Senior Director, Medical Affairs Operations

Job Title: Senior Director, Medical Affairs Operations

Location: Remote

About Us:

Vera Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VERA), is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera’s mission is to advance treatments that target the source of immunologic diseases in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera’s lead product candidate is atacicept, a fully humanized fusion protein self-administered at home as a subcutaneous weekly injection that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including IgA nephropathy. Vera is also considering evaluating the role of atacicept in other immunologic disorders. Additionally, Vera is developing VT-109, a novel, next-generation dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor in preclinical development, and MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK virus, a polyomavirus that can have devastating consequences in certain settings such as kidney transplant. For more information, please visit: www.veratx.com.

Our values are the cornerstone of our culture. Our values inspire us every day and guide everything we do—from how we hire great people, to advancing our mission together, to achieving our ultimate goal to improve medical treatment for patients suffering from immunological diseases.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly driven and dynamic individual to join our team as Senior Director, Medical Affairs Operations. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs, this role will take a key role in leading operational planning and execution of Medical Affairs strategies by overseeing budget planning, OKR progress and vendor management for Medical Affairs initiatives, including ad boards and study executive steering committee. This position offers significant visibility, providing the opportunity to shape the growth and direction of the function while presenting regularly to Medical Affairs leadership

This role is remote with periodic travel to our headquarters in Brisbane, California, and occasional travel for conferences.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs to develop and implement the strategic vision for Medical Affairs, ensuring alignment with the organization's goals.
• Develop, manage, and execute comprehensive vendor plans, including organizing Steering Committee Meetings, Advisory Boards, and Working Groups.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders, external partners, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and vendors, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
• Establish and refine processes, systems, and metrics to enhance the team’s activities and improve Medical Affairs functional execution including but not limited to, Medical Education Grants/Sponsorships, Congress Activities, and Investigator Initiated Studies.
• Develop an annual budget that aligns with the Medical Affairs strategic plan
• Analyze historical financial data and forecast future needs to create a comprehensive budget that supports key initiatives and projects
• Regularly monitor the department's budget to track expenditure and ensure they align with the approved budget.
• Implement controls to prevent overspending and ensure that all financial activities comply with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements within the department.
• Implement strategies to optimize spending without compromising the quality and effectiveness of Medical Affairs activities.
• Collaborate with the finance team to reconcile the budget against actual expenditures and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Keep Medical Affairs leadership informed of team progress, major activities, and any changes impacting the goals of the team.
• Adjust and redesign Medical Affairs operational strategies as necessary in response to progress, unforeseen delays, or evolving business needs.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Medical Affairs department, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness across all activities.
• Develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of Medical Affairs initiatives (e.g. scientific engagement metrics). Regularly track and analyze these metrics to drive continuous improvement and report on progress to senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSc) is preferred.
• 12+ years in Medical Affairs project management experience
• 12+ years of experience in the life sciences industry, preferred nephrology.
• Proven leadership experience with a track record of increasing responsibility in Medical Affairs operational management roles.
• Extensive knowledge of medical affairs dynamics, including navigating external partnerships and managing vendors within a complex environment.
• Deep understanding of industry guidelines (e.g., PhRMA, FDA, OIG) and Medical Affairs best practices
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end vendor contractual relationship including SOW/MSA development, milestone/fee tracking in both fixed fee and T&E models, extension/change orders and integration into Medical Affairs operational spend
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the capacity to engage, align, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• A process-driven mindset with the ability to adapt and remain flexible in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proven ability to thrive in a dynamic, innovative work setting, collaborating effectively across teams and functions.
• Exceptional attention to detail, combined with a high level of energy, commitment to accuracy, and a results-oriented approach.

Vera Therapeutics Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer.

Vera Therapeutics is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the anticipated base pay range is $250,000 - $265,000. The exact base pay offered for this role will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s geography, qualifications, skills, and experience.

At Vera, base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate will be eligible for an annual performance incentive bonus, new hire equity, and ongoing performance-based equity. Vera Therapeutics also offers various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, flexible time off, and a number of paid holidays.

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