Vice President, Information Technology

Xaira Therapeutics•South San Francisco, CA

3d•$300,000 - $325,000

About The Position

We are a technology-driven biotechnology company using AI to compress the timelines of drug discovery and development. At Xaira, we believe that becoming a truly AI-native organization is not a future ambition. It is a present imperative. The way we build our infrastructure, adopt our tools, and lead our technology function will determine how fast we can move and how far we can go.The optimal candidate is energized and enthused to push the frontier of what an enterprise can do with all available and evolving AI tools. We are seeking a VP of Information Technology to serve as the senior-most IT leader and AI evangelist on the team. The optimal candidate is energized and enthused to push the frontier of what an enterprise can do with all available and evolving AI tools.This role will own the full scope of IT: strategy, security, infrastructure, operations, and the team that delivers it all. You will set the technology direction for Xaira, build a high-performing function, and be accountable for outcomes across the organization. This is a role for an experienced leader who understands that in a company like ours. It is not a support function. It is the infrastructure on which scientific breakthroughs are built. You will be the architect of an AI-native enterprise, embedding intelligence into how we operate, how we discover, and how we scale. You will enable our team to move faster, work smarter, and focus on what matters most: getting medicines to patients sooner.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive IT leadership, including 5+ years as the senior IT leader (VP, CIO, or equivalent) at a high-growth technology company
Proven experience owning both IT operations and security without a dedicated CISO
Deep expertise across cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, or Azure), enterprise architecture, SaaS ecosystems, and modern endpoint management
Working knowledge of cybersecurity principles, risk frameworks, and compliance programs sufficient to lead the function with credibility
Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in uncharted territory, setting direction and adapting as the business evolves
Strong analytical and data-driven approach to decision-making
Excellent executive communication skills, with the ability to present to and influence a board of directors
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

Nice To Haves

Experience at a scaled technology or life sciences company
Proven hands-on experience with AI/ML infrastructure, LLM tooling, and intelligent automation at enterprise scale
A track record of driving company-wide AI adoption, not just evaluating tools but leading the organizational change that makes adoption stick
Experience scaling IT through rapid organizational growth
CISSP, CISM, or equivalent security credential
MBA or advanced technical degree

Responsibilities

Define and own the company's IT roadmap across cloud infrastructure, enterprise applications, end-user computing, networking, and AI-powered systems purpose-built for drug discovery and development
Make architectural decisions with long-term scalability in mind, not just near-term need
Lead the company's AI adoption strategy across the enterprise, identifying where AI and machine learning tools can meaningfully accelerate research workflows, computational biology pipelines, and clinical operations
Embed AI-driven automation into how the company works at every level, from IT operations and security to scientific data workflows, reducing manual overhead and giving researchers more time to do science
Identify and adopt emerging technologies in the life sciences AI space that create meaningful competitive advantage in speed and precision
Ensure the reliability, performance, and scalability of all enterprise systems including the AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing platforms that power drug discovery
Build and maintain cloud-first infrastructure that can support the significant compute and data demands of AI-driven research without becoming a bottleneck to scientific progress
Own incident management processes including root cause analysis, post-mortems, and follow-through on remediation
Establish and enforce SLAs, OKRs, and operational standards with clear accountability
Serve as the company's senior security leader in the absence of a CISO, owning the full security posture across network, endpoint, identity, cloud, and application layers
Lead all compliance programs including SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA, and applicable life sciences regulatory requirements
Build a proactive security culture that encompasses threat modeling, vulnerability management, incident response, and employee awareness
Report regularly to executive leadership and the board on risk, security posture, and mitigation plans
Make informed decisions on the trade-offs between operational speed and security risk
Recruit, develop, and retain a strong IT organization with the depth to scale alongside the business
Build a culture of accountability, professional growth, and operational excellence
Develop strong internal talent and succession planning so the organization is resilient at every level
Act as a trusted technology advisor to the CEO, CFO, and broader leadership team
Partner with Engineering, Finance, Legal, People, and Operations to ensure IT functions as a strategic business enabler
Communicate technical strategy and risk in clear, accessible terms for non-technical stakeholders
Own and manage the IT budget with a focus on both fiscal discipline and strategic investment
Develop and manage key vendor relationships and negotiate enterprise agreements that support long-term business flexibility
Ensure technology spending is purposeful and tied to measurable business outcomes