Sr. Director, Quality Assurance (QA)

Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform. Vaxart vaccines are designed to be administered using pills that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration and eliminate the risk of needle-stick injury. Vaxart believes that its proprietary pill vaccine delivery platform is suitable to deliver recombinant vaccines, positioning the company to develop oral versions of currently marketed vaccines and to design recombinant vaccines for new indications. Vaxart's development programs currently include pill vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus and influenza, as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart's first immune-oncology indication. Vaxart has filed broad domestic and international patent applications covering its proprietary technology and creations for oral vaccination using adenovirus and TLR3 agonists.

We are looking for a Sr. Director, Quality Assurance (QA) to join our South San Francisco team. This is an onsite position in our South San Francisco Office.

Summary:
The Senior Director, Quality Assurance provides strategic and hands-on QA leadership for Vaxart's clinical-stage oral recombinant tablet vaccine programs and related GMP manufacturing, testing, and CMC activities. Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, this leader is responsible for implementing and maintaining phase-appropriate quality systems that support compliant development, manufacture, testing, release, and supply of Vaxart's investigational products.

In this role, the Senior Director, Quality Assurance applies a risk-based approach to prioritize QA support for GMP operations, including review and approval of executed batch records, deviations, analytical data, stability data, change controls, CAPAs, specifications, protocols and reports, and other GMP documentation. The role partners closely with CMC, Technical Operations, Quality Control, Regulatory, Clinical Supply, and external CDMOs/contract laboratories to identify and escalate compliance risks, enable proactive decision-making, and ensure product quality, patient safety, data integrity, and supply continuity. This position focuses on GMP quality assurance and does not include clinical quality oversight for clinical studies or clinical data. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead implementation and day-to-day execution of Vaxart's GMP quality management systems supporting oral recombinant tablet vaccine development and manufacturing.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, EMA, ICH and other global GMP regulations, standards, internal policies, and procedures.
• Develop, implement, and monitor progress against Vaxart's strategic quality plan, quality objectives, projects, and goals in alignment with CMC and program priorities.
• Conducts and supports internal and external audits, GMP supplier qualification activities including CDMOs, contract testing laboratories, raw material suppliers, and other contractors.
• Provide QA oversight of GMP manufacturing, analytical testing, stability, labeling, packaging and release of clinical supplies for investigational oral tablet vaccine products.
• Review and approve Master Batch Records (MBRs), executed batch records, specifications, protocols, reports, change controls, deviations, investigations, CAPAs, and related documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, data integrity and cGMP compliance.
• Review and approve laboratory investigations (OOS/OOT/deviations) conducted by internal or external laboratories ensuring thorough root cause analysis, robust corrective and preventative actions (CAPA), and aligned decision-making impacting product quality and disposition.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify, assess, and mitigate quality risks impacting product quality, patient safety, data integrity and supply
  continuity.
• Ensure risk-based quality decisions are appropriately justified, documented and aligned with internal procedures and regulatory expectations.
• Review executed batch records and supporting documentation for lot disposition, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with cGMP requirements, and confirming that all deviations, investigations, and quality events are appropriately resolved prior to batch release.
• Support regulatory submissions, health authority questions, inspection readiness, regulatory inspections, and responses to inspection observations related to GMP manufacturing and quality systems.
• Review and approve stability protocols, reports specifications and supporting data to ensure study design, data integrity, and conclusions are scientifically sound, compliant with cGMP and regulatory expectations, and supportive of product shelf life and storage conditions.
• Oversee and implement Quality Systems to ensure compliance of cGMP activities company wide.
• Controls the issuance and revision of Standard Operating Procedures including, but not limited to, Quality Manual, Policies, Batch Records and Protocols.
• Manages the implementation and operation of a document management system.
• Drive continuous improvement of phase-appropriate quality systems, including deviation, CAPAs, change controls, supplier quality, complaints, product disposition, and management review processes. Represent Quality with involved external regulatory and standards bodies (e.g., Food and Drug Administration, ISO assessors, etc.) when necessary to help adjudicate issues with product submissions, product performance, compliance concerns and prevailing/impending regulatory requirements.
• Prior managerial responsibility leading teams and cross-functional work.
  Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree and 15 years of experience or a master's degree with 12+ years of experience in scientific discipline or comparable experience.
• 10+ years of experience in GMP Quality Assurance at an operational level supporting manufacturing and quality control in a pharmaceutical or biotech environment.
• Experience with all phases of development (Ph 1-4 including commercial).
• In-depth knowledge and full understanding of GMP FDA, EMA regulations, device and combo product related guidelines, and other ICH guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret regulations, apply phase-appropriate quality expectations, and make sound risk-based quality decisions.
• Experience preparing for, supporting, and responding to regulatory authority inspections, partner audits and other audits.
• Hands-on experience reviewing batch records, CoAs, deviations, investigations, CAPAs, stability documents, specifications, change controls and GMP protocols and reports.
• Strong technical writing, investigative, root cause analysis and risk-assessment skills.
• Familiarity with electronic QMS platforms (e.g., Veeva QMS, MasterControl, TrackWise).
• Ability to work effectively in a small-company, fast-paced, matrixed environment with shifting priorities.
• Proficient in organization, prioritization, time management, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, influencing, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong commitment to product quality, patient safety, compliance, scientific rigor, and attention to detail.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach and proven ability to balance long-term quality planning with day-to-day execution

In accordance with California's Pay Transparency law, Vaxart's base salary range for this position is approximately $260,000 - $275,000 USD annually. The actual salary for this role will vary based on a variety of factors including education, job-related knowledge, and experience. This range does not include equity, benefits, bonuses, or other non-monetary compensation which may be included.

Vaxart offers team members a competitive compensation and benefits package, including robust health plan options, bonus program, stock options, 401(k) with employer matching, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and work-life balance.

Vaxart is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Equal opportunity and consideration are afforded to all qualified applicants and employees in personnel actions, which include recruiting and hiring, selection for training, promotion, rates of pay or other compensation, transfer, discipline, demotion, and layoff or termination. Vaxart provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, family medical history or genetic information, citizenship, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

NOTICE TO RECRUITERS AND STAFFING AGENCIES: Vaxart, Inc. has an internal recruiting department. Vaxart may supplement that internal capability from time to time with assistance from temporary staffing agencies, placement services, and professional recruiters ('Agency'). Agencies are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Vaxart employees directly to present candidates. Vaxart's recruiting team or other authorized Vaxart personnel must present ALL candidates to hiring managers.

To protect the interests of all parties, Vaxart will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Vaxart, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Vaxart mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Vaxart employees, or to Vaxart's resume database will be considered Vaxart property. Vaxart will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Vaxart will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees.

The Agency must obtain advance written approval from Vaxart's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Vaxart will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such an agreement in place.

Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by an officer of Vaxart or their designee. No other Vaxart employee is authorized to bind Vaxart to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies. Vaxart hereby specifically rejects, and denies any liability under, any agreement purporting to be accepted based on negative consent, negotiation with a candidate, performance, or any means other than the signature of a Vaxart officer.