Kardigan, Inc.
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 Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D. and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.
We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.
At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals.
Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients 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 the highest levels of 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. Lastly, we strive to
enable the impossible
because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.
These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.
DESCRIPTION The Director, Portfolio will play a key role in enabling data-driven, cross-functional decision-making and evaluation of trade-offs across the development pipeline. This individual will partner with Asset Leads and the broader Asset Teams to develop and maintain forward-looking decision frameworks, ensuring clarity on decision scope, trade-offs, and associated risks. They will drive and facilitate portfolio decision forums, including agenda setting, preparation of supporting materials, and communication of outcomes. The Director will collaborate closely with Finance to develop and maintain dynamic budgets at both the asset and portfolio levels, enabling scenario planning and prioritization aligned with the company’s strategic goals. This role will also lead the annual portfolio planning cycle and support the preparation of materials for executive and Board-level discussions.
Beyond these core responsibilities, the Director will be responsible for building and refining the operational infrastructure that supports portfolio governance, including development of scalable processes, templates, and tools. They will work closely with the VP of Portfolio & Program Management to evolve 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.
Kardigan is a 4 day on-site schedule - M - Th.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In partnership with the Asset Leads, develop forward-looking decision framework and infrastructure/templates to ensure clear scope, alternatives and trade-offs, as well as robust analysis and risk identification
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
Drive annual portfolio planning exercise in conjunction with annual strategic plan
Provide as-needed support for creation of portfolio materials required for Board of Directors and other executive level discussions
Related to the above responsibilities, develop and maintain clear processes and templates to facilitate planning, budgeting, and portfolio decision exercises
Partner with the VP of Portfolio & Program Management to continually evolve best practices, seeking cross-functional input and communicating best practices across the org
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS Education:
BA or BS, with preference for advanced degree, eg MBA or MA/PhD in scientific area
Experience:
8+ 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 work
Familiarity with business case modeling and valuation methodologies, such as Net Present Value (NPV)
Understanding of clinical development principles, including 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)
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
Strong strategic and technical understanding; strong analytical skills and ability to anticipate operational issues and risks, and to proactively recommend mitigations and solutions
Initiative/self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset and demonstrated experience managing across multiple functions and teamsStrong 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
Voluntary Self-Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
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.
If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.
How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D. and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.
We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.
At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals.
Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients 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 the highest levels of 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. Lastly, we strive to
enable the impossible
because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.
These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.
DESCRIPTION The Director, Portfolio will play a key role in enabling data-driven, cross-functional decision-making and evaluation of trade-offs across the development pipeline. This individual will partner with Asset Leads and the broader Asset Teams to develop and maintain forward-looking decision frameworks, ensuring clarity on decision scope, trade-offs, and associated risks. They will drive and facilitate portfolio decision forums, including agenda setting, preparation of supporting materials, and communication of outcomes. The Director will collaborate closely with Finance to develop and maintain dynamic budgets at both the asset and portfolio levels, enabling scenario planning and prioritization aligned with the company’s strategic goals. This role will also lead the annual portfolio planning cycle and support the preparation of materials for executive and Board-level discussions.
Beyond these core responsibilities, the Director will be responsible for building and refining the operational infrastructure that supports portfolio governance, including development of scalable processes, templates, and tools. They will work closely with the VP of Portfolio & Program Management to evolve 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.
Kardigan is a 4 day on-site schedule - M - Th.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In partnership with the Asset Leads, develop forward-looking decision framework and infrastructure/templates to ensure clear scope, alternatives and trade-offs, as well as robust analysis and risk identification
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
Drive annual portfolio planning exercise in conjunction with annual strategic plan
Provide as-needed support for creation of portfolio materials required for Board of Directors and other executive level discussions
Related to the above responsibilities, develop and maintain clear processes and templates to facilitate planning, budgeting, and portfolio decision exercises
Partner with the VP of Portfolio & Program Management to continually evolve best practices, seeking cross-functional input and communicating best practices across the org
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS Education:
BA or BS, with preference for advanced degree, eg MBA or MA/PhD in scientific area
Experience:
8+ 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 work
Familiarity with business case modeling and valuation methodologies, such as Net Present Value (NPV)
Understanding of clinical development principles, including 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)
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
Strong strategic and technical understanding; strong analytical skills and ability to anticipate operational issues and risks, and to proactively recommend mitigations and solutions
Initiative/self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset and demonstrated experience managing across multiple functions and teamsStrong 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
Voluntary Self-Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
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.
If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.
How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
#J-18808-Ljbffr