Director of Quality Assurance, Alliance Management

Cytokinetics is a late-stage, specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which cardiac muscle performance is compromised. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact myocardial muscle function and contractility.

We are seeking an experienced Director of Quality Assurance, Alliance Management to join our growing global organization. As Cytokinetics expands through strategic in-licensing partnerships with regional market leaders, this role will be critical in ensuring that all quality and compliance aspects of these partnerships are effectively established and maintained.

This position will lead and coordinate Quality Assurance activities across partner relationships, ensuring alignment with global regulatory requirements and internal standards. The successful candidate will act as a key liaison between Cytokinetics and its partners, supporting both the onboarding of new alliances and the ongoing management of established collaborations.

The role reports to the Head of Quality Assurance Operations and works closely with Alliance Management, Technical Operations, Regulatory CMC, and other cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a core member of the QA Operations team and Point of Contact (POC), coordinating quality requirements arising from partnership activities, in partnership with alliance management teams
• Lead and manage all Quality Assurance activities related to the onboarding of new partners
• Develop scalable frameworks, models, and processes for partner onboarding and QA integration
• Act as the lead for partner-related Quality Assurance audits
• Develop standards for Quality Agreements supporting in-licensing partnerships in collaboration with Quality Compliance
• Review and approve (as applicable) change controls, deviations, investigations, procedures, and CAPAs related to partner supply
• Participate in Quality Management Review meetings, providing input on partnership-related quality topics
• Collaborate with Quality Systems and Compliance to ensure the QMS meets market-specific regulatory requirements associated with partnerships
• Ensure timely and effective resolution of quality issues related to product supply for partners
• Conduct risk assessments and implement appropriate controls when onboarding new partners
• Partner with Technical Operations, Regulatory CMC, and other functions to ensure GMP compliance across new markets and partnerships
• Support review of Product Quality Reviews (PQRs) as part of partner oversight
• Represent the QA function in cross-functional and external meetings, making decisions within scope of responsibility
• Promote a culture of quality, compliance, and continuous improvement across the organization
• Identify and lead initiatives to enhance quality systems, processes, and practices

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (BSc) or higher in a relevant scientific discipline
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing and quality functions
• Strong knowledge of global cGMP regulations and emerging regulatory trends
• Experience in a biopharma or pharmaceutical start-up environment,
• Preference for experience hosting regulatory inspections and/or partner/client audits
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels
• Experience working with external partners, alliances, or contract organizations
• Strong ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Fluency in English; additional language(s) are an advantage
• Willingness to travel up to 15% annually
  
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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.

Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.  

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do – all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.

Fraud Warning: How to Identify Impersonated Cytokinetics Job Postings and Offers

Recently, there have been fraudulent employment offers being sent to candidates on behalf of Cytokinetics. Please be advised that all legitimate offers from Cytokinetics will come directly from our official email domain (Cytokinetics.com) and will only be made after completing a formal interview process.

Here are some ways to check for authenticity:

• We do not conduct job interviews through non-standard text messaging applications
• We will never request personal information such as banking details until after an official offer has been accepted and verified
• We will never request that you purchase equipment or other items when interviewing or hiring
• If you are unsure about the authenticity of an offer, or if you receive any suspicious communication, please contact us directly at talentacquisition@cytokinetics.com

Please visit our website at: www.cytokinetics.com

Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer