Senior Manager - Regulatory Affairs CMC

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

The Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs CMC supports and drives increasingly complex CMC regulatory activities for Kite’s cell therapy / CAR-T portfolio across clinical and commercial development. This role contributes to the development and execution of global regulatory strategies, supports end-to-end preparation of CMC submissions, and partners closely with cross-functional teams to help ensure timely, high-quality, and compliant regulatory deliverables throughout the product lifecycle. This includes support for key areas such as vector-related changes, manufacturing network expansion, lifecycle management, and inspection readiness. The role is expected to operate with considerable independence within assigned scope and contribute meaningfully to both program execution and functional best practices.

Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to our Thousand Oaks, CA or El Segundo, CA office beginning in January 2027. While this role will be based in Santa Monica through 2026, applicants should take this planned relocation into consideration. Kite supports a flexible working policy, offering a balanced approach with two days of remote working and three days working onsite

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support and drive operational and lifecycle management activities for Regulatory CMC submissions across Kite’s global cell therapy / CAR-T clinical and commercial programs.
• Prepare, coordinate, and critically review moderately complex to complex CMC regulatory submissions in accordance with ICH requirements, applicable regional requirements, and internal scientific and procedural standards.
• Contribute to the preparation and submission of CMC content for INDs, CTAs, BLAs, MAAs, supplements, variations, amendments, and post-approval submissions supporting cell therapy products.
• Support development and execution of global CMC regulatory strategies aligned with program objectives, business timelines, and evolving health authority expectations for ATMP / CAR-T products.
• Help ensure global harmonization and consistency of Module 3 content across applications, regions, and lifecycle activities.
• Identify CMC risk areas and recommend practical mitigation strategies, alternative approaches, and scenario planning to support complex cell therapy manufacturing and supply strategies.
• Serve as a Regulatory CMC representative on cross-functional project teams, partnering closely with Technical Operations, MSAT, Process & Analytical Development, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Clinical stakeholders.
• Support regulatory strategy and execution associated with vector-related changes and comparability considerations, as applicable to CAR-T product development and lifecycle management.
• Provide regulatory input for manufacturing site expansion activities, including addition or qualification of new manufacturing sites, updates to registered details, and related post-approval or clinical submission strategies.
• Contribute to inspection readiness activities, including support for regulatory responses and documentation related to site readiness, manufacturing history, inspection history, and pre-approval or routine inspection planning.
• Support preparation of health authority responses (e.g., IRs, RTQs, deficiency responses) and contribute to briefing materials and meeting support for CMC-related agency interactions.
• Assess manufacturing change controls for potential global regulatory impact and provide input on compliant and efficient implementation strategies across regions.
• Support maintenance and accuracy of CMC-specific registered details and associated documentation in relevant systems and repositories.
• Present project status updates, key risks, and regulatory considerations for assigned programs in group meetings and cross-functional forums.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including templates, tools, policies, procedures, and knowledge-sharing activities that strengthen Regulatory CMC capabilities and submission quality.
• May lead or contribute to CMC RA sub-teams or special initiatives within the function and provide matrix support or coaching to less experienced colleagues, as appropriate.

Knowledge and Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of CMC regulatory requirements for ATMPs / cell therapy products, including global regulatory frameworks and regional expectations.
• Knowledge of ICH requirements and current global trends in CMC Regulatory Affairs relevant to clinical and commercial products.
• Experience authoring or coordinating CMC sections of regulatory submissions and supporting lifecycle management activities.
• Ability to interpret regulatory guidance and apply it to practical product, process, and manufacturing scenarios.
• Understanding of regulatory considerations for CAR-T manufacturing, comparability, product lifecycle changes, and site-related updates is preferred.
• Ability to assess risk, support strategy development, and partner effectively across technical functions in a fast-paced environment.

Core Capabilities

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder partnership skills.
• Ability to work with considerable independence while maintaining alignment with leadership and team priorities.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills in a highly collaborative environment.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities with shifting timelines.
• Sound judgment and ability to propose practical, compliant, and risk-based solutions.
• Ability to contribute to strategic discussions while remaining execution-focused and detail-oriented.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, evolving environment with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Leadership and Impact

• Operates with considerable independence within assigned scope and supports increasingly complex regulatory workstreams and projects.
• May act as a core team member on broader cross-functional teams and may lead selected CMC RA sub-team activities for assigned programs.
• Contributes to advancement of Regulatory CMC best practices through process improvements, capability-building, and knowledge sharing.
• May coach or guide less experienced colleagues and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• Models professionalism, integrity, accountability, and strong partnership behaviors in all interactions.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a dynamic business environment.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Strategic, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Comfortable navigating complex issues, evolving priorities, and fast-paced timelines.
• Collaborative team player with strong professionalism, ethics, and integrity

Basic Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, engineering, or a related scientific field.
• Significant experience in Regulatory Affairs CMC within the biotechnology or biopharmaceutical industry.
• Experience supporting cell therapy / ATMP / CAR-T programs across clinical and/or commercial stages.
• Experience supporting global regulatory filings and lifecycle management for complex products, including post-approval submissions and health authority interactions.
• Familiarity with vector-related regulatory considerations, comparability strategies, and complex manufacturing changes is highly desirable.
• Experience with multi-site manufacturing strategies, site expansion activities, or global change management is preferred.
• Experience supporting or participating in inspection readiness activities and regulatory responses related to manufacturing sites is a plus.
• GMP knowledge or experience is strongly preferred.

The salary range for this position is: $143,225.00 - $185,350.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.
 

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Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

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Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the  legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.
 

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