About Us Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.

Led by Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.

We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic —leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn , we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.

Position Title: Associate Director, Clinical Outsourcing Department: Development Business Operations

Reports To: Director, Development Business Operations

Location: South San Francisco, CA (preferred) or Princeton, NJ – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Role : Associate Director, Clinical Outsourcing The Associate Director will play a key role in managing clinical vendor contracts/budgets to support Kardigan’s portfolio of late-stage cardiovascular assets. This role reports to the Director of Development Business Operations and will work cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Finance, Legal, Clinical QA, and other functional groups as required. The ideal candidate will have proven experience managing CROs and vendors, be an analytical and proactive individual with a proven ability to collaborate effectively internally and externally, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees and coordinates clinical vendor evaluation and selection, including generating and distributing RFIs/RFPs and organizing competitive bid defense meetings to formally assess vendor capabilities
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to support contract negotiations, including CDAs, MSAs, SOWs, and Change Orders
• Performs budget analyses in conjunction with clinical study execution teams and functional leads for cost optimization
• Partner with study execution teams and finance to manage accruals for clinical trials and support forecasting
• Assists Clinical QA with onboarding/due diligence of new vendors
• Submits purchase order requisitions through procurement management system

Ideal Candidate

• 8+ years of relevant experience in Development Business Operations, Clinical Business Operations, Clinical Outsourcing, or R&D Strategic Sourcing
• Strong understanding of clinical trial processes, vendor management, and regulatory requirements (e.g., ICH-GCP, 21 CFR Part 11)
• Proven experience selecting and managing CROs and vendors
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree desirable
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Pay range

$180,000 - $246,000 USD