Character Biosciences
Associate Director, Development Operations
About this role
About Character Biosciences Character Biosciences is a precision medicine company pioneering targeted therapies for ophthalmology. Our patient data platform integrates genomics with deep, longitudinal clinical and imaging data, enabling us to uncover genetic drivers of disease progression, advance novel therapeutics, and define patient stratification strategies that improve clinical success. Our interdisciplinary team spans human genetics, clinical science, data science and engineering, and drug discovery and development. We are advancing two programs for Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) into the clinic, with additional discovery-stage programs underway. Founded in 2018, Character has raised capital from leading investors at the intersection of healthcare and technology, including an oversubscribed $110+ million Series B in 2025 co-led by aMoon and Luma Group, with participation from Bausch + Lomb, Innovation Endeavors, Sanofi Ventures, Catalio Capital Management, S32, KdT Ventures, and Jefferson Life Sciences. We also maintain a multi-target drug discovery collaboration with Bausch + Lomb to develop innovative precision medicines for AMD. Role: Associate Director, Development Operations Reports to: Aggie Malloy Department: Clinical Research Team: Development Operations Level: 8 Location: Remote The Opportunity We’re looking for an experienced, execution-focused Associate Director, Development Operations to lead the operational backbone of Character’s clinical programs as we advance our Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) pipeline through the clinic. You’ll take ownership of a portfolio of studies — driving day-to-day execution, vendor and site performance, and cross-functional coordination with Medical, Data, and Regulatory to keep our trials on time, on budget, and in compliance with GCP. This role sits at the center of Character’s mission: the operational rigor you bring directly determines how quickly we can generate the clinical evidence needed to bring novel therapies to patients with retinal disease. You’ll shape how we run trials as much as you’ll run them, refining processes and systems so they scale cleanly as our pipeline and team grow, while staying close enough to the work to solve problems in real time. As Character’s clinical portfolio and Development Operations function scale, there is real opportunity to build and lead a team over time. This is an in-office or remote role reporting to Aggie Malloy. Responsibilities Clinical Trial Operations & Delivery
- Study Execution: Own operational delivery of one or more Dry AMD clinical trials, driving timelines, quality, and issue resolution from startup through close-out
- Operational Strategy: Oversee development of study-level operational plans and risk mitigation strategies in partnership with relevant functions
- Regulatory Activities: Provides input and support for regulatory activities including NDAs, MAAs, inspection readiness activities and serves as a subject matter expert during regulatory inspections
- Vendor & CRO Management: Oversees and responsible for vendor identification and selection including critical review of contracts, and/or work orders and management of ongoing performance as well as vendor relationships
- Monitoring/Site Oversight: Oversee CRO monitoring activities to ensure site performance, enrollment, and data quality meet study goals
- Budget Oversight: Support development and tracking of study and program budgets, flagging variances and ensuring fiscal discipline Process, Compliance & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Operational Excellence: Build and refine SOPs, systems, and workflows that make clinical operations scalable as Character’s pipeline grows
- GCP Compliance: Ensure trials are conducted to GCP and applicable regulatory standards; maintain inspection-ready trial master files and clinical systems
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with the internal cross-functional team to keep operational plans aligned with program strategy