Sr. Director, Compliance Program Governance & Operations

Head of Compliance Program Governance and Operations, Global Compliance

Who we are:

At Agios, we are fueled by connections to transform rare diseases. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture – one that sparks bold thinking and strengthens our connections with each other and with the rare disease communities we serve. We embrace diverse backgrounds with respect, active listening, and a commitment to inclusion – because our differences shape how we hire, collaborate, and innovate. Our team’s proven track record of executional excellence, combined with our depth of expertise and dedication, enables us to develop innovative medicines that reflect the priorities of rare disease communities. Our commitment is more than scientific – it’s deeply personal, grounded in the meaningful connections we have built. To learn more, visit www.agios.com and follow Agios on LinkedIn and X.

The impact you will make:

Agios Pharmaceuticals is searching for a dynamic Head of Compliance Program Governance and Operations to join our growing Global Compliance team. We want someone who cares about this important work, and who’s driven to connect to our mission of helping rare disease patient communities.

The Head of Compliance Program Governance and Operations is accountable for building and running the operational backbone of the global compliance program, including leading enterprise compliance risk assessments that inform program priorities and resource allocation. The role ensures governance, controls, processes, systems, and reporting are scalable, consistent, and audit‑ready across all compliance program elements, and serves as the Head of Global Compliance’s primary partner for governance rigor, operational execution, and program scale‑up and effectiveness.

What you will do:

Compliance Risk Assessment & Program Enablement

• Responsible for execution, documentation, facilitation, and synthesis; produces the risk assessment deliverables for VP approval.
• Ensure risk assessment outcomes directly inform program design, monitoring plans, governance focus areas, and resource deployment.
• Refresh risk assessments on a periodic and event‑driven basis to reflect changes in business strategy, operating model, and regulatory expectations.

• Partner with the Head of Global Compliance to elevate risk insights for leadership and Board‑level oversight.

   

Operations, Governance & Program Scale‑Up

•  Own the execution and scale‑up of all compliance program elements, ensuring consistent application as the organization grows.
• Manage compliance systems, workflows, and documentation standards to support audit readiness.

• Serve as primary owner of compliance governance execution, including committee operations, materials, tracking, and documentation.

   

Monitoring, Assurance & Issue Management

• Develop and execute risk‑based monitoring and auditing programs aligned to the compliance risk assessment.
• Oversee enterprise issue management processes, including intake, triage, investigation coordination, corrective actions, and effectiveness testing.
• Track trends and root causes to drive continuous program improvement.

• Partner closely with Strategy, Culture & Business Partner function to ensure training and engagement are informed by real program data and risk insights. Proactively communicate monitoring results, investigation trends, and emerging risks. 

   

Data, Metrics & Reporting

• Define and maintain compliance and operational metrics to measure program effectiveness and risk exposure.

• Provide clear, consistent reporting to the Head of Global Compliance to support executive and Board‑level oversight.

   

Compliance Operating Model & Program Scale‑Up

• Design, operationalize, and continuously improve the end‑to‑end compliance operating model to support business growth (new products, geographies, partnerships, evolving engagement models).
• Lead program scale‑up across all core compliance elements, ensuring consistent processes, documentation standards, decision rights, and enabling systems.

• Build and maintain policies and procedures, RACIs, escalation pathways, and service catalogs for compliance processes.

   

Compliance Technology & Vendor Strategy

•  Own compliance tooling strategy and operations (case management, approvals workflow, third‑party due diligence tools, transparency systems, LMS interfaces as needed, analytics).
•  Oversee transparency program and associated reporting.

• Lead vendor governance and performance management for outsourced compliance services.

   

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required, Advanced Degree a plus
• 10-15 years of experience in compliance operations, audit, risk, or program management in biopharma or other regulated industries; prior leadership experience required.
• Strong governance mindset with demonstrated ability to build scalable processes and defensible documentation.
• Hands‑on experience designing, building, and implementing compliance systems, dashboards, operational controls, and program maturity enhancements.
• Strong knowledge of applicable healthcare compliance laws, regulations, and industry guidance (e.g., OIG guidance, PhRMA Code, Anti‑Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, and U.S. transparency laws).
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional stakeholders and senior leadership.
•  Ability to apply sound judgment and provide practical, risk‑based compliance guidance in fast‑paced, evolving environments.
• Strong communication, analytical, and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail. 

Concerned that you don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! At Agios, we value each other’s differences and recognize that teams thrive when everyone brings their unique experiences to the table. We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. If you’re excited about this role but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another opening!

Work Location:

Location Agnostic: Work location for this role is based on employee's individual preference. This role can be either remote in the US or hybrid in our Cambridge Headquarters. Hybrid schedules vary but are generally less than 3 days per week onsite and hybrid employees are expected to live within commutable distance of our Cambridge Headquarters. Remote employees work entirely from home except for attending Company sponsored events/ meetings. For employees who choose to work remotely, travel may be required for certain company events commensurate with the above job description.

What we will give you:

• Deliberate Development. Your professional growth as one of our top priorities.
• We’re all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families and productivity. When you’re at your best, we’re at our best.
• Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, well-being, and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team. For more detail on the benefits we offer at Agios, visit the Inside Agios section of our website.
• Competitive and equitable performance-based compensation. This includes base salary and both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy and vary based on individual and company performance.
• The current base salary range for this position is expected to be between $229,562 and $344,342 annualized; final salary will be determined based on various factors including, but not limited to, years of relevant experience, job knowledge, skills and proficiency, degree/education, and internal comparators.
• Psychological safety.  We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries.
• Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re continuously looking to improve the inclusivity of our workforce.
• Commitment to community. We’re an active participant in the communities that surround us – the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.

Interested in learning more about what makes our culture unique? Visit the Inside Agios

Salary : $229,562 - $344,342