Job Description
We are seeking an Associate Director, Real-World Evidence (RWE) , who will lead real-world evidence generation across the product lifecycle, with a core focus on execution of external control arms (ECAs) and other complex observational studies. This role is central to Kite’s ability to contextualize single-arm trials and evolving treatment landscapes, support access, and strengthen evidence packages for innovative cell therapies. You will also serve as a leader of RWE in scientific forums, and collaborate with external physicians, scientists, and researchers, as well as alliance partners, on RWE activities.
This role can be office-based in our Foster City, CA, Parsippany, NJ or Santa Monica, CA.
Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to our El Segundo office beginning in January 2027. While this role will be based in Santa Monica through 2026, applicants should take this planned relocation into consideration. Kite supports a flexible working policy, offering a balanced approach with two days of remote working and three days working onsite
Key Accountabilities:
- Provide scientific and financial leadership for the execution and communication of real‑world evidence across the product lifecycle.
- Lead design and oversight of observational studies (retrospective/prospective cohorts, registries, external control arms).
- Ensure methodological rigor is incorporated into study conceptualization, protocol and analysis.
- Application of advanced epidemiologic and statistical methods (e.g., propensity score methods, survival analysis, causal inference).
- Translate complex analyses into clear, decision-relevant insights for internal and external stakeholders.
- Partner closely with Clinical Development, Biostatistics, Medical Affairs, HEOR, Regulatory Affairs, Value & Access, and Commercial teams to align evidence generation with business needs.
- Provide RWE expertise and input for regulatory filings (e.g. MAA, BLA, sBLA) as well as response to questions from regulatory authorities and HTA agencies.
- Engage with external collaborators, registries, academic partners, and data vendors.
- Ensure scientific rigor, transparency, and reproducibility consistent with internal RWE standard.
- Oversee vendors and ensure timely, high-quality study delivery.
Minimum Required Education and Years of Experience
- Bachelor's Degree and Ten Years’ Experience OR
- Masters' Degree and Eight Years’ Experience OR
- PhD and Two Years’ Experience
Preferred Education and Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, MD, ScD, PharmD) in Epidemiology or related discipline, such as Outcomes Research, Medicine, Biostatistics from an accredited institution, with a minimum of 6+ years of relevant, post-graduation experience with doctoral training OR Master’s degree (e.g. MSc) in Epidemiology or related discipline, such as Outcomes Research, Medicine, Biostatistics from an accredited institution with 8+ years of relevant experience with Master’s training.
- Deep understanding of observational study design and causal inference, real‑world data sources, bias, confounding, and sensitivity analyses.
- Understanding of the RWE regulatory landscape preferred.
- Experience in working with international data sets and/or Common Data Models (e.g., OMOP) preferred.
- Strong technical reading, writing and communication skills
- Prior corporate experience in hematology/oncology therapeutic area is highly preferred-Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in the biopharmaceutical industry
People Leader Accountabilities
Create Inclusion
- knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
Develop Talent
- understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
Empower Teams
- connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.
