Cytokinetics

Director, Quality Systems

Cytokinetics$225K — $262K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences; 12+ years in biopharmaceuticals, with 7+ years in Quality Systems leadership.
  • 5+ years of progressive people-management experience in Quality roles.
  • Proven leadership skills with effective teamwork and communication.
  • Direct experience in Quality Management Systems: CAPA, Change Control, Deviations.
  • Familiarity with Veeva Quality Vault is preferred.
  • Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills, with excellent planning capabilities.
  • Deep understanding of Quality principles and industry standards.

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic roadmap for Quality Systems, overseeing all associated functions.
  • Lead and develop teams in document control, GxP training, and quality processes.
  • Act as Business Process Owner of the Quality Management System (QMS).
  • Maintain and update Quality Systems to reflect best practices.
  • Ensure compliance with FDA, EMA, ICH, and other regulatory standards.
  • Oversee management of GxP documents throughout their lifecycle.
  • Ensure adherence to training programs for GxP compliance across the company.
  • Collaborate with IT to enhance the electronic Quality Management System (eQMS).
  • Lead quality systems projects across multiple departments.
  • Monitor quality system performance and manage continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Life and disability insurance coverage.
  • 401k retirement benefits with employer match.
  • Learning and wellness stipends.
  • Paid time off and equity in stock options or restricted stock units.
Full Job Description

The Director of Quality Systems will be responsible for the overall operation of Cytokinetics Quality Systems and will provide leadership for the quality management system, document control, and GxP training groups. This role will provide strategic direction, leadership, and development for these groups to ensure that all aspects of pharmaceutical quality management systems (QMS), controlled documentation, and training programs are effectively established, implemented, and maintained in accordance with cGMP regulations and industry best practices. The Director of Quality Systems will serve as a key advisor on QMS-related matters and ensure quality system processes support business objectives, regulatory compliance, and inspection readiness.


Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic roadmap for the Quality Systems organization, including oversight of quality management system, document control, and GxP training groups, oversee personnel performance management, mentoring, and career development.
  • Lead and develop teams responsible for document control, GxP training administration, and quality system processes, ensuring effective execution and continuous improvement.
  • Acts as Business Process Owner of the QMS.
  • Ensure Quality Systems and processes are maintained and modified regularly to ensure best practices.
  • Ensure Quality Systems support compliance with applicable FDA, EMA, ICH, GxP, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Oversee the document control program, ensuring the effective management, review, approval, issuance, revision, archival, and retrieval of GxP documents and records.
  • Oversee the GxP training program, ensuring training curricula, assignment, completion, effectiveness, and compliance requirements are met across the company.
  • Collaborate with IT to implement updates/enhancements to the eQMS and ensure effective system support.
  • Lead company-wide quality systems projects across various departments.
  • Work with GxP functional leaders to implement processes and systems that enable the business to operate effectively. Provide process analytics and oversight on a continuous basis to enforce requirements and meet regulations.
  • Monitor the entire quality system to ensure that acceptable levels of performance are maintained.
  • Manage continuous improvement project as required.
  • Establish and report on appropriate metrics and dashboards to monitor overall quality system health and facilitate quality review board and management review.
  • Review and approve cGMP records and documents as required.
  • Develop and manage goals and corresponding budget in alignment with company vision and goals.
  • Work on complex problems that may have implications across functions, apply strong judgment in resolving problems and make recommendations.
  • Lead inspection readiness activities related to Quality Systems.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop Quality Systems personnel and functional subject matter experts.
  • Recruit talent and build a high performing team, mentor, and coach colleagues.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences with 12+ years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including at least 7 years of experience leading Quality Systems within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated life sciences industry.
  • 5+ years of progressive people-management experience including leading, mentoring, and developing Quality professionals.
  • Demonstrated leadership with effective communication skills and an ability to deliver results through teamwork.
  • Strong direct experience with Quality Management Systems, including CAPA, Change Control, Deviations, Continuous Improvements and Quality Risk Management.
  • Veeva Quality Vault experience preferred.
  • Must think critically and be able to make decisions independently, determine appropriate resources for problem resolution, and have strong organizational and planning skills.
  • In-depth knowledge of Quality principles, concepts, industry practices, and standards.
  • Demonstrated ability to execute strategic and tactical objectives provided by senior leaders both within and outside of Quality.
  • Able to effectively communicate vision and expectations to the teams.
  • Experience in a global, multi-site, or international GxP environment preferred.
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Pay Range:

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $225,000 - $262,500. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. Base salary is just one component of our competitive total compensation package, which includes equity in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

About Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing muscle activators and inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised and/or declining. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
Learn more about Cytokinetics
Size
253 employees
Market Cap
$4.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$127.2 million
5 Year Trend
-7.9%
Revenue
$55.8 million
NASDAQ

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