Director, Corporate Operational Excellence

Role Overview

• proactively identify enterprise-wide opportunities to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability, leveraging data, benchmarking, and deep business insight
• translate corporate strategic priorities into actionable, cross-functional programs and initiatives that drive measurable business outcomes
• serve as a thought partner to senior leadership to shape, prioritize, and sequence initiatives aligned to Kite’s strategic roadmap
• lead and oversee large, complex enterprise initiatives spanning Research, Development, Tech Ops, Commercial, and Corporate functions
• drive alignment across senior stakeholders, ensuring clarity in objectives, roles, governance, and decision-making
• influence without authority to mobilize cross-functional teams and deliver results at scale
• establish and embed repeatable frameworks for continuous operational improvement, including identification, prioritization, and execution of initiatives
• diagnose organizational inefficiencies and performance gaps, and design interventions that unlock productivity, reduce cycle time, and enhance quality
• drive change management strategies to enable adoption and sustain impact
• lead end-to-end program delivery, from problem framing and analytics through execution and value realization
• ensure rigorous program governance, including KPIs, milestone tracking, and risk management
• drive accountability for outcomes and ensure initiatives deliver measurable and sustained impact
• leverage data and analytics to identify opportunities, inform decision-making, and track performance
• develop and monitor KPIs and executive dashboards to assess program effectiveness and organizational health
• incorporate external benchmarking and best practices to continuously elevate Kite’s operating model
• lead or support integration and separation efforts related to mergers and acquisitions, including oversight of transition service agreements
• ensure seamless execution of integration initiatives aligned with enterprise priorities and timelines

Requirements

• PhD with 10+ years of relevant experience OR MS/MA with 12+ years of relevant experience OR BS/BA with 14+ years of relevant experience
• proven experience leading large-scale, cross-functional corporate initiatives from strategy through execution
• demonstrated ability to proactively identify and drive operational efficiency and effectiveness improvements at an enterprise level
• deep understanding of biopharma operations, including drug development and commercialization
• strong executive presence with experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing decisions
• track record of leading complex programs with measurable business impact
• exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and structured thinking capabilities
• strategic, enterprise mindset with the ability to connect long-term vision to near-term execution
• outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization
• experience establishing operational excellence frameworks, governance models, and performance systems
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience synthesizing complex topics for executive audiences

Benefits

• discretionary annual bonus
• discretionary stock-based long-term incentives
• paid time off
• company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans