Director, CMC Quality Assurance

Loyal

2d • $155,000 - $205,000

About The Position

Loyal is a clinical-stage veterinary medicine company developing longevity drugs for dogs. Our mission is to help dogs live longer, healthier lives.
We're pioneering a new category of veterinary prescription drugs that proactively and preventatively target the underlying drivers of aging, delaying the onset of disease and preserving quality of life as dogs age. We've already made significant progress in our mission to develop the first FDA-approved drugs to extend canine lifespan: as of early 2026 we've completed two of three major FDA review sections for our lead program, LOY-002, and are targeting submission of the third and final section later this year.
Loyal is a well-funded startup with teams of scientists, veterinarians, engineers, operators, and creatives. You'll help us continue on our path of earning FDA approval for the first lifespan extension medicine for any species, and change what's possible for the dogs we love.
About the role
The Director of CMC Quality Assurance will build and lead Loyal's CMC QA function, owning the quality systems, CDMO oversight, and PAI readiness that underpin our path to FDA approval and commercial launch. Reporting to the VP of Quality Assurance, this is a hands-on leadership role responsible for building what doesn't yet exist, not maintaining inherited infrastructure in a lean, fast-moving startup environment.
This person will work closely with CMC, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain, and will serve as the primary QA voice on CMC program decisions, technical transfers, and regulatory submissions.

Requirements

• BS., M.S., or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, or a related life science discipline; advanced degree strongly preferred
• 15+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience in quality assurance, with a significant portion in senior or lead CMC QA roles
• Has built CMC quality systems from the ground up — not just maintained inherited infrastructure — from development stage through NDA/BLA filing and approval
• Has directly managed CDMOs and contract testing labs from a QA perspective: qualification, auditing, quality agreements, batch record review, deviation and CAPA management
• Authored and owns SOPs, not just reviewed them
• Deep working knowledge of FDA GMP regulations (21 CFR Parts 210/211), ICH and VICH guidelines, and quality risk management principles
• Has led or co-led PAI preparation and been present during FDA inspections
• Experience supporting commercial batch release and post-approval change management
• Small molecule OSD experience required
• Comfortable operating without a large QA infrastructure — builds what's needed, prioritizes well, and doesn't wait for perfect conditions
• Strong written communication — produces clear, audit-ready documentation

Nice To Haves

• Veterinary or animal health industry experience preferred but not required
• Prior experience at a company navigating a Complete Response Letter, NDA resubmission, or first approval preferred but not required

Responsibilities

• Build, own, and continuously improve Loyal's CMC quality management system: SOPs, document control, change control, deviation management, CAPA, and risk management processes; ensure systems are fit for purpose now and scalable through commercial launch
• Serve as the primary QA point of contact for CDMOs, contract testing laboratories, and key raw material and excipient suppliers, lead qualification, audit execution, and ongoing quality oversight of all external partners
• Negotiate, draft, and maintain quality agreements with CDMOs and contract testing laboratories; drive timely execution and hold partners accountable to commitments
• Plan and conduct routine GMP audits of CDMOs and suppliers; own audit finding responses and track CAPAs to closure
• Lead batch disposition decisions for clinical and development batches; ensure complete, audit-ready documentation packages and timely release
• Review and approve analytical method validation protocols and reports, stability protocols and data, executed batch records, CoAs, and CoCs
• Oversee deviation and OOS management originating from external partners through to closure
• Execute PAI readiness activities including quality systems documentation, validation packages, and site readiness; serve as QA lead during FDA inspections and agency interactions related to CMC
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs and CMC teams to ensure quality considerations are incorporated into program decisions, technical transfers, and filing activities; support QA input into NDA and other regulatory submissions
• Provide QA oversight of all tech transfer activities — site qualification, process comparability, transfer protocols, and batch record development
• Own the Annual Product Review (APR/PQR) process and QA sign-off on labeling for clinical and commercial supply
• Define, track, and report CMC QA KPIs: CDMO performance, CAPA cycle times, deviation trends, audit findings, quality agreement status, and batch disposition timelines; use metrics to drive external partner accountability and surface risks proactively to leadership
• Apply formal quality risk management principles (ICH Q9) across manufacturing and development activities
• Build quality infrastructure that supports the transition from clinical to commercial supply, including commercial batch release processes, post-approval change management, and commercial QMS requirements
• Balance compliance requirements with the practical realities of a fast-moving startup environment

Benefits

• Full-coverage health insurance — medical, dental and vision — for you and your dependents
• $1,000 home office equipment stipend
• $1,200/year learning budget for books, courses, etc.
• $250/month wellness budget for gym, cleaners, spa, food, etc.
• All 3-day weekends are turned into 4-day weekends 🎉
• Unlimited vacation and paid holidays
• Paw-ternity leave — adopt a dog and get a day off with your new family member 🐶
• Competitive salary
• Company equity options grant for new hires

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees