Executive Director, Head of Global Site Management

Kardigan; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A health-focused biotechnology firm in Princeton, NJ, seeks an Executive Director, Head of Global Site Management. This strategic leadership role encompasses overseeing all site-facing clinical trial activities globally, ensuring operational excellence. Candidates should possess over 12 years of clinical operations experience and a degree in life sciences. Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities are essential as the role involves extensive collaboration and the establishment of strategic partnerships. The firm is committed to innovating heart health solutions and is looking for a dedicated leader to drive these initiatives.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in site management or clinical operations leadership.
• Ability to travel up to 20-30% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead global site management and study start-up across clinical programs.
• Develop and execute site strategies for optimization.
• Build relationships with investigative sites and partners.

Skills

Strong leadership skills

Stakeholder management skills

Operational strategy assessment

Ability to transform capabilities through AI

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field

Advanced degree (PhD, MBA, Masters) preferred

Job description

Executive Director, Head of Global Site Management

About Us

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world. It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve. Led by Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D. and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020. We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients. At Kardigan, our values guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic—leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries. These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.

Role Summary

The Head of Global Site Management leads all site-facing clinical trial activities across the global development portfolio. This operational leadership role is responsible for Site Management & Monitoring and Clinical Trial Optimization & Strategic Partnership functions. This role provides strategic leadership for site start-up, site management, and monitoring to drive predictable execution, accelerate timelines, improve enrollment performance, ensure high-quality data, and establish strategic site partnerships.

As a member of the Clinical Operations senior leadership team, this role is also responsible for supporting strategic initiatives across the development organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Build & lead global site management, monitoring, and study start-up activities across all clinical programs
• Develop and execute site strategies to optimize selection, activation, enrollment, and retention
• Establish consistent monitoring models, including risk-based monitoring approaches
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with investigative sites, site networks, and partners
• Partner closely with Clinical Operations, Clinical Development, Biometrics, and Development Services to ensure seamless, disciplined program and trial execution
• Identify and mitigate site-level operational and quality risks
• Establish scalable processes, metrics, and dashboards to track and improve site performance
• Establish operating model inclusive of vendor strategy, oversight, risk management, key performance metrics, and dashboards
• Provide expert insight into operational strategy plans (feasibility, monitoring strategies) and operating budgets
• Create and continuously improve standard operating procedures, work instructions, to ensure inspection readiness
• Participate in regulatory authority inspections, sponsor audits, and oversee site audits in partnership with Quality
• Ensure compliance with GCP, regulatory requirements, and internal standards
• Ability to assess and transform capabilities through AI and Automation solutions or strategies
• Up to 20-30% domestic and international travel, as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field
• 12+ years of experience in site management or clinical operations leadership

Or advanced degree (PhD, MBA, Masters) and 10+ yrs of experience

• Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills

Interested in building your career at Kardigan? We encourage you to apply through the standard application process.

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