Associate Director / Director, IT in Waltham, Massachusetts at Korsana Biosciences, Inc.

About Us

Korsana Biosciences is a private biopharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. In partnership with Paragon Therapeutics, we have developed Therapeutic Targeting (THETA™), a novel blood-brain barrier-penetrant shuttle platform designed to enable dramatically higher drug concentration inside the brain and overcome the limitations of earlier shuttle technologies. Our lead program is KRSA-028, an investigational, shuttled antibody targeting amyloid beta designed to be a best-in-class treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Our mission is to advance precision-engineered therapies, designed to address some of the biggest unmet needs in medicine. For more information, please visit www.korsana.com

Position Overview

The Associate Director / Director of Information Technology is responsible for the day-to-day operation, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization's IT infrastructure, Information Security controls, Enterprise Applications, and End-User computing environment. This role serves as the primary technical lead for IT operations, combining hands-on technical execution with leadership of external service providers and contribution to strategic initiatives.

The successful candidate will be able to manage infrastructure, security operations, systems administration, troubleshooting, and project delivery through a combination of direct individual contribution and effective delegation to, and oversight of, the organization’s IT Managed Services Provider (MSP). This is a highly visible role that requires someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to solve technical challenges while also partnering with Senior Management on strategy, governance initiatives, and key business projects.

Responsibilities

IT Operations, Infrastructure & Systems Administration

Serve as the primary owner of day-to-day IT operations across in-office and remote work environments. Perform hands-on administration of Microsoft 365, Entra ID (Azure AD), endpoint management platforms, collaboration tools, cloud services, and other enterprise applications. Manage and support physical and wireless network infrastructure, VPNs, firewalls, storage systems, and cloud-based resources. Configure, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot endpoints, software, and business-critical systems. Monitor system performance, availability, capacity, and security, proactively addressing issues before they impact operations. Manage backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions. Lead technical implementation efforts for new systems, infrastructure upgrades, and technology rollouts. Maintain hardware, software, licensing, and IT asset inventories.

IT MSP & Vendor Management

Act as the primary point of contact for the Managed Services Provider (MSP), directing priorities, reviewing performance, and ensuring timely issue resolution. Determine which activities are retained internally versus outsourced to service providers. Escalate and resolve complex technical issues that require direct internal involvement. Partner with vendors on deployments, upgrades, migrations, and troubleshooting activities. Participate directly in system implementations and infrastructure projects alongside external partners.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

Maintain and continuously improve the organization's cybersecurity posture through hands-on administration of security technologies and processes. Administer security platforms including endpoint protection, email security, vulnerability management, identity security, and monitoring tools. Conduct periodic reviews of user access, security controls, and system configurations.Lead incident response activities, investigations, root-cause analysis, and remediation efforts. Develop, maintain, and enforce IT and information security policies, standards, and procedures. Support audit readiness, ITGC controls, cybersecurity assessments, and compliance initiatives.

End User Support & Service Delivery

Provide escalation support for complex technical issues affecting employees and business operations. Partner with Human Resources to support employee onboarding, offboarding, equipment provisioning, and access management. Continuously improve IT service delivery processes and user experience. Develop technical documentation, procedures, and knowledge base resources. Serve as a trusted technology resource for employees across all functions.

Strategic/Business Partnership

Work closely with the Senior Leadership to contribute to the development and execution of the organization's technology roadmap. Provide technical leadership on key initiatives, ensuring successful implementation and operational adoption. Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations regarding infrastructure, security, cloud services, automation, and AI-enabled solutions. Participate in IT budgeting, forecasting, vendor selection, and technology planning activities. Help establish scalable processes, governance frameworks, and operational standards to support company growth.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field 8+ years of IT experience, with emphasis on hands-on execution3+ years managing infrastructure, systems administration, cybersecurity, or IT operations.Experience managing MSPs and external technology vendors.Experience supporting cloud-based environments and Microsoft 365 ecosystems.Experience supporting technology needs in a biotech, life sciences, or other regulated or data-intensive environment strongly preferredDemonstrated experience implementing and managing core IT systems in a growing organizationExperience supporting office buildouts or workplace technology implementationsFamiliarity with AI tools and the development of usage guidelines or governance frameworks is a plus

Skills & Attributes

Comfortable working independently in a lean environment while leveraging MSP and vendor resources effectively. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues across infrastructure, applications, and security domains. Strong project execution skills with a bias toward action and problem solving. Ability to balance tactical operational responsibilities with longer-term strategic initiatives.Strong judgment and risk awareness, particularly around data security, privacy, and system reliabilityClear communicator who can translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholdersHighly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and vendors simultaneously

Korsana Biosciences is the sixth groundbreaking company launched by Paragon Therapeutics, a premier biotech incubator founded by Fairmount Funds in 2021, known for its expertise in discovering and developing cutting-edge therapeutic assets in-house.

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Korsana Biosciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.