Senior Director, Clinical Quality Assurance

Job Description

This Clinical Quality Assurance Senior Leader provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of Alkermes GLP/GCP/GVP quality programs to ensure compliance across global clinical trials. This leader ensures the organization is ready for inspections, implements and manages risk-based quality systems, collaborates across departments to advance development programs, and supports the team for NDA/BIMO milestone achievements. This role requires an experienced Clinical QA Senior leader who can build high-performing teams, influence in a matrixed environment, anticipate and respond to evolving regulatory expectations.


Responsible for the Clinical Quality Assurance (CQA) unit within the Alkermes organization. The CQA unit consists principally of a team based out of Waltham supported by individuals across the sites and Contract Auditors on "an-as-required" basis.


A member of the Alkermes Quality leadership team responsible for overall Quality culture and continuous improvement of Alkermes QMS and compliance, and leads the Alkermes strategy and GXP compliance on all matters concerning Quality in the areas of; Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Clinical Practices (GCPs), and Good Pharmacovigilance Practices pre and post market (GVPs).


Directs a team in the development of all applicable; risk-based audit programs, inspection readiness and hosting of Health Authority Inspections.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance
• Develop and execute a clinical QA strategic vision aligned to business and program objectives.
• Develop and lead Risk Management assessments with Clinical R&D and commercial safety departments to ensure standards and practices are managing risks and ensuring patient safety (during clinical trials and ultimately as consumers of marketed products).
• Establish and track goals, budgets, headcount plans, and performance metrics for the Clinical QA function. Fully determine and justify the teams' budgetary requirements (Expenses, FTE, and CAPEX)
• Provide thought leadership by anticipating regulatory changes, industry trends, and evolving GCP/GVP/GLP expectations.
• Serve as the senior Clinical QA representative on program teams, sub teams, and study teams.
Clinical Quality System Ownership & Compliance Oversight
• Ensure all GCP/GVP/GLP activities meet global regulatory, quality, and compliance standards for clinical trials.
• Apply Critical to Quality (CtQ) principles, in line with ICH E8(R1) (Quality by Design) and ICH E6(R2/R3), to guide trial level risk assessments, audit strategy, oversight activities, and inspection readiness.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of clinical quality systems, harmonized GCP/GVP/GLP Policies, processes, SOPs, and governance structures collaborating closely with Clinical Department, related functions and external partners to comply with global requirements.
• Ensure appropriate division and touchpoints with GMP.
Audit & Inspection Management
• Lead the design and execution of a risk based GCP/GVP/GLP audit program covering internal audits, CROs, vendor audits, and clinical site audits (routine and for cause).
• Assess audit findings for impact on subject safety, data integrity, compliance and business operations, and ensure timely CAPA development and closure.
• Lead GCP inspection readiness initiatives, including mock BIMO interviews, inspection preparedness plans, and cross functional training.
• Manage BIMO sponsor inspections and provide oversight/support for CRO inspections.
Cross Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Safety, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Data Management, CROs, vendors, and clinical sites to ensure operational compliance.
• Review and contribute to key clinical and regulatory documents including INDs, protocols, IBs, NDAs, and other submission related materials.
Risk Management & Issue Resolution
• Implement and maintain a risk based GCP/GLP/GVP oversight strategy encompassing trial conduct, site compliance, data integrity, and safety reporting.
• Support investigations of site deviations, protocol noncompliance, and GCP violations, ensuring thorough root cause analysis, CAPA effectiveness, and proper documentation/data integrity.
• Identify and escalate compliance risks, recommending mitigation plans to Clinical Development and Quality leadership.
Training & Organizational Readiness
• Lead or oversee GCP training programs across the organization.
• Communicate regulatory changes, best practices, and compliance expectations to internal stakeholders.
Management Responsibilities
• Lead, mentor, and develop Clinical QA personnel, promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Select and manage qualified resources to support the QMS and ensure delivery of company goals.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree level or above in a science discipline. Bachelor's degree in life sciences, pharmacy, nursing or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of, and experience in personnel management, with particularly strong scientific skills, while having an excellent understanding of GCP, GLP and GVP practices, regulations, guidances and associated industry standard technology platforms, across all worldwide jurisdictions where Alkermes sponsors clinical trials.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Team player with flexibility without compromising compliance
• Strong communicative skills (written and oral).
• Influencing and collaboration skills
• Highly motivated.

Experience:

• 15+ years' experience gained within an organization pursuing a high throughput of clinical sponsor activity with at least 8 years experience in GCP management with a Sponsor company.
• Excellent understanding of GLP, GCP, and GVP requirements as they apply to the industry across a range of jurisdictions.
• Experience in hosting regulatory inspections across multiple jurisdictions (eg FDA, Canada, EMA, MHRA, Asia)
• Experience in people management across sites and locations.

Abilities and Judgement:

• Logical and problem solving skills
• High level of customer orientation/understanding
• Ability to work and get results through Matrixed teams

Alkermes has recently adopted a hybrid working environment to support and meet the needs of employees and this role will operate in a flexible environment with 60% of time in the office and 40% from home. This position is eligible for the hybrid workplace model, requiring work to be completed onsite at our Waltham, MA office at least 3 days per week. This role is not eligible for fully remote work.


The annual base salary for this position ranges from $252,000 to $269,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website:


#LI-HB1

About Us

Why join Team Alkermes?


Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.

We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts' Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.


Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.