Sr. Director, Clinical Operations

About Vaxart

Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform. Vaxart vaccines are administered using convenient room temperature-stable tablets that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration.

Vaxart has demonstrated that its proprietary tablet 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. Its development programs currently include tablet vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart’s first immuno-oncology indication.

Our mission is the promotion of global health through the development of effective vaccines that can be administered by tablet rather than by injection, providing for the simple and efficient distribution and administration of safe vaccines in any setting.

We are looking for a Sr. Director, Clinical Operations to join our growing South San Francisco team!

The Sr. Director, Clinical Operations will support the Vice President Clinical Operations in overseeing the planning, execution, reporting, and tracking of clinical research studies at Vaxart. More specifically, the Sr. Director, Clinical Operations may be appointed Deputy Director or second in command with the authority to act as a substitute or on behalf of the VP Clinical Operations as needed and directed. This functional leadership role requires strong industry knowledge and experience in the management of clinical trials from clinical development conception to publishing clinical study reports. The successful candidate is accountable for outsourcing activities such as vendor selection and management, particularly of CRO’s, field sites, and clinical monitors. The Sr. Director Clinical Operations will ensure research studies are completed on time, within budget, and in accordance with GCP guidelines and all applicable regulatory requirements. The ability to effectively establish procedures, build cross-functional partnerships, manage staff, mitigate risks, make decisions, hold oneself and others accountable and escalate issues is essential. This is a highly dynamic position requiring strong communication, collaboration, and facilitation skills to balance multiple priorities in a matrix/team-based organization and numerous external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead efforts in identifying, vetting, and selecting vendors for outsourced activities.
• Analyze resource allocation and draft budget estimates.
• Define strategy, operational tactics, and interdependent responsibilities for study team members.
• Coordinate and align clinical operations endeavors with study objectives and corporate goals.
• Develop study timelines in collaboration with various cross-functional teams such as project management, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and analytics.
• Coordinate the development and/or review of essential study documents such as synopses, protocols, amendments, and clinical study reports.
• Develop and/or review study plans and site documents such as ICF, SMP, MMP, CMP, SAP, etc.
• Facilitate CRF development, participate in UAT of EDC, and oversee data management activities.
• Support the project management team in tracking deliverables and monitoring progress of interdependencies to adhere to study timelines and budgets.
• Assist the CMC and Analytics teams in the outsourcing strategy and management of drug depots and testing labs, respectively.
• Prepare and present study metrics to train and/or report trial status and progress to internal and external stakeholders.
• Hires and effectively manages a high performing team to achieve clinical goals on time and on budget.
• Coordinate activities for the timely and appropriate handling and management of reportable adverse events to, and with, CRO’s, clinical sites, medical monitors, pharmacovigilance personnel, regulatory authorities, and pertinent Vaxart staff.
• Collaborate with Medical Director and Regulatory Affairs to draft and/or review updates to necessary documents such as investigators’ brochure, INDs, and FDA correspondence as necessary and applicable.
• Identify, track, and escalate issues such as major or important protocol deviations, supply chain problems or concerns (including IP), timeline slippage, out of scope or over budget services, and study team staff matters.
• Review, analyze, and approve vendor quotes, purchase orders, and invoices.
• Report accruals and expenditures of pass-through costs to accounting.
• Assist legal counsel in the review of payment terms against study budget allocation and billable milestones.
• Ensure compliance with contract expectations and proper allocation of funds.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices in clinical trial management.
• Author and/or contribute to the development and refinement of clinical operations SOPs, work instructions, departmental and/or organizational policies, and other tools or documents.
• Support quality assurance and quality control activities.
• Ensures inspection readiness of study documents and vendors
  
  

Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, e.g., Life Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management and 17 years of experience in clinical research, preferably in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, or
• Master’s degree and 15 years of experience, or
• Doctorate degree and 12 years of experience
• Proven extensive leadership experience.
• Extensive knowledge of GCP, ICH guidelines, and FDA regulations.
• Ability to operate both strategically with executive stakeholders and colleagues and tactically when guiding study teams, strategic plans and key activities.
• Demonstrated understanding of regulations and guidelines governing clinical trial operations, including good clinical practice, clinical trial design and execution, the patient journey, clinical pharmacology, biostatistics, and clinical operations.
• Capable of communicating and collaborating with people of diverse backgrounds and job functions, with a demonstrated track record of collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills that motivate others to excel and achieve their very best, including the ability to develop high-performing study teams.
• Proven ability to work with limited direction in a fast-paced, dynamic and goal-oriented environment.
• Must have strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Demonstrate excellent executive presence and aptitude to influence and manage change.
• Strong innovation, critical thinking, and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Computer literacy in software packages Microsoft Office applications and clinical research specific tools, e.g. Veeva and other database platforms.
  
  

In accordance with California’s Pay Transparency law, Vaxart’s base salary range for this position is approximately $264,000 - $305,000 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 a robust health plan, bonus program, stock options, 401(k) with employer matching, tuition assistance, and work-life balance.

Vaxart is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity. We are committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action 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 does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of 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.

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.