Assoc Director/Director, IT

Are you ready to join a team committed to making a meaningful impact on cancer treatment through the discovery and development of precision medicines? At Kura Oncology, you have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, with a lasting impact that you can be proud of. At Kura Oncology, we are working to change the paradigm and improve the science of cancer treatment. As an organization, we strive to cultivate a diverse and talented professional culture driven to develop precision medicine therapeutics. As we continue to build a leading biotech organization with a strong culture, a patient-focused mindset and a team focused on relentless execution, we are looking for innovative, passionate professionals to join us and make our vision a reality. To succeed at Kura, you will need to have a demonstrated ability for excellence in drug discovery and development and a roll-up your sleeves attitude. The ideal candidate will possess a values-driven work style where integrity and grit drive all behaviors, decisions, and actions. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to join our IT leadership team as the Associate Director/Director of IT. This pivotal role reporting to the Head of IT, will be responsible for shaping and executing our IT strategy, managing our IT portfolio, driving change management initiatives, leading IT communications, refining our IT operating model, co-managing IT budget and forecasting and supporting business system owners (BSO’s) in new compliance initiatives IT Strategy and Portfolio Management Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive IT strategy in partnership with the Head of IT and functional stakeholders that aligns with and supports overall business objectives. Drive innovation by integrating emerging technologies and leading digital transformation initiatives that align with the strategic vision of Kura Oncology. Establish and maintain a robust IT portfolio management framework, including tools and processes for project prioritization, resource allocation, and performance tracking. Conduct regular portfolio reviews to ensure optimal balance of risk, value, and strategic alignment. Collaborate with business units and system owners to identify and prioritize IT initiatives that drive business value. Implement and maintain security policies based on roadmap initiatives and business goals of the company. Evaluate system vulnerabilities and conduct regular audits, risk assessments, and compliance checks to ensure security standards are met. Coordinate with the Incident response team in responding to any security incidents and investigating root causes, while implementing corrective measures to prevent future occurrences. AI Strategy, Governance, and Enablement Partner with the Head of IT and business leaders to develop and execute the company’s enterprise AI strategy and roadmap, identifying opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence, generative AI, and automation to improve productivity, decision making, and business outcomes. Establish and maintain an AI governance framework addressing appropriate use, data privacy, information security, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, risk management, and responsible AI practices. Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of enterprise AI platforms, tools, and capabilities, ensuring alignment with the company’s technology architecture, security requirements, and business objectives. Partner with functional stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and develop high value AI use cases across the organization, establishing clear business outcomes, ownership, success criteria, and measures of value. Collaborate with Information Security, Legal, Compliance, Quality, and business stakeholders to assess and manage risks associated with AI technologies, including sensitive and confidential data, model outputs, third party services, and regulatory requirements. Develop policies, standards, and procedures governing the responsible use of generative AI and other AI technologies across the organization. Drive responsible adoption of AI through employee education, training, communications, and change management programs that improve AI literacy and encourage effective and appropriate use of approved AI tools. Ensure AI solutions supporting GxP or other regulated business processes are appropriately assessed, documented, validated, and governed in partnership with Quality and applicable Business System Owners. Change Management and Communications Develop and execute comprehensive change management strategies for major IT initiatives and organizational transformations. Create and maintain a change management framework and train IT Team on effective use to deliver change in a consistent manner. Lead the development and execution of multi-channel IT communication plans, ensuring clear and effective messaging to all stakeholders. Establish feedback mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of change initiatives and communications. Collaborate with HR and other departments to align IT changes with broader organizational change efforts. Compliance & Validation Management Ensure IT systems used in GxP-regulated processes and implemented, validated, and maintained according to regulatory standards and Kura business processes. Collaborate with Business Systems Owners, IT, and Quality teams to develop and execute validation deliverables (IQ/OQ/PQ). Monitor system changes to ensure compliance with change control procedures and regulatory standards GxP System Audits and Inspections Support internal and external audits, including those conducted by regulatory authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA). Prepare compliance documentation and provide necessary evidence for GxP audits and inspections. Follow up on audit findings and assist with remediation plans to close gaps IT Operating Model and Governance Conti