What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director/AVP/Vice President, Quality Assurance position at Sironax?
Position Summary
The Executive Director, Quality Assurance will lead the strategies for continuous improvement of Sironax’s global Quality Management System (QMS) to support a growing clinical-stage biotech organization progressing toward late-stage development and IPO readiness.
This leader will ensure end-to-end GxP compliance across clinical, preclinical, regulatory, and corporate functions while building scalable infrastructure to support global operations (U.S., EU, APAC). The role requires a strategic builder who can operate both at the executive level and in the details, establishing systems, leading inspections, and embedding a “One Sironax” quality culture. This leadership role will contribute to Sironax’s ability to advance clinical programs compliantly, successfully navigate global regulatory inspections, and establish a durable, scalable quality foundation for long-term growth
Key Responsibilities
- Quality Strategy & Leadership
- Define and execute risk-based global quality strategy aligned with corporate milestones
- Serve as a core member of the Regulatory & Quality leadership team
- Build and lead a high-performing global QA organization across U.S. and international regions
- Drive a culture of quality, inspection readiness, and continuous improvement
- Quality Systems (QMS) & Compliance
- Oversees development and implementation of a fully integrated global eQMS and eTMF compliant with F ICH guidelines
- Oversee development and lifecycle management of:
- SOPs, policies, and work instructions
- Document control systems
- Training programs and compliance tracking
- Ensure alignment of global processes with regional regulatory requirements
- GxP Oversight (GCP, GLP, GVP, GMP as applicable)
- Provide oversight of clinical quality (GCP) across all trials
- Provide robust oversight of CROs, CMOs, and critical vendors, implementing vendor performance metrics and quality agreements
- Support GLP oversight for preclinical programs and toxicology studies
- Ensure readiness for pharmacovigilance quality (GVP) as pipeline advances
- Participate in vendor selection and governance processes where appropriate
- Audit & Inspection Readiness
- Develop and execute a risk-based internal and external audit program
- Lead regulatory inspections (FDA, EMA, NMPA, PMDA, etc.) and ensure successful outcomes
- Oversee vendor qualification and audit programs (CROs, CMOs, labs, technology vendors)
- Drive CAPA management, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Data Integrity & Compliance Infrastructure
- Ensure ALCOA data integrity principles across all GxP systems
- Partner with IT to validate and maintain compliant systems (e.g., eTMF, EDC, safety systems, eQMS)
- Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration
- Partner with Clinical Operations (trial execution & oversight), Regulatory Affairs (submissions & inspections), Preclinical/Toxicology (GLP compliance), CMC (quality for manufacturing readiness as pipeline evolves)
- Align global teams under consistent quality standards while respecting local regulations (e.g., China data localization)
Qualifications
- Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD) preferred
- 15 years of Quality Assurance experience in startup biotech and pharma
- 8 years in leadership roles, with direct team management
- Demonstrated experience building or scaling a QMS in a clinical-stage biotech
- Core Expertise
- Deep knowledge of:
- GCP, GLP, GVP, and applicable GMP interfaces
- FDA, EMA, ICH, and global regulatory frameworks
- Proven success leading regulatory inspections (FDA/EMA strongly preferred), global audit programs and eQMS and eTMF implementation and optimization
- Leadership Capabilities
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability
- Strong executive presence; ability to interact with CEO, Board, and regulators
- Skilled at influencing cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Experience operating in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments
Key Success Metrics (First 12-18 Months)
- Successful development of quality management plans for ongoing trials
- Successful execution of internal audits and mock inspections
- Demonstrated inspection readiness across all active programs
- Strong vendor oversight framework with measurable quality KPIs
- Establishment of a scalable QA organization aligned to pipeline growth