{"id":1405877,"url":"https://alion.io/job/kite-pharma-exec-director-viral-vector-process-development","title":"Exec Director, Viral Vector Process Development","company":{"id":1810688,"name":"Kite Pharma","domain":"kitepharma.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/kitepharma","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Santa Monica, United States","Oceanside, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":255425,"max":330550,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":330550},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":18,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-28T17:49:40Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-28","last_verified_at":"2026-09-29T11:54:46Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"We’re here for one reason and one reason only - to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.\nJoin Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.\nWe believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.\nJob Description\nThis role is accountable for end-to-end viral vector development, from construct design through clinical and commercial manufacturing support, and serves as a key partner across Research, Product Teams, Technical Operations, and Analytical functions.\nThe leader will balance deep technical expertise with executive-level influence, ensuring robust, scalable vector platforms while building a high-performing organization capable of supporting both ex vivo and emerging in vivo applications.\nReporting & Location\nReports to: SVP, Global Head of Process Development\nLocation: Santa Monica, CA Or Oceanside, CA\nOn-site presence required\nKey Responsibilities\nTechnical & Scientific Leadership\nAccountable for technical strategy for viral vector platforms across clinical and commercial scale, including complex tech transfers, external manufacturing partnerships, and late-stage manufacturing readiness.\nProvide deep expertise in lentiviral vector (LVV) design, including construct architecture, promoter selection, and transgene optimization\nLead viral vector process development, including:Upstream production systems (transient and stable)\nDownstream purification and recovery operations\n\nDrive process scale-up and technology transfer to clinical and commercial manufacturing sites (internal and external)\nOversee LVV life cycle management and manufacturing support capabilities\nLead initiatives to improve viral vector productivity, robustness, and cost of goods\nAdvance next-generation capabilities, including:In vivo viral vector development\nPlatform innovations and emerging delivery technologies\n\nCross-Functional & Product Development Leadership\nEnsure viral vector development decisions are optimized across the full cell therapy value chain, from transduction efficiency and cell performance to manufacturing robustness and CMC sustainability.\nProvide strategic leadership for viral vector on cross-functional Product Teams\nPartner closely with:Research to translate early concepts into developable and scalable vector designs\nT cell process development to align vector performance with cellular outcomes\nAnalytical development to ensure appropriate characterization and control strategies\n\nContribute to integrated product development, ensuring vector design and process decisions align with clinical and commercial objectives\nDrive alignment across functions in a matrixed environment, balancing competing priorities while maintaining product focus\nCMC & Regulatory Engagement\nStrong working knowledge of cGMP regulations and compliance systems related to viral vector development, including inspection readiness, audit support, and direct engagement with regulatory agencies.\nContribute to LVV CMC strategies, including phase-appropriate viral vector development and scale-up approaches\nSupport regulatory filings and health authority interactions as a technical expert\nProvide input into comparability strategies for process changes, site transfers, and lifecycle evolution of LVV\nOrganizational Leadership & Talent Development\nProvide leadership oversight for viral vector development laboratories and GMP-adjacent environments, ensuring facility readiness, compliance, and operational excellence in support of clinical and commercial programs.\nDemonstrated experience leading large organizations within a highly matrixed cell and gene therapy environment.\n\nBuild, lead, and scale a high-performing viral vector development organization\nRecruit, develop, and retain top scientific and leadership talent\nCoach and develop future leaders, ensuring depth and succession within the organization\nFoster a culture of:Scientific rigor and accountability\nOwnership and execution\nCollaboration and transparency\n\nLeadership, Communication & Executive Influence\nDemonstrate strong executive presence, with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences\nInfluence decision-making at senior leadership and governance levels, providing clear, balanced perspectives on risks, trade-offs, and options\nDrive clarity in ambiguity, enabling teams to make timely and well-informed decisions\nCommunicate effectively across:Technical teams\nCross-functional stakeholders\nExecutive leadership\n\nBuild credibility as a trusted partner and advisor, both internally and externally\nRepresent the organization in external collaborations, partnerships, and industry forums\nBasic Qualifications\nPhD in Biochemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Virology, or related field with 15+ years of experience (or MS with 18+ years)\nExtensive experience in viral vector development and manufacturing support for cell and/or gene therapy\nDemonstrated expertise in LVV and/or RVV systems\nEnd-to-end experience from early development through commercialization\nStrong understanding of:Viral vector development across phases\nAnalytical characterization strategies\nManufacturing and tech transfer considerations for viral vector\n\nExperience leading cell therapy programs (e.g., CAR-T)\nProven ability to lead in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment\nTrack record of influencing portfolio and strategic decisions for successful drug development\nPreferred Qualifications\nExposure to in vivo gene delivery platforms\nSound knowledge in RVV development and CMC aspects \nLeadership Attributes\nEnterprise mindset - prioritizes product and patient impact over functional optimization\nTechnical depth with judgment - knows when to go deep and when to elevate\nClarity and decisiveness - simplifies complexity into actionable direction\nTalent builder - develops leaders, not just teams\nStrong influencing skills across matrixed environments\nAbility to integrate strategy with execution\nThe salary range for this position is: $255,425.00 - $330,550.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.For additional benefits information, visit:\nhttps://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing\n* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.\nKite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.\nFor jobs in the United States:\nKite Pharmais committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, geneticinformation or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact  for assistance.\nFor more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.\nNOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT\nYOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT\nKite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.\nOur environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.\nKite Pharmaprovides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.\nFor Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:\nPlease apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.","description_format":"text","description_chars":10402,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":18,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Life insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Cell & Gene Therapy","Health Care","Regenerative Medicine"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-28T17:49:40Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["conf:41","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":330550,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/kite-pharma-exec-director-viral-vector-process-development","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/kite-pharma-exec-director-viral-vector-process-development.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-02T01:32:50Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1873,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3127,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-03T00:00:00Z"}}}