Associate Director, Clinical Quality Assurance

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, Clinical Quality Assurance, will report to the Executive Director, Quality Assurance. The Associate Director, Clinical Quality Assurance serves as a key quality partner to clinical study teams and provides quality oversight of clinical development activities. This role contributes to strengthening a maturing Quality Management System (QMS) by identifying quality risks, supporting risk-based decision making, and ensuring quality practices are effectively implemented across clinical programs.

The Clinical Quality Assurance organization partners with Clinical Development and cross-functional stakeholders to promote and maintain high-quality clinical research practices across the drug development lifecycle. The function provides quality oversight to ensure clinical trials are conducted in compliance with global regulatory requirements and that the organization maintains continuous inspection readiness.

This role provides proactive Clinical Quality Assurance oversight for clinical studies and development functions. The individual partners closely with Clinical Operations, Pharmacovigilance, Data Management, Regulatory Affairs, and other development function and serves as a key member of study teams, helping identify quality issues and risks, and reviews quality events, investigations, and CAPAs; analyzing quality signals across studies and vendors that support risk-based decision making, and ensuring quality management practices are appropriately implemented throughout the clinical trial lifecycle.

The role operates with a high degree of independence in evaluating quality risks and compliance considerations while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to support effective implementation of quality practices across clinical development programs.

The position contributes to strengthening the organization’s maturing Quality Management System (QMS) by supporting procedural governance, audit program oversight, and quality process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Clinical Quality Assurance representative on assigned clinical study teams, providing proactive guidance to ensure clinical trial conduct aligns with GCP and regulatory expectations.
• Provide oversight of clinical quality events, investigations, and CAPAs, ensuring appropriate root cause analysis, corrective actions, and identification of systemic quality trends.
• Analyze quality signals across studies, vendors, and operational processes to identify emerging risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to governance of the clinical audit program, including risk-based selection of audits and oversight of Audit CAPA follow-up. Execution of audits is performed by the audit function.
• Serve as a quality interface with CROs and vendor quality representatives to ensure appropriate management and resolution of quality issues.
• Support inspection readiness activities and provide first-line Clinical QA support during sponsor regulatory inspections, including preparation and follow-up actions.
• Review and provide input on new or revised SOPs and controlled documents to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and consistency across organizational procedures.
• Provide input on training assignments and training matrices to ensure procedures are appropriately implemented across functional roles.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives that support the development and strengthening of the Quality Management System, including the evaluation, assessment, and implementation of quality governance, processes, and systems.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, pharmacy, or related scientific discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.
• Approximately 8+ years of industry experience, including leadership in clinical quality oversight or quality governance.
• Strong applied knowledge of global GxP regulations applicable to clinical development, including:
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Good Pharmacovigilance Practice (GVP)
• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• GMP experience is not required for this role
• Experience with the following is desired:
• Quality management and oversight of clinical trials
• Quality event and CAPA management
• Regulatory inspection readiness and inspection support
• Risk-based quality management approaches
• Planning of clinical audits (including sites, internal audits)
• Developing metrics and reviewing issues for quality signals and trends
• SOP governance through controlled document reviews
• Training matrix or training governance activities
• Relevant certifications such as RQAP, CQA, CCRC, or RAC are considered a plus.