Strive to Bring a Profound Difference to our Patients

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to join our IT leadership team as the Senior Director/Director of IT Portfolio Management and Operations. This pivotal role will be responsible for shaping and executing our IT strategy, overseeing our Agile Project Management Office (PMO), managing our IT portfolio, driving change management initiatives, leading IT communications, refining our IT operating model, and managing IT budget and forecasting.
 

What You Will Contribute

IT Strategy and Portfolio Management

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive IT strategy in partnership with the IT Leadership Team 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 Avidity Biosciences.
• 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.
• Implement portfolio analytics and reporting to provide actionable insights to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with business units to identify and prioritize IT initiatives that drive business value.

Agile PMO Leadership

• Design and lead an Agile Project Management Office that supports efficient project delivery across the organization.
• Develop and implement standardized Agile methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure PMO effectiveness and project success.
• Mentor project managers, Scrum Masters, and Product Owners in Agile principles and practices.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement through regular retrospectives and process refinements.
• Partner and collaborate with program and project leadership across Avidity.
• Coach, mentor, and manage project managers of various skill levels.
• Lead transformational programs on an as needed basis.
• Advise with the selection of third-party project managers to support successful delivery IT projects.

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.

IT Operating Model and Governance

• Continuously assess and refine the IT operating model to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with business needs.
• Establish and maintain IT governance frameworks, including decision-making processes to support cross functional steering committees and drive efficiencies across IT.
• Develop and oversee IT performance metrics and scorecards to drive continuous improvement.

Budget and Forecasting

• Oversee the development and management of the annual IT budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and maximizing ROI on IT investments.
• Implement robust financial management processes that can be quickly adopted/adapted to by the IT Team.
• Develop accurate IT financial forecasts, considering technology trends and business growth projections.
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure IT financial practices align with corporate standards and reporting requirements.

What We Seek

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred
• 12+ years of progressive experience in IT leadership roles, with at least 5 years in senior management positions
• Proven track record in developing and implementing enterprise-wide IT strategies that drive business value
• Extensive experience in portfolio management, including the use of portfolio management tools and methodologies
• Deep understanding of Agile, Lean, and other modern project management methodologies, with experience leading large-scale Agile transformations
• Strong background in change management, with demonstrated success in managing complex organizational changes
• Expertise in IT financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization techniques
• In-depth knowledge of IT governance frameworks (e.g., COBIT, ITIL) and experience implementing governance structures
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with C-level executives, board members, and diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business terms
• Experience with digital transformation initiatives and emerging technologies (e.g., cloud, AI, IoT)
• Track record of building and leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Certifications such as PMP, ITIL Expert, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), CGEIT, or equivalent are highly desirable
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing vendor relationships and contracts
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry trends and best practices

What We will Provide to You:

• The base salary range for this role is $200,600 - $221,800. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits which includes the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.