Director, Clinical Monitoring Strategy

Oruka Therapeutics • Waltham, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Oruka Therapeutics is developing novel biologics for chronic skin diseases, aiming to provide patients with significant relief. The company is seeking passionate individuals to join its core team and contribute to establishing an engaged, inclusive, and positive company culture. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership for clinical monitoring activities across development programs, playing a critical part in building and scaling clinical operations infrastructure in a fast-paced emerging biotech environment. The successful candidate will oversee CRO monitoring performance, ensure high-quality clinical trial execution, and contribute to monitoring processes, vendor oversight, and inspection readiness. This is a hands-on role requiring both strategic and tactical capabilities in a lean organization, with significant travel required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, nursing, or related discipline.
• 10+ years (Director) of clinical operations experience within biotech, pharmaceutical, or CRO environments.
• Significant experience overseeing clinical monitoring activities in interventional clinical trials.
• Capable of presenting and training audiences of varied backgrounds, including PIs, Sub-Is, Study Coordinators and other site staff.
• Strong knowledge of ICH-GCP, FDA, EMA, and global regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing CROs and external vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a small, fast-moving biotech environment.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Extensive domestic and international travel as needed (approximately 60-80%).

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MS, MPH, PharmD, PhD, or RN) preferred.
• Experience in immunology, dermatology, rheumatology, or oncology.
• Experience supporting NDA/BLA-enabling studies and regulatory inspections.
• Experience implementing risk-based monitoring strategies and oversight models.
• Prior people management experience.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
• Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change
• Hands-on and solutions-oriented
• Strong collaborator and relationship builder
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and external partners

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee clinical monitoring activities for Phase 1–3 clinical trials conducted globally and/or domestically.
• Serve as the internal expert for monitoring strategy, site management, and risk-based monitoring approaches.
• Provide oversight and management of all vendors involved with clinical monitoring to ensure quality, timelines, and budget adherence.
• Develop metrics to oversee monitoring progress including central monitoring performance and protocol deviation management.
• Drive the development of the clinical monitoring plan, annotated monitoring visit reports and all training materials for CRAs.
• Identify Key Risk indicators for studies at the investigative site level and their associated oversight.
• Contribute to inspection readiness activities and support regulatory inspections and audits.
• Participate in or lead Site Qualification or Initiation visits as needed to build site relationships and monitor CRA performance.
• Help build scalable clinical monitoring infrastructure appropriate for a growing biotech company.
• Develop and refine SOPs, work instructions, templates, and monitoring processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and operational excellence.
• Implement and optimize risk-based monitoring methodologies and centralized monitoring approaches where appropriate.
• May directly manage CRAs and/or Clinical Trial Managers as the organization grows.
• Mentor junior clinical operations staff and contribute to team development.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and quality-focused culture.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A chance to be part of a vibrant startup culture where your work can directly impact bringing new medicines to patients.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director