Associate Director, Quality Control - Avidity Biosciences

Job Title:

Associate Director, Quality Control

Location:

Hybrid - San Diego and Remote

Position type:

FLSA:

Full time

Exempt

Department:

Finance ID:

Technical Development & Operations (TD&O)

7625-2024-14-N

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Opportunity

The Associate Director, Quality Control will lead all Quality Control aspects for GMP Operations in all phases of product development. The primary function of this position will be accountability for external QC analytical and microbiology activities to support the release and stability testing of Avidity products produced and tested at CMO/CTOs. The candidate will be Avidity’s primary analytical and microbiological point of contact for all CMO/CTOs. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including extensive experience negotiating with CTOs and CMOs, are essential for success in this position. This role will develop systems and procedures, build relationships with our CMO/CTO network, and serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for analytical and microbiology release assays. The candidate will interface with Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Analytical Development, Regulatory, and other cross-functional teams as required. This position will report to the Head of Quality Control and be a part of Avidity’s growing Technical Development & Operations team.

What You Will Contribute

• Establish and drive strategy to ensure we are ready and compliant with phase-appropriate – early to late-stage and commercial– Quality Control requirements at Avidity’s CMOs/CTOs.
• Provide oversight of all QC activities at external CMOs/CTOs.
• Be the point of contact for all CMOs/CTOs from initiation of vendor contact through release and stability testing.
• Lead analytical technology transfers to CTOs and CMOs and interface with Avidity’s analytical and process development teams to facilitate technology transfers.
• Enable testing activities within Avidity’s CMO and CTO network to support release and stability of intermediates, drug substance, and drug product.
• Develop system and tools for ensuring supply of critical reagents, reference standards, and controls at CMOs/CTOs. Track inventory and burn rate. Where appropriate, enable CMOs/CTOs to qualify critical reagents, reference standards, and controls and maintain and report inventory at regular intervals.
• Develop systems/tools and database to track and review release and control data to ensure ease of data reporting and ensure appropriate analytical performance.
• Proactively identify and troubleshoot issues to prevent missed timelines and identify opportunities for improvement in QC operations at CMOs/CTOs.
• Drive from End-to-End deviation/OOS investigations as it relates to analytical and microbiological QC testing and implement CAPAs and change controls.
• Develop and track KPIs for external QC and CMOs/CTOs. Hold CMOs/CTOs accountable to deliver on contractual requirements and data delivery for release and stability testing.
• Work with QA to ensure CMOs and CTOs are audit ready, based on CMC milestones and program requirements.
• Communicate data both verbally at group meetings, CMC teams, and through written documents and reports.
• Author, review, and/or approve SOPs, policies, risk assessments, and technical reports.
• Support of cGMP operations, including technical review of change control documentation and reports, deviations, OOSs and other manufacturing and laboratory investigations.
• Work with project leads to address delays and escalate when necessary.
• Assist in the preparation of CMC regulatory submissions.
• Support other QC activities and projects as needed.
• This position may require travel (approximately 10%).

What We Seek

The ideal candidate for this position will have extensive QC management experience in a cGMP biologics-regulated manufacturing environment. The role will interface with Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Analytical Development, and Regulatory groups to ensure company procedures and industry guidelines are followed. A strong technical background and proven track record in Quality Control related to biologics, oligonucleotide, small molecules, and AOC (Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugate)/ADC (Antibody Drug Conjugate) modalities.

• BS or MS in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biology, or other related field.
• 6+ years of related experience within the biopharmaceutical industry in QC management.
• Working knowledge of antibody, antibody drug conjugates, oligonucleotides, and protein analytical methods is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of cGMP/ICH/FDA/EU/PMDA regulations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USP, EP, and JP monographs.
• Highly collaborative team player who fosters open communication and facilitates mutual understanding and cooperation between all stakeholders.
• A passion for addressing the critical unmet medical needs of patients.
• Self-directed individual who is able to work in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
• Ability to organize data and identify gaps.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Laboratory Practices.
• Experience of managing CMO relationships and projects.
• Experience with authoring IND/IMPD and BLA submissions.
• Sound understanding and demonstrated application of statistical methods/tools.
• Capable of strategic thinking that drives prioritization in the midst of a dynamic environment with multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communication skills, and outstanding organizational skills.

• The base salary range for this role is $162,000 - $190,000. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits, including the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options, and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development, including a variety of internal programming developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

Avidity Biosciences

10578 Science Center Dr. Suite 125

San Diego, CA

92121

O: 858-401-7900

F: 858-401-7901