Senior Director of Corporate Compliance

About Kyverna Therapeutics

Kyverna Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative cell therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases. Our company operates guided by strong values including staying true to our mission, fostering collaboration, leading with transparency, driving bold innovation, and taking ownership of results. We are dedicated to transforming treatments for autoimmune conditions and invite you to join us in pioneering cell therapy advancements.

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Corporate Compliance will report to the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and will be based in Emeryville, CA (hybrid work arrangement) or from the West Coast remotely. This leadership role is critical in developing and steering the enterprise compliance program as Kyverna transitions from the clinical development stage to commercialization. The position integrates strategic visioning, governance, and operational execution of a scalable, risk-oriented compliance framework that facilitates ethical business growth and commercial preparedness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and management of Kyverna's enterprise compliance initiatives, coordinating cross-functional teams, milestones, deliverables, and risk escalation.
• Develop and implement the compliance program strategy aligned with corporate goals and commercial launch benchmarks.
• Oversee daily operations of the Compliance department, setting up effective governance, policies, and scalable procedures to support growth.
• Create and advance a risk-based, healthcare-focused compliance program consistent with the HHS OIG’s seven elements of an effective compliance program.
• Advise executive leadership by identifying compliance risks and regulatory trends impacting business decisions.
• Establish metrics and reporting systems to evaluate compliance program effectiveness and support continuous improvements.
• Build out the Compliance function by recommending organizational design, staffing, and necessary capabilities to meet evolving business demands.
• Collaborate with key business units including Commercial, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, HR, Finance, Privacy, and Legal to integrate compliance measures into operations.
• Provide guidance on healthcare compliance topics related to commercialization such as healthcare professional interactions, promotional practices, patient support programs, transparency laws, and grants.
• Implement risk-based third-party compliance reviews and ongoing monitoring of consultants, vendors, distributors, and partners.
• Balance strong risk mitigation with enabling innovative business practices under regulatory frameworks.
• Establish compliance policies, education programs, risk assessments, reporting channels, case intake, and investigation procedures to ensure program integrity.
• Lead investigations, corrective actions, and remediation while promoting a culture of ethical decision-making and integrity.
• Manage external advisors and compliance budget prudently while growing internal capabilities.
• Build trusted partnerships across the company by demonstrating credible, judicious leadership influencing organizational decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, Healthcare Administration, or related fields; advanced degrees such as JD, MBA, MPH, or MS preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or healthcare compliance with proven commercial organization support.
• Track record of successfully building or enhancing enterprise compliance programs in clinical-to-commercial biotech environments.
• Deep knowledge of healthcare compliance legislation including FDA promotional rules, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Sunshine Act/Open Payments, PhRMA Code, HIPAA, and relevant laws.
• Strong stakeholder influence skills and ability to champion strategic compliance initiatives across diverse organizational areas.
• Excellent program and project management capability leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with competing priorities.
• Experience crafting and implementing multi-year compliance roadmaps, governance, and organizational transformation aligned with business growth.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives and deliver measurable outcomes on schedule.
• Skilled at establishing governance, tracking progress, identifying risks, and communicating status at executive levels.
• Strong operational leadership with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans, allocate resources, and drive accountability.

Compensation and Benefits

The national salary range for this role is estimated between 265000 and 285000 USD annually. For candidates located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the expected salary range is higher, between 275000 and 295000 USD annually. Actual compensation will reflect individual qualifications such as education, experience, tenure, skills, and internal equity considerations. The position is eligible for performance-based bonuses, comprehensive benefits, and participation in the company equity plan.