Director, PDe & Global MSAT Technical Strategy

Kite Pharma; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 206,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Stock-based incentives

Paid time off

Benefits package

Job summary

Kite Pharma, based in Santa Monica, CA, seeks a senior MSAT/Process Development leader to shape technical strategy and drive critical improvements across MSAT and PD. You will coordinate with manufacturing sites, global stakeholders, and leadership to align objectives and optimize processes.

Applicants should bring a PhD or equivalent with extensive cross-functional leadership experience, and a track record in cell therapy or biologics process development, with strong communication skills for

Qualifications

• PhD in biological or chemical engineering, biotechnology, life sciences, or a related discipline with 2+ years of relevant biotech/pharma industry experience; or Master’s with 8+ years; or Bachelor’s with 10+ years. Experience in process development, manufacturing sciences, or related functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization.
• Strong knowledge of cell therapy, biologics, or advanced-therapy process development and commercial manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead in developing technical strategy involving MSAT and Process Development (PD).
• Facilitate creation and drive short-, mid-, and long-term technical strategy and goals for GMSAT and PDe-nMSAT including the GMSAT Network Pillar Teams.
• Act as interface between Manufacturing sites, Network MSAT, and PD organizations; work with global stakeholders to improve processes and workflows.
• Drive technical initiatives across GMSAT and PD; align GMSAT/Network organizations; lead governance and KPI initiatives.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Program/project leadership

Strategic thinking

Data interpretation

Education

PhD in biological/chemical engineering or life sciences

Master's in related discipline

Bachelor's + 10+ years industry experience

Job description

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we’re not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• This is a high-visibility position reporting to the VP of PDe-nMSAT organization, supporting the GMSAT and PDe-nMSAT leadership teams.

Technical Strategy Planning and Communication

• Lead in developing technical strategy involving MSAT and Process Development (PD)
• Facilitate creation and drive organizational short, mid, and long-term technical strategy and goals for GMSAT and PDe-nMSAT including the GMSAT Network Pillar Teams
• Act as interface between Manufacturing sites, Network MSAT, and Process Development organizations
• Work with global stakeholders in Process Development, Quality, and Manufacturing to improve global business processes and communication workflows

Technical Business Process Improvements / Continuous Improvement

• Responsible for driving technical initiatives involving both GMSAT and PD Organizations.
• Strategically evaluate and tactically implement initiative to drive technical and business outcomes, considering feedback from cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop operational plans to drive alignment across the GMSAT/Network organizations (GMSAT Network teams, GMSAT Strategic Objective teams, Meetings, Communications, Talent Review, etc.).
• Lead workshops to identify opportunities and projects for improvement across the GMSAT Network and within PDe-nMSAT. These projects are aimed at ensuring technical alignment between PD and Manufacturing.undefined

Organization Metrics

• Develop KPIs, metrics, and dashboards to guide insight into effectiveness of GMSAT Network Pillar Teams and PDe-nMSAT sub-functions
• Owning KPIs for group. Define the metrics most important to the business, develop a monitoring cadence, deep dive when needed, and ultimately implement initiatives to positively impact these KPIs.
• Communicate and provide updates to senior leadership on GMSAT and PDe-nMSAT performance metrics

Knowledge Management

• Create a system to capture and organize GMSAT and PDe-nMSAT knowledge

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in biological or chemical engineering, biotechnology, life sciences, or a related discipline with 2+ years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience; or Master’s degree in a related discipline with 8+ years of relevant industry experience; or Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with 10+ years of relevant industry experience. Experience in process development, manufacturing sciences and technology, manufacturing operations, technical operations, or a closely related function. Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of cell therapy, biologics, or advanced-therapy process development and commercial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to connect technical strategy with business priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into concise recommendations.
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, facilitation, and decision-making skills.
• Proven program or project leadership, including management of multiple priorities, dependencies, and stakeholders.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and build effective relationships across functions, sites, and leadership levels.
• Experience establishing governance, operating models, KPIs, dashboards, and management review processes.
• Working knowledge of data visualization and dashboard tools; experience translating data into actionable business insights.
• Lean Six Sigma certification and/or demonstrated continuous-improvement experience.
• High standards of integrity, judgment, accountability, and professionalism in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment.

The salary range for this position is: $205,615.00 - $266,090.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system’s ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

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Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability,genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the ‘Know Your Rights’ poster.

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Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.