Sr. Director, AI Strategy & Transformation

Avalo Therapeutics•Chesterbrook, PA

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

Avalo Therapeutics is seeking a Senior Director, AI Strategy & Transformation to serve as the company’s primary champion for artificial intelligence adoption. The role will own a prioritized portfolio of AI initiatives, demonstrate measurable value, and build AI literacy across the workforce. It will define enterprise AI and data strategy, establish the systems and pipelines the company relies on, and lead applied AI work for scientists, R&D teams, commercial strategy, and other business functions. This hands-on, build-from-the-ground-up role owns the AI and data transformation roadmap, use-case portfolio, business-facing data strategy, solution execution, adoption, and value realization. The Senior Director will work directly with functional leaders to identify opportunities for data and AI to accelerate programs, and partner with the Vice President, Enterprise Technology to ensure solutions meet enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, privacy, integration, validation, and technology governance standards. The role also leads business data governance and responsible-AI practices, ensures compliance and inspection readiness, and plans for the future hiring and development of the Data & AI team. Avalo is a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, with its lead candidate advancing from Phase 2 into Phase 3.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, life sciences, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in data, analytics, digital transformation, or data engineering, including 3+ years in AI leadership and 5+ years in biotech, pharma, or another regulated environment.
Track record of building a data function from zero, including hiring and managing the team.
Working knowledge of AI platforms, large language models, AI agents, orchestration frameworks, and human-in-the-loop design, with sufficient technical depth to assess feasibility and implementation needs.
Hands-on experience deploying AI, automation, or LLM-based tools with measurable business results.
Working fluency in GxP and data integrity, including the importance of lineage, audit trails, validation, and change control.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives through influence, including change management and adoption programs.
Ability to operate as a peer to functional leaders in R&D, Clinical, CMC, and Quality.
Experience preparing data and technical content for executive audiences.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate between scientists, engineers, and executives and explain complex technology and risk topics to non-technical audiences.
Comfort operating in a fast-moving company where the role builds systems and teams, not just manages them.
Ability to create structure and scale it with discipline, translate technology into business outcomes, and communicate credibly with executives and the board.
Ability to move quickly on AI and automation while protecting data, compliance, and inspection readiness.
Ability to attract and develop strong people and build a team culture of ownership.
Demonstrated vendor governance, budget ownership, procurement discipline, and contract negotiation skills.
Ability to lead through influence across distributed teams, external partners, and executive stakeholders.
Onsite a minimum of 3 days per week.
Availability to respond to urgent business or system issues outside standard business hours on an as-needed basis.
Travel may be required to meet with external partners, vendors, auditors, and/or attend industry events.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Own and execute Avalo’s AI and data transformation strategy, roadmap, use-case portfolio, and investment plan, aligned with Phase 3 execution, pipeline expansion, and company growth; coordinate investment priorities with the Vice President, Enterprise Technology and the enterprise technology budget.
Establish and manage an AI initiative portfolio using a transparent intake and prioritization framework that considers business value, feasibility, risk, and resource needs.
Advise senior leadership on AI opportunities, emerging technologies, investment priorities, and strategic implications; report periodically on progress, risks, and investment needs, and contribute to board and Audit Committee materials as needed.
Lead adoption of approved AI tools across the company and build AI literacy through training, playbooks, and a network of functional AI champions.
Define business requirements for data products, pipelines, analytics, and AI solutions, and lead implementation in partnership with Enterprise Technology.
Lead the business data governance operating model, including data ownership, stewardship, definitions, quality requirements, and decision rights, in partnership with Enterprise Technology.
Ensure data systems meet GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, and applicable industry-recognized and data-integrity standards and support inspection readiness.
Lead business requirements, capability evaluation, and value assessment for AI- and data-critical solutions; partner with the Vice President, Enterprise Technology, who has final approval for enterprise platforms, architecture, cybersecurity, integration, validation, and supportability.
Partner with functional leaders to identify high-value use cases that improve decision quality, productivity, forecasting accuracy, and operational performance.
Establish governed data flows with external partners, including CROs, CDMOs, and central labs, and conduct vendor evaluations and RFP processes for data-critical platforms.
Build a data and AI readiness roadmap tied to launch milestones across Medical Affairs, commercial, and supply chain capabilities.
Apply human-in-the-loop design so people review and own AI-supported decisions, especially in GxP and patient-impacting processes.
Own responsible-AI business governance and operating practices, including acceptable use, use-case documentation, human oversight, model evaluation, adoption controls, and value monitoring, aligned with enterprise technical controls and requirements.
Assess and mitigate AI risks, including data leakage, bias, and model error, while balancing innovation and business value.
Redesign workflows with process owners to embed AI-enabled ways of working and measure adoption, usage, and employee confidence.
Build compliance into solutions, including firewalls between medical and commercial data, HIPAA and state privacy laws, and promotional review controls for AI-generated content.
Plan future hiring, onboarding, and development of the Data & AI team, building a pragmatic mix of in-house talent and external partners as needs grow.
Perform other duties as assigned.