Executive Director, Portfolio Strategy

Kardigan is a heart‑health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable, and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.

Led by co‑founders Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan has a cutting‑edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late‑stage candidates, and an industry‑leading team driven to improve patient lives.

At Kardigan we are motivated by values that guide how we work. Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving patient lives and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic —leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn , we encourage curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Last, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us.

Location: Chicago (preferred), South San Francisco, CA, Princeton, NJ – On‑site 4 days per week (Mon‑Thu)

Reports to: Chief Strategy Officer

Description

The Executive Director, Portfolio Strategy will play a key role in enabling data‑driven, cross‑functional decision‑making on Kardigan’s investments in development programs and evaluation of trade‑offs across the development pipeline. The individual partners with Global Program Heads and broader Program Teams to develop and maintain forward‑looking decision frameworks that clarify decision scope, trade‑offs, and associated risks. He or she will design and develop decision support analytics, such as eNPV analyses; drive and facilitate portfolio decision forums, including agenda setting, preparation of supporting materials, and communication of outcomes; and collaborate closely with Finance to develop dynamic budgets at both the asset and portfolio levels, enabling scenario planning and prioritization aligned with the company’s strategic goals. The role also leads the semi‑annual portfolio planning cycle and supports preparation of materials for executive and Board‑level discussions.

Beyond these core responsibilities, the Executive Director will build and refine operational infrastructure that supports portfolio governance, including scalable processes, templates, and tools; develop best practices, foster cross‑functional alignment, and ensure that portfolio decisions are informed by integrated business and scientific perspectives. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong analytical and communication skills, proven leadership in cross‑functional settings, and the ability to operate with clarity in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous refinement of the company’s portfolio strategy across clinical and preclinical assets.
• In partnership with the Global Program Heads, develop forward‑looking decision framework and infrastructure/templates to ensure clear decision objectives, alternatives and trade‑offs, as well as robust analysis and risk identification.
• Develop and evolve decision‑support analytical models.
• Lead and manage both regular and ad‑hoc decision forums, ensuring clear supporting materials, outputs, and organizational communication.
• Partner with Finance in developing dynamic budgets across assets and portfolio to facilitate trade‑off discussions and scenario planning.
• Prepare materials for Executive Team and Board discussions related to pipeline strategy and capital allocation.
• Develop and maintain clear processes and templates to facilitate planning, budgeting, and portfolio decision exercises.
• Build and manage a team to support Kardigan’s portfolio strategy activities.
• Work closely with the Corporate Strategy team; flexibly manage resources across the Portfolio Management and Corporate Strategy teams when necessary to optimize overall resource utilization and facilitate career development opportunities.
• Develop best practices, seeking cross‑functional input and communicating best practices across the organization.

Education / Experience / Skills

Education:

• BA or BS, with preference for an advanced degree (e.g., MBA or science‑oriented MA/PhD).

Experience:

• 12+ years of relevant industry experience with a focus on portfolio management, complex scenario analysis, and strategic planning OR 5+ years of experience in strategic management consulting with focus on biopharma and exposure to portfolio‑related or comparable strategy work.
• Familiarity with business case modeling and valuation methodologies, such as Net Present Value (NPV).
• Understanding of clinical development principles, including clinical trial design parameters and alternatives, common trade‑offs and statistical considerations.
• Broad knowledge of the drug development lifecycle and the roles of cross‑functional partners (e.g., Research, Clinical, Regulatory, CMC), including significant exposure to late‑stage development and/or commercialization.
• Strong capability in complex scenario analysis and strategic trade‑off evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to distill complex issues and communicate clearly with executive leadership.
• Experience driving structured decision‑making and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience communicating with executive teams to drive robust decision‑making and clear communication processes.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to lead workstreams and influence cross‑functionally.
• Ability to lead and manage a portfolio management team.
• Strong strategic and technical understanding; strong analytical skills and ability to anticipate operational issues and risks, and to proactively recommend mitigations and solutions.
• Strong skills in strategic framing and communication via PowerPoint presentations.
• Initiative/self‑starter with a continuous improvement mindset and demonstrated experience managing across multiple functions and teams.
• Strong work ethic with a sense of urgency and demonstrated ability to consistently deliver high‑quality output.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; comfortable interacting and communicating with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Detail oriented with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong sense of resilience and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, dynamic, start‑up environment.
• Flexibility to travel as needed; spending time periodically with functional and program leaders and teams as well as overall corporate leadership located in SSF and Princeton will be required.

Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Pay range: $253,000 – $329,000 USD

As set forth in Kardigan’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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