Director, IT Operations

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio)•Durham, NC

21d•Hybrid

About The Position

AskBio Inc., a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, is a fully integrated gene therapy company dedicated to developing life-saving medicines and changing lives. The company maintains a portfolio of clinical programs across a range of neuromuscular, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease indications with a clinical-stage pipeline that includes investigational therapeutics for congestive heart failure, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and Pompe disease. AskBio’s gene therapy platform includes Pro10™, an industry-leading proprietary cell line manufacturing process, and an extensive array of capsids and promoters. With global headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and European headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company has generated hundreds of proprietary capsids and promoters, several of which have entered pre-clinical and clinical testing. Our vision: Pioneering science to create transformative molecular medicines. Our mission: Lead innovative science and drive clinical outcomes to transform people's lives. Our principles: Advance innovative science by pushing boundaries. Bring transformative therapeutics to patients in need. Provide an environment for employees to reach their fullest potential. Our values: Be a Pioneer. We are not afraid of the impossible and to innovate to make gene therapies accessible to those in need. Cultivate Collaboration. Strive to be the best teammate, actively listen, openly communicate, and embrace diverse points of view. Embrace Responsibility. We are humbled by the enormity of our mission. We hold a relentless commitment to advance science and clinical outcomes for our patients, families, and caregivers. Raise the Bar. Continuously drive improvements and efficiencies. Seek and provide constructive feedback. Have a bias for learning and action. Act with Uncompromising Integrity. Be honest, transparent, and committed to doing what’s right in every situation. Make clear commitments and follow through. Position Summary The Director of IT Service and Operations ensures seamless delivery of IT services and Lab OT support across global sites, aligning with the unique regulatory, operational, and cultural requirements of a gene therapy biotech. This role ensures the efficient delivery of services, drives operational excellence, and aligns departmental goals with the organization's overall strategy. The ideal candidate combines a strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to improve processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve performance targets. This position will have overall accountability for defining the vision and standards for IT Service Management (ITSM) processes. The Director of IT Service and Operations is a hybrid role based in RTP, NC or Philadelphia, PA and reports to the VP of IT.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field with 10+ years of IT work experience OR Associate’s degree in Computer Science or related field with 12+ years of IT work experience
10+ years of progressive experience in IT operations or related domains, including 5+ years leading IT operations teams
In-depth knowledge of IT Service Management (ITIL) frameworks and ITAM and ITSM best practices.
Experience managing MSPs and technology vendors, including budgetary responsibility and asset management
Experience managing Tier 1 and 2 service requests for a Lab Operational Technology environment
Experience supporting IT operations in multi-site, regulated life sciences environments.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device industries with understanding of GxP compliance requirements for enterprise systems
Experience implementing platform governance frameworks, compliance controls, and audit capabilities aligned with regulatory requirements
Proven ability to collaboratively identify, evaluate, and manage technology vendor relationships and consulting partnerships to scale organizational capabilities
Excellent communication skills with ability to influence and explain complex issues to diverse audiences.
Strong cybersecurity experience, including incident response and security assessments.

Responsibilities

Build strong relationships across scientific, clinical, and corporate functions, acting as a trusted advisor to align IT services with business priorities and regulatory requirements.
Analyze market trends and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for process improvements and service enhancements.
Establish long-term and short-term objectives to optimize resource allocation and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs).
Collaborate with leadership to define the operational roadmap and establish priorities.
Formulate and deploy long-term strategic plans for acquiring and enabling efficient and cost-effective information processing and communication technologies.
Evaluate balance of FTE and MSP resources, enabling FTE resources to focus on critical knowledge work that most benefits the organization.
Roadmap optimization of services leveraging the Service Integration and Management framework, managing multiple service providers and ensuring they work together.
Lead readiness for audits and regulatory inspections and support remediation activities.
Collaborate with scientific and Tech Ops teams to address unique requirements for gene therapy workflows.
Identify and implement new technologies, tools, and processes to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
Lead the negotiation and administration of vendor, managed service provider, and consultant contracts and service agreements, ensuring compliance and service excellence.
Manage budgets, forecasts, and financial performance within the service and operations domains.
Monitor daily operations to ensure adherence to company standards, policies, and procedures.
Own and improve ITIL-based processes (incident, request, service catalog, problem, and change management) to ensure stability and compliance in a regulated biotech environment.
Identify and resolve operational issues promptly while mitigating risks.
Ensure Lab OT systems and foundational IT services meet global GxP and data integrity standards.
Establish metrics to measure team performance and ensure accountability across departments.
Oversee provision of end-user services, including help desk and technical support services.
Develop and implement IT policies and procedures, including those for disaster recovery, standards, purchasing, and service provision.
Manage IT service and operations staffing, including recruitment, supervision, scheduling, development, and evaluation.
Deliver white glove support for senior leadership, including international travel and remote events
Lead incident response and business continuity planning for global operations