Kelonia therapeutics

Director/Sr. Director, Clinical Operations

Boston, MA Full Time
Here at Kelonia Therapeutics, we aren’t just a clinical company; we’re trailblazers in viral engineering, pushing the boundaries of in vivo lentiviral gene and cell therapy. We're not just a team; we're dreamers on a mission to bring the promise of cell and gene therapy to every patient in need.

We've gathered a group of pioneers in cell and gene therapy to lead our journey, with extraordinary scientific founders at the helm, providing the cutting-edge technology that sets us apart. We're not just building a company; we're cultivating a culture that values both skill and care.

What You Will Do:

 

Clinical Trial Execution & Program Ownership

  • Lead the end-to-end execution of clinical trials from study start-up through close-out
  • Translate clinical development strategy into actionable operational plans, timelines, and budgets
  • Own study-level delivery, ensuring trials are conducted on time, within budget, and in compliance
  • Identify risks early and drive mitigation strategies to maintain program momentum

Vendor & CRO Management

  • Lead day-to-day oversight of CROs and external vendors, ensuring performance, quality, and accountability
  • Define and track KPIs and deliverables, escalating issues as needed
  • Partner with VP and cross-functional stakeholders on vendor selection and governance
  • Act as the primary escalation point for operational challenges

Cross-Functional Program Leadership

  • Drive alignment across:
    • Clinical Development
    • Translational & Research
    • Regulatory
    • CMC / Manufacturing
  • Ensure seamless communication of timelines, risks, and decisions across teams
  • Represent clinical operations in program-level discussions and decision-making

Operational Planning & Infrastructure

  • Build and implement study-level processes, tools, and tracking mechanisms
  • Contribute to the development of broader clinical operations infrastructure in partnership with the VP
  • Identify gaps in execution and proactively implement improvements

Quality, Compliance & Inspection Readiness

  • Ensure study execution aligns with ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements, and internal SOPs
  • Oversee TMF quality and completeness at the study level, ensuring inspection readiness
  • Support audits and inspections in collaboration with Quality and VP Clinical Operations
  • Embed a culture of proactive quality and operational excellence

Team Leadership & Development

  • Provide direction and mentorship to clinical operations staff (e.g., CTAs, CTMs) as applicable
  • Foster accountability, prioritization, and strong execution across the study team
  • Contribute to hiring and scaling of the clinical operations function

 What You Will Bring:

  • Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field; advanced degree preferred with 10+ years (Director) / 12+ years (Senior Director) in clinical operations
  • Demonstrated experience leading early-phase oncology clinical trials (Phase I/II)
  • Experience in hematological malignancies and cell and gene therapy strongly preferred
  • Proven success managing CROs and cross-functional clinical programs
  • Deep understanding of clinical trial execution, ICH-GCP, and global regulatory requirements
  • Experience with clinical systems (e.g., CTMS, eTMF, EDC)
  • Strong operational planning and risk management capabilities
  • Experience managing study budgets and timelines
  • Strong execution mindset with end-to-end ownership of deliverables
  • Ability to operate effectively in a lean, ambiguous, and fast-moving environment
  • Skilled at balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution
  • Excellent communication and cross-functional influence
  • Proactive problem solver with a focus on delivering results