SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE
The Associate QA Systems and Process QMS Director is the QA lead accountable for providing organizational guidance, support and act as business owner for Quality Management Systems (QMS), to ensure a fit-for-purpose, compliant and timely execution of complex Quality Events (Change Requests, Change Actions, Deviations, CAPAs, Effectiveness Checks, Issue Escalations, etc.). This role owns continuous QMS improvement by leading process enhancements, delivering training, reporting metrics, and serving as the system Business Owner.
The Associate QA Systems and Process QMS Director partners closely with QA and cross-functional teams (Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (PSC), Clinical Development/Operations, Information technology (IT), Regulatory Affairs (RA), Global Patient Safety, etc.) to identify, escalate, and effectively mitigate issues and risks.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Champion and Partner QA support for QMS (Deviations, Change Control, CAPA, CAPA Actions, Effectiveness checks, etc.).
- Owns business process for eQMS.
- Provide guidance on QMS use, process requirements, best practices and record completeness.
- Provide QA oversight of Veeva periodic enhancements.
- As a Change Control Process owner and QMS Business owner, drive cross-functional compliance, provide QMS guidance, ensure complete, thorough and timely completion of quality records.
- Own governing procedures and drive continuous improvement to ensure fit-for-purpose, risk based QMS processes.
- Track and trend QMS, provide metrics for Quality Systems Management Review (QSMR).
- Provide monthly Veeva Quality event status reports to QA and functional areas, proactively driving timely record closure.
- Develop and chamption a risk-based strategy across the GxP landscape to identify, manage, and mitigate risks; address potential blind spots; escalate issues; propose solutions; drive continuous improvement; and ensure alignment with key stakeholders and global regulatory standards.
- Own continuous improvements of the eQMS platform and Computer System Validation (CSV) processes to enhance efficiency, compliance, and overall system effectiveness.
- Resolve quality issues, identify and mitigate risk, propose options and solutions, and escalate as needed.
- Serve as the SME for health authority inspections and audits, while fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely documentation, escalation, and resolution of quality issues.
- Manage conflict by actively engaging teams to address issues, seeking diverse views and facilitate identification of options to achieve an equitable solution.
- Drive results and influence others outside of direct authority.
- Manage objective setting and balance commitments to prioritize and complete activities within established timelines.
- Serve as backup to other QMS QA leads and support CSV and Data Integrity (DI) QA activities as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with all policies and standards
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- No supervisory responsibilities.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education
- BS/BA degree in Biology, Computer Science, Education, Learning & Development, Sciences, or related discipline and 11 years of related experience; or
- MS/MA degree in Biology, Computer Science, Education, Learning & Development, Sciences, or related discipline and 9 years of related experience; or
- Equivalent combination of education and applicable experience.
Experience
- Experience in pharmaceutical or biotech industries, and Quality Systems is preferred.
- Experience in development of business strategies, metrics, and continuous improvements is preferred.
- Proven indirect organizational and management skills, ability to manage complex issues, sound decision making and strategic skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge of cGMPs, Health Authority Regulations, Quality Systems and manufacturing processes.
- International/global regulatory requirements experience preferred.
- Experience with participation in regulatory inspections and audits, presenting or defending functions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required:
- Apply wide range of knowledge of biotechnology/pharmaceutical sector to perform complex work, provides input beyond the QA function and proposes solutions to highly complex issues.
- Understands technical information related to equipment, processes, and regulatory expectations.
- Demonstrate strong time-management and organizational ability to analyze and improve processes and consistently produce high quality work.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills, able to translate and communicate complex concepts across all levels of the organization.
- Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities, evaluate data to detect weak signals, and escalate cumulative risks.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through change by engaging others, assessing unforeseen situations, continuously learning to achieve goals and drive results.
Travel Requirements
- 10% This position requires up to 10% travel.
#LI-HG1
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this position is $176,000 - $251,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate’s geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: [email protected].
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Computer Science, Education, Learning and Development, Sciences, or a related discipline, plus 11 years of related experience
- Master’s degree in Biology, Computer Science, Education, Learning and Development, Sciences, or a related discipline, plus 9 years of related experience
- Equivalent combination of education and applicable experience
- Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries and Quality Systems
- Experience developing business strategies, metrics, and continuous improvements
- Indirect organizational and management skills, complex issue management, sound decision-making, and strategic skills
- Knowledge of cGMPs, health authority regulations, quality systems, and manufacturing processes
- International or global regulatory requirements experience
- Experience participating in regulatory inspections and audits, including presenting or defending functions
- Broad biotechnology or pharmaceutical sector knowledge and ability to address highly complex issues
- Ability to understand technical information related to equipment, processes, and regulatory expectations
- Strong time-management, organizational, analytical, and process-improvement abilities
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities, evaluate data for weak signals, and escalate cumulative risks
- Ability to lead through change, engage stakeholders, and drive results
Exelixis Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Exelixis and has not been reviewed or approved by Exelixis.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement plans are highlighted as a strength, featuring a 401(k) with generous company contributions and immediate vesting. This emphasis signals strong long‑term financial support within the total rewards package.
-
Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is positioned as comprehensive, with multiple medical plan options (HDHP with HSA, EPO, and Kaiser HMO in CA) and employer HSA contributions in 2026. Posted plan documents and contribution details indicate structured support for managing care and costs.
-
Parental & Family Support — Family support is robust, including fully paid parental leave, caregiver leave, and expanded fertility benefits. Additional elements such as grandparent leave and backup care broaden assistance across life stages.
Exelixis Insights
What We Do
Every Exelixis employee is united in an ambitious cause: to launch innovative medicines that give patients and their families hope for the future. In this pursuit, we know our employees are our most valuable asset. After operating in the challenging biotech sector for more than 25 years, we have a proven track record of resiliency in the face of adversity. The success of our lead product has provided a solid commercial foundation allowing us to reinvigorate our research efforts, and grow our team in areas such as Drug Discovery, Clinical Development and Commercial. As we expand our global partnerships and further reinvest in R&D to help us discover the next breakthrough for difficult-to-treat cancers, we’re seeking to add talented, dedicated employees to power our mission. Cancer is our cause. Make it yours, too. Please see our Community Guidelines: bit.ly/2XXw9w3 For more information about Exelixis, please visit www.exelixis.com, follow @ExelixisInc on Twitter or like Exelixis, Inc. on Facebook.







