---
title: 'Senior Director, Clinical Operations Program Lead at Kardigan'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-clinical-operations-program-lead-kardigan-princeton-wswqw80bw3hb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Senior Director, Clinical Operations Program Lead at Kardigan

- **Company:** Kardigan
- **Location:** Princeton, NJ
- **Compensation:** $247k–$322k
- **Posted:** 2026-10-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan/jobs/5444657008

## Job description

## 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 Gianakakos, 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: Sr. Director Clinical Operations Program Lead

Department: Development

Reports To: Head of Clinical Development

Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Job Overview

Kardigan is seeking a Senior Director, Clinical Operations Program Lead for a late-stage cardiovascular asset. This position will be responsible for leading all of the activities associated with the clinical studies for the asset across all phases, including overseeing the internal operations team, CROs and vendors and working cross-functionally on the operational strategy and related initiatives. This position reports to the Head of Development Operations and serves as a member of the Development Operations Leadership team. This position will work collaboratively across the department, the entire Kardigan portfolio and cross-functional core/project teams with the overall goal of developing new and innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases with unmet need.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Accountable for the delivery of the assigned clinical program’s budget, timelines, and resource management with focus on quality, including making recommendations and decisions regarding operational strategies to support study and/or program objectives
- Develop and present the operational strategy and plans including supply chain to effectively execute on the Clinical Development Plan
- Partner and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders such as the Project Team Leader, Clinical Development Lead, Regulatory Lead, and other relevant stakeholders
- Lead and oversee execution of first-in-human through phase 4 trials, depending on lifecycle of program, in compliance with ICH/GCP, local regulations, and Kardigan’s SOPs
- Drive the selection, oversight, and management of CROs and other vendors
- Oversee site feasibility/capability assessments in collaboration with the CRO and cross-functional team
- Own the strategy and execution of creative approaches to achieve Kardigan’s corporate goals. This may include innovative solutions to digital patient-oriented data capture and storage, the development and deployment of novel clinical research platforms and approaches, and the pursuit of collaborations that will enhance progress of Kardigan’s research programs
- Review and provide clinical operations input into relevant clinical documents such as the protocol, investigator brochure, regulatory documents, clinical study reports and other documents and plans as appropriate
- Lead and provide oversight to the trial-specific operations team including the CROs/vendor(s) to function effectively and cohesively
- Responsible for representing Clinical Operations on cross-functional project teams and vendor/CRO operational meetings and ensuring compliance with operational standards and procedures.
- Along with other Clinical Development personnel, represent Kardigan’s externally to Investigators, site staff, and Key Opinion Leaders
- Perform and document study level Sponsor Oversight of outsourced clinical activities
- Communicate study-status, cost and issues to ensure timely decision-making by senior management
- Oversee/collaborate on and contribute to inspection readiness activities that support audits and regulatory inspections related to clinical trial conduct
- Maintain oversight and participate in the creation/review/training/maintenance of departmental and organizational SOPs to ensure compliance
- Lead and/or participate in Development Operations workstreams related to departmental and operating model related initiatives
- Develop and foster strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders both within and external to Kardigan’s, including Prolaio
- Directly manage assigned Clinical Trial Leads with a focus on performance, coaching and career development; provide mentorship to Site Operations Managers/Associates by providing clinical operations expertise and support identification and prioritization of study and program level work.
- Strive for continuous improvement and more efficient ways of working in clinical development

## Qualifications and Preferred Skills

- Minimum of BA/BS with at least 12 years of global clinical trial and clinical program experience, including 6+ years of high complexity independent, global trial management experience. Advanced degree preferred.
- Experience within the field of cardiovascular or rare disease studies is preferred.
- Robust experience in early and late phase drug development; some late-stage development experience is required.
- Multi-dimensional Clinical Operations background with capability of devising plans for operational challenges such as site activation, subject enrollment, monitoring oversight, protocol deviation management, data cleaning, etc.
- Cross-Collaboration proficiency with other therapeutic areas and functions such as Regulatory, CMC, Biostatistics, Data Management, Finance, Program Management, etc.
- Proven track record of effective leadership and team-building skills in the context of a multi-disciplinary team in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry
- Experience in ICH/GCP inspections, audits and inspection preparedness
- Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently
- Confidence to challenging status-quo thinking and behavior; can work with agility and an innovative mindset.

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

Pay range $247,000—$322,000 USD

## About Kardigan

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Kardigan is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing targeted cardiovascular therapies with the aim of transforming treatment from symptom management toward functional cures.
- **Entity Type**: Public (ticker not available from provided sources; IPO closed as per company announcement)
- **Headquarters**: South San Francisco, California, United States (with additional offices in Princeton, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois)
- **Founded**: Year not specified in available sources
- **Founders**: Tassos Gianakakos (Co-Founder, CEO & Chair), Dr. Jay Edelberg (Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer), Dr. Bob McDowell (Co-Founder & Scientific Adviser), Brianne Puglisi (Co-Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals – cardiovascular drug discovery and development
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – healthcare providers, hospitals, payers, and patients; the company develops prescription medicines for serious cardiovascular conditions
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “To make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.” ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/))

## Products & Services
- **Tonlamarsen**: A Phase 2/3 candidate for acute severe hypertension (ASH) and uncontrolled hypertension. Positive Phase 2 data presented as a late-breaker at ACC.26 and simultaneously published in JACC. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/))
- **Danicamtiv**: A Phase 3 candidate for genetic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), targeting the underlying inherited cardiac muscle disease. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/))
- **Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis (CAVS) Program**: A late-stage clinical program addressing calcium deposition that stiffens the aortic valve. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/))
- **Prolaio Subsidiary**: An AI and real‑world data platform integrated into Kardigan to generate insights, inform clinical trial design, and reduce time/cost of drug development. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/about-us/))
- **Cardiac Intelligence Platform**: A discovery and translational research engine that uses real‑world patient data, AI, and deep cardiovascular expertise to identify disease drivers and design targeted therapies. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/))

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources
- **Key Metric**: Public company (IPO closed); annual revenue not disclosed
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not explicitly listed in provided sources; company built on the team’s track record from MyoKardia (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb for $13.1B in 2020)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Positive Phase 2 pivotal data for Tonlamarsen in hypertension, presented at ACC.26 and published in JACC
  - Three late‑stage clinical programs (CAVS, ASH, DCM) running in parallel
  - Active job postings across 210+ roles in clinical operations, data science, manufacturing, and corporate strategy, indicating scaling ([job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan))
  - Integration of Prolaio’s AI platform to accelerate R&D

## Competitive Advantages
- **Leadership expertise**: CEO Tassos Gianakakos previously scaled MyoKardia from startup to a $13.1B acquisition; the team includes veterans from MyoKardia, Sanofi, BMS, and Merck.
- **Parallel pipeline strategy**: Multiple late‑stage programs targeting distinct cardiovascular diseases (valve, hypertension, cardiomyopathy) de‑risks development and creates data synergies.
- **Cardiac Intelligence platform**: Proprietary combination of real‑world data, AI, and deep biological insight to move beyond symptom management toward modifying underlying disease.
- **Focus on functional cures**: Each program aims to alter the course of disease rather than merely treat symptoms, creating potential for breakthrough efficacy.

## Strategic Focus
- **Advance late‑stage clinical trials**: Continue Phase 2/3 studies for Tonlamarsen, Danicamtiv, and CAVS while preparing for potential regulatory submissions.
- **Expand platform capabilities**: Leverage Prolaio’s AI and real‑world evidence to design smarter, faster trials and discover new drug targets.
- **Build commercial infrastructure**: Growing corporate strategy, medical affairs, and manufacturing teams in South San Francisco, Princeton, and Chicago signals preparation for launch.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Everything we do starts with patients – and it’s powered by people.” Emphasis on collaboration, purpose‑driven work, and achieving the impossible together. Mission‑oriented environment focused on curing cardiovascular disease. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/))
- **Work model**: Roles are listed for South San Francisco, Princeton, NJ, and Chicago, IL; likely on‑site/hybrid given the lab and clinical development nature. Not purely remote.
- **Benefits**:
  - Competitive salaries and annual bonus program
  - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  - 401(k) plan, life and disability insurance
  - Flexible spending and health savings accounts
  - Commuter benefits, cellphone allowance
  - Paid holidays and time off
  - Employee assistance program ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/))
- **Engineering & data science culture**: Active recruitment for data analytics, AI, and clinical data science roles; Executive Director of Data, AI & Collaboration Services is an open position, reflecting a strong tech‑driven R&D approach.

## Sources
1. [kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/) – Company homepage and pipeline descriptions
2. [kardigan.bio/about-us](https://www.kardigan.bio/about-us/) – About Us, mission, and Prolaio integration
3. [kardigan.bio/job-openings](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/) – Careers page with benefits and open roles
4. [kardigan.bio/leadership](https://www.kardigan.bio/leadership/) – Leadership team and co‑founder backgrounds
5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan) – Detailed job listings (32+ postings)

## Other roles at Kardigan

- [Contracts Manager (Prolaio)](https://feeny.ai/job/contracts-manager-prolaio-kardigan-chicago-42r8rkrddx72) — Chicago, IL
- [Medical Director, Clinical Development](https://feeny.ai/job/medical-director-clinical-development-kardigan-princeton-h0r5qrx667b5) — Princeton, NJ
- [Executive Director, Global Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-director-global-program-manager-kardigan-princeton-22n8a9rqn2kb) — Princeton, NJ
- [Director, Clinical Quality Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/director-clinical-quality-lead-kardigan-south-san-francisco-california-united-qzg2emd2he5j) — South San Francisco California United States Princeton New Jersey, United States
- [Senior Director, Biostatistics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-biostatistics-kardigan-princeton-vb12pjj1sw78) — Princeton, NJ
- [Senior Contracts Manager, Clinical Agreements](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-contracts-manager-clinical-agreements-kardigan-princeton-xthmawfmq41y) — Princeton, NJ
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- [Manager, Accounting](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-accounting-kardigan-princeton-7tcvpdfvzv82) — Princeton, NJ
- [Executive Director, Regulatory Strategy](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-director-regulatory-strategy-kardigan-princeton-b56gzz2zdy4z) — Princeton, NJ