilization. We evaluate assets and then help build them.
Need strategic development leadership without a permanent hire?
Why outsource rather than recruit?
Hiring a full-time Chief Development Officer can be a lengthy process that consumes management bandwidth, creates opportunity cost, and carries significant financial and reputational risk if the hire doesn’t work out.
For many organizations – particularly those at key inflection points, between rounds, or with episodic development needs, fractional hires and outsourced development leadership and support can be a more flexible and commercially efficient solution.
Immediate mobilization
Fractional leaders are operational within two to three weeks. A permanent hire can take months to source, negotiate and onboard – time your pipeline cannot afford.
Dramatically lower cost
A fractional CDO typically costs 40-60% less than a full-time equivalent when total compensation, benefits, and employer costs are accounted for.
Seasoned cross-sector expertise
Fractional leaders bring pattern recognition from multiple programs, indications, and organizations – a perspective that no single-company hire can match.
Scalable commitment
Engagement scales up or down with your program needs, giving you full flexibility and access to expertise when you need it. This can be full days per week during IND submission, and lighter touch support during data collection – you only pay for what you need.
No long-term obligation
Avoid employment law complexity, redundancy risk, and cultural fit uncertainty. Clear contractual terms mean you retain strategic flexibility at every stage.
Investor and Board confidence
Senior development leadership signals credibility to investors and partners, even before you have the revenue to justify recruiting in house. We can operate as part of your team and work with you at investor meetings.
Structured around your requirements
Strategic Advisory
A defined number of days per month providing expert input at key decision points. Ideal for organizations that have operational capacity but need senior strategic counsel.
- 1 or more days per month
- Program review and challenge
- Board and investor meeting support
- On-call availability between sessions
Fractional Embedded
A consistent presence within your organization, either remotely or in person at your offices, where possible – attending team meetings, overseeing workstreams, and functioning as a member of your leadership team.
- 1 or more days per week, ongoing
- Full cross-functional leadership
- CRO and vendor management
- Board-level reporting and governance
- Team mentoring and capability building
R&D Program Lead
Fractional or interim cover for a defined period or project:
- Full-time for a defined duration
- Clear milestones and deliverables
- Handover to permanent hire
- Typical duration 3-24 months
From first conversation to delivery
01 Discovery call and needs assessment
We discuss your program(s), organization, and where development leadership is most needed. No charge, no obligation.
02 Proposal
A clear engagement proposal – scope, time commitment, deliverables, and fees. Simple terms, no ambiguity.
03 Mobilization
We’re operational within 2-3 weeks of contract sign-off. We learn fast, integrate quickly, and deliver from day one.
Enquire about our Fractional and Interim CDO Service today.
Get in touch
If you would like to talk to a member of our team about a specific project or area of expertise, then please complete this form and we will get in touch.