New · posted Oct 15
Cytokinetics · Pharmaceuticals
Director, Quality Systems
- South San Francisco, CA
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- Director
Open until filled
The role
Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.
The Director of Quality Systems will be responsible for the overall operation of Cytokinetics Quality Systems and will provide leadership for the quality management system, document control, and GxP training groups. This role will provide strategic direction, leadership, and development for these groups to ensure that all aspects of pharmaceutical quality management systems (QMS), controlled documentation, and training programs are effectively established, implemented, and maintained in accordance with cGMP regulations and industry best practices. The Director of Quality Systems will serve as a key advisor on QMS-related matters and ensure quality system processes support business objectives, regulatory compliance, and inspection readiness.
What you need
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences with 12+ years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including at least 7 years of experience leading Quality Systems within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated life sciences industry.
- 5+ years of progressive people-management experience including leading, mentoring, and developing Quality professionals.
- Demonstrated leadership with effective communication skills and an ability to deliver results through teamwork.
- Strong direct experience with Quality Management Systems, including CAPA, Change Control, Deviations, Continuous Improvements and Quality Risk Management.
- Veeva Quality Vault experience preferred.
- Must think critically and be able to make decisions independently, determine appropriate resources for problem resolution, and have strong organizational and planning skills.
- In-depth knowledge of Quality principles, concepts, industry practices, and standards.
- Demonstrated ability to execute strategic and tactical objectives provided by senior leaders both within and outside of Quality.
- Able to effectively communicate vision and expectations to the teams.
- Experience in a global, multi-site, or international GxP environment preferred.
What you'll do
- Provide strategic roadmap for the Quality Systems organization, including oversight of quality management system, document control, and GxP training groups, oversee personnel performance management, mentoring, and career development.
- Lead and develop teams responsible for document control, GxP training administration, and quality system processes, ensuring effective execution and continuous improvement.
- Acts as Business Process Owner of the QMS.
- Ensure Quality Systems and processes are maintained and modified regularly to ensure best practices.
- Ensure Quality Systems support compliance with applicable FDA, EMA, ICH, GxP, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
- Oversee the document control program, ensuring the effective management, review, approval, issuance, revision, archival, and retrieval of GxP documents and records.
- Oversee the GxP training program, ensuring training curricula, assignment, completion, effectiveness, and compliance requirements are met across the company.
- Collaborate with IT to implement updates/enhancements to the eQMS and ensure effective system support.
- Lead company-wide quality systems projects across various departments.
- Work with GxP functional leaders to implement processes and systems that enable the business to operate effectively. Provide process analytics and oversight on a continuous basis to enforce requirements and meet regulations.
- Monitor the entire quality system to ensure that acceptable levels of performance are maintained.
- Manage continuous improvement project as required.
- Establish and report on appropriate metrics and dashboards to monitor overall quality system health and facilitate quality review board and management review.
- Review and approve cGMP records and documents as required.
- Develop and manage goals and corresponding budget in alignment with company vision and goals.
- Work on complex problems that may have implications across functions, apply strong judgment in resolving problems and make recommendations.
- Lead inspection readiness activities related to Quality Systems.
- Lead, mentor, and develop Quality Systems personnel and functional subject matter experts.
- Recruit talent and build a high performing team, mentor, and coach colleagues.
Pay and benefits
$225,000 – $262,500 a year
Employer providedThe expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $225,000 - $262,500. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. Base salary is just one component of our competitive total compensation package, which includes equity in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.
Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.
Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.
Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do – all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.
Equity (stock options/RSUs)
Health, dental, vision insurance
Life and disability insurance
401k with employer match
Learning and wellness stipends
Paid time off
Where you'll work
South San Francisco, CAHybridOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
More jobs in South San Francisco, CAEqual opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesCytokinetics's statements, word for word
Fraud Warning: How to Identify Impersonated Cytokinetics Job Postings and Offers
Recently, there have been fraudulent employment offers being sent to candidates on behalf of Cytokinetics. Please be advised that all legitimate offers from Cytokinetics will come directly from our official email domain (Cytokinetics.com) and will only be made after completing a formal interview process.
Here are some ways to check for authenticity:
We do not conduct job interviews through non-standard text messaging applications
We will never request personal information such as banking details until after an official offer has been accepted and verified
We will never request that you purchase equipment or other items when interviewing or hiring
If you are unsure about the authenticity of an offer, or if you receive any suspicious communication, please contact us directly at [email protected]
Job intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · October 15, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 16% above the US median for Quality Assurance roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Director roles in California26 roles publishing pay
Director roles in the US102 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $225,000 | — | $262,500 |
| California (middle half) | $197,500 | $213,500 | $241,000 |
| All US (middle half) | $186,500 | $209,250 | $231,375 |
This role: Cytokinetics's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Quality Assurance roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, October 15, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Quality Assurance
The general path across 845 open Quality Assurance roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Cytokinetics's own promotion track.
Career resources on Quality Assurance
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 31 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Quality systems and risk14
- Collaboration and leadership12
- GMP and compliance10
- Documentation and SOPs6
- Investigations and CAPA1
- Data and digital systems1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
Company hiring pulse
Cytokinetics on Regulatory Jobs
- 12
- Open roles
- 11
- Distinct roles
- 2
- Locations
By discipline
- Regulatory6 50%
- Quality4 33%
- Compliance & Safety2 17%
By level
- Director5 42%
- Manager5 42%
- Senior & Principal2 17%
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Director, Quality Systems at Cytokinetics
Open until filled. $225K–$263K a year, employer provided.