Associate Director, IT Operations - Digital Solutions and Technology

Obsidian Therapeutics•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Obsidian Therapeutics is pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies to deliver transformative outcomes for patients. Obsidian’s programs apply our CytoDriveTM technology in Cell and Gene therapy products to control expression of proteins for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety. Obsidian’s lead program is currently in preclinical development for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma and other solid tumors. We’re proud of our diverse talented team and committed to cultivating an environment of inclusion where each person feels a strong sense of belonging and is supported to continuously learn and contribute their best work. Our Research team is based in the heart of Cambridge, MA, and Technical Operations team is based in our brand-new facility in Bedford, MA. Obsidianites enjoy a highly collaborative culture, competitive salary and benefits, and potential for ownership through stock options. We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Associate Director, IT Operations to lead and optimize Digital Solutions & Technology operations at Obsidian, delivering secure, compliant, and scalable technology services that enable our clinical-stage biotech teams to achieve breakthrough scientific and business outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field with 10+ years of relevant IT experience, including leadership of IT operations in a regulated environment (biotech, pharma, or healthcare preferred).
Experience with IT operations in agile, fast-growing companies.
Experience with GxP systems operational support (CSV/CSA).
Experience with change control systems and processes for GxP/SOX.
Experience managing MSPs and IT service delivery across multiple locations.
Strong knowledge of enterprise platforms (NetSuite, M365, ADP, Benchling, etc.) and lab/scientific software.
Experience managing Lab IT systems
Excellent planning, coordination, and time management skills.
Strong oral, written, and visual communication skills.
Ability to build productive relationships across scientific, business, and technical teams.
Systems thinking and sound judgment, especially in risk management and escalation

Responsibilities

Develop and execute Digital Solutions & Technology operations strategy aligned with Obsidian’s growth, compliance needs, and culture.
Lead day-to-day operations, including infrastructure, cloud environments, enterprise systems, and lab/scientific software.
Manage MSP resources, ensuring high-quality support and service levels.
Partner with Info Security lead to ensure robust cybersecurity and data protection.
Optimize Digital Solutions & Technology processes (incident, problem, change management) and drive adoption of best practices, with a strong emphasis on ITIL and change management in a controlled, regulated environment.
Manage vendor relationships and operations budget.
Support onboarding/offboarding, access management, and end-user training.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Risk Management & Business Continuity: Identify, assess, and mitigate IT risks; develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
Work closely with Facilities, Lab Operations, and other business units to ensure Digital Solutions meet evolving scientific and operational needs.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Drive process optimization and adoption of new technologies to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.
KPIs & Metrics: Define, track, and report on IT operational KPIs (e.g., uptime, ticket resolution, user satisfaction, compliance metrics).
Regulatory Audit Readiness: Prepare for and support regulatory audits (FDA, SOX, etc.), ensuring documentation and processes are audit-ready.