What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director/Director, Medical Operations position at Wave Life Sciences?
Wave Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines to transform human health. Our RNA medicines platform, PRISM, combines multiple modalities, chemistry innovation and deep insights in human genetics to deliver scientific breakthroughs that treat both rare and prevalent disorders. Our toolkit of RNA-targeting modalities including RNAi silencing and RNA editing provides us with unmatched capabilities for designing and sustainably delivering candidates that optimally address disease biology. Our diversified pipeline is focused on our obesity, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and PNPLA3 I148M liver disease programs and includes clinical programs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease, as well as several preclinical programs utilizing our versatile RNA medicines platform. Driven by the calling to “Reimagine Possible”, we are leading the charge toward a world in which human potential is no longer hindered by the burden of disease.
Description
The Associate Director/Director, Medical Operations is responsible for leading the strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement of operational processes that enable an effective and compliant Medical Affairs function. This role partners closely with Medical Affairs leadership, Finance, Clinical Development/Operations, Regulatory, Patient Advocacy, and external vendors to optimize workflows, manage key systems and vendors, and ensure high-quality execution of medical activities (e.g., publications, medical information, advisory boards, and investigator-initiated studies, where applicable). This role is ideal for a proactive and adaptable leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving biotech environment. Success requires balancing strategy and execution, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to build scalable, compliant operational solutions. This role will be based in our Lexington, MA office with a hybrid work arrangement.
Experience
The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the annual base salary pay range for this position at the time of posting. Actual annual base salary will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, qualifications, position criticality, and internal equity. This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and discretionary stock-based long-term incentives. In addition to compensation, Wave offers a comprehensive and competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical and financial health and overall well-being. These include, but are not limited to, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability insurances, generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), 401K participation with matching contributions, and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Wave Life Sciences provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wave Life Sciences complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Wave Life Sciences expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Wave Life Sciences’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
We value our relationships with professional recruitment firms. To protect the interests of all parties, and given the large volume of inquiries received from third-party placement agencies, we are not able to respond to all agency inquiries. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates for current or future positions. Submission of unsolicited resumes in advance of a signed agreement between our company and a placement agency does not create an implied obligation and, if an unsolicited candidate represented by a placement agency is hired, we are not obligated to pay a fee. Only approved recruitment firms will be allowed to provide services to Wave Life Sciences, USA.
Data Privacy and Your Information
By submitting your information in applying for a position at Wave (or lawfully on behalf of a candidate as an approved recruiter), you represent that the information you submit (including your name, phone number, email address, address, and resume/CV/work history) is true and accurate, you have the right to share it, and that no part of the Information violates or infringes the rights of any third parties. If you submit information lawfully on behalf of another applicant as an approved recruiter, you confirm that you have the right to so submit. You grant Wave permission to use your information to contact you in connection with this or another position, for interviews, scheduling purposes, travel arrangements, or follow up after a decision on the role has been made.
Wave Life Sciences is committed to respecting your privacy. We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Any Personal Information you share with us will be used for business purposes, such as communication with you, and handled in accordance with Wave’s Privacy Policy, Notice, Statements, and Additional Information. Wave collects, evaluates and retains candidate data for the legitimate interest of selecting a candidate for employment or contract purposes. Such data will be kept for no longer than necessary to carry out those purposes, unless you consent for your information to be retained up to an additional three (3) years for consideration for future opportunities at Wave. Any requests related to your Personal Information may be electronically submitted to Wave’s Data Protection Officer at https://wavelifesciences.com/privacy/.
If you choose to share your demographic background (such as race, gender or sex, national origin, age, disability or veterinary status) by completing the optional survey, your responses will be combined with the answers from other applicants in an aggregated and anonymized form which may be used for equal employment opportunity reporting, diversity and inclusion analysis, and to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our recruiting practices. The information you share will not be used for hiring decisions or provided to hiring managers or interviewers.
Description
The Associate Director/Director, Medical Operations is responsible for leading the strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement of operational processes that enable an effective and compliant Medical Affairs function. This role partners closely with Medical Affairs leadership, Finance, Clinical Development/Operations, Regulatory, Patient Advocacy, and external vendors to optimize workflows, manage key systems and vendors, and ensure high-quality execution of medical activities (e.g., publications, medical information, advisory boards, and investigator-initiated studies, where applicable). This role is ideal for a proactive and adaptable leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving biotech environment. Success requires balancing strategy and execution, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to build scalable, compliant operational solutions. This role will be based in our Lexington, MA office with a hybrid work arrangement.
Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field required; post-baccalaureate degree preferred
- Associate Director: 8–10 years of experience, including Medical Affairs/Operations, or Director: 10–15 years of experience with leadership responsibility
- Experience in small to mid-size biotech environment preferred
- Global Medical Affairs exposure
- Experience in scaling operations in growing biotech environments
- Launch experience and Medical Affairs build-out preferred
- Vendor RFP and management experience
- Design, implement, and optimize operational processes supporting Medical Affairs activities (e.g., publications, medical communications, field medical operations, medical information)
- Oversee execution and tracking of key deliverables, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met
- Establish and manage Medical Affairs KPIs, dashboards, and reporting
- Lead vendor selection, onboarding, and oversight, and manage budgets and forecasts
- Serve as business owner for Medical Affairs systems and tools
- Partner cross-functionally with Clinical, Regulatory, Legal, Compliance, Patient Advocacy, and IT
- Ensure compliance with GxP and company SOPs; support audits and inspections
- Support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives
- Strong knowledge of Medical Affairs activities and compliance requirements
- Experience with systems such as Veeva CRM and Medical Information platforms
- Excellent project management and organizational skills
- Data-driven mindset with reporting and analytics experience
- Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills
- Ability to operate strategically and execute tactically
The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the annual base salary pay range for this position at the time of posting. Actual annual base salary will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, qualifications, position criticality, and internal equity. This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and discretionary stock-based long-term incentives. In addition to compensation, Wave offers a comprehensive and competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical and financial health and overall well-being. These include, but are not limited to, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability insurances, generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), 401K participation with matching contributions, and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Wave Life Sciences provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wave Life Sciences complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Wave Life Sciences expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Wave Life Sciences’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
We value our relationships with professional recruitment firms. To protect the interests of all parties, and given the large volume of inquiries received from third-party placement agencies, we are not able to respond to all agency inquiries. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates for current or future positions. Submission of unsolicited resumes in advance of a signed agreement between our company and a placement agency does not create an implied obligation and, if an unsolicited candidate represented by a placement agency is hired, we are not obligated to pay a fee. Only approved recruitment firms will be allowed to provide services to Wave Life Sciences, USA.
Data Privacy and Your Information
By submitting your information in applying for a position at Wave (or lawfully on behalf of a candidate as an approved recruiter), you represent that the information you submit (including your name, phone number, email address, address, and resume/CV/work history) is true and accurate, you have the right to share it, and that no part of the Information violates or infringes the rights of any third parties. If you submit information lawfully on behalf of another applicant as an approved recruiter, you confirm that you have the right to so submit. You grant Wave permission to use your information to contact you in connection with this or another position, for interviews, scheduling purposes, travel arrangements, or follow up after a decision on the role has been made.
Wave Life Sciences is committed to respecting your privacy. We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Any Personal Information you share with us will be used for business purposes, such as communication with you, and handled in accordance with Wave’s Privacy Policy, Notice, Statements, and Additional Information. Wave collects, evaluates and retains candidate data for the legitimate interest of selecting a candidate for employment or contract purposes. Such data will be kept for no longer than necessary to carry out those purposes, unless you consent for your information to be retained up to an additional three (3) years for consideration for future opportunities at Wave. Any requests related to your Personal Information may be electronically submitted to Wave’s Data Protection Officer at https://wavelifesciences.com/privacy/.
If you choose to share your demographic background (such as race, gender or sex, national origin, age, disability or veterinary status) by completing the optional survey, your responses will be combined with the answers from other applicants in an aggregated and anonymized form which may be used for equal employment opportunity reporting, diversity and inclusion analysis, and to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our recruiting practices. The information you share will not be used for hiring decisions or provided to hiring managers or interviewers.
Salary : $161,000 - $275,000