Associate Vice President, Quality Assurance

Associate Vice President (AVP), Quality Assurance at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) serves as the organization’s highest‑ranking quality leader, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. This is a remote position based in the United States; relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are not available.

• Provide senior quality leadership and operational direction to support consistent execution of the Quality function across SCRI in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high‑performing Quality Assurance team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans for Quality staff, ensuring the team has the capabilities and resources needed to support organizational growth and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships across departments, serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and key stakeholders on quality, compliance, and risk management matters.
• Maintain, optimize, and continuously improve the established Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure it remains effective, risk‑based, scalable, and responsive to business and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and sustained inspection readiness through oversight of policies, procedures, training, documentation practices, and quality oversight activities.
• Oversee audits, inspections, CAPA, deviations, investigations, and quality metrics, using trend analysis and risk evaluation to support timely and effective resolution of quality issues.
• Advance continuous improvement efforts that strengthen quality processes, systems, and performance measures in alignment with regulatory expectations and business priorities.
• Drive organizational quality initiatives by promoting best practices, change management, and cross‑functional engagement to enhance quality culture and enterprise‑wide compliance.
• Manage departmental priorities, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure efficient and effective delivery of Quality Assurance services and strategic objectives.

• Maintain a strong culture of quality and compliance across the organization.
• Ensure ongoing inspection readiness and successful regulatory audits and inspections.
• Drive continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) and related processes.
• Achieve timely and effective resolution of audits, CAPAs, investigations, deviations, and other quality issues.
• Develop and retain a high‑performing Quality team through effective leadership, coaching, and talent development.
• Deliver meaningful improvements in quality metrics, operational efficiency, and risk management.
• Build strong partnerships with business leaders and stakeholders to support organizational objectives.
• Ensure quality initiatives align with business goals while meeting applicable regulatory and industry requirements.

• Progressive quality assurance, quality management, or compliance leadership experience in regulated healthcare, clinical research, life sciences, or similar industries.
• Experience managing quality management systems, including audits, inspections, CAPA, deviations, change control, training, and quality metrics.
• Proven success leading teams, partnering across functions, and driving quality, operational improvements, and business results.
• Extensive knowledge of FDA guidelines, GCP, applicable regulations, quality and clinical IT systems, and experience.
• Knowledge of medical and clinical research terminology.
• Thorough understanding of investigative site research requirements, quality metrics, and performance measures.
• Seven or more years’ experience interpreting and applying regulatory requirements, translating them into operational practice, and providing practical guidance to leadership and cross‑functional business partners.
• Highly effective ability to engage with senior leaders, regulators, auditors, and internal stakeholders on quality and compliance matters.
• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• RAPS – Regulatory Affairs Certification highly preferred.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.