Jobs and Careers

Senior Director, Safety & Pharmacovigilance

San Carlos, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 29 Jun 2026

💰 $333,000/yr($285,000/yr – $333,000/yr)

About the role

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.

WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.

*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.

*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.

*MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

The Senior Director, Safety & Pharmacovigilance will lead the development and execution of a global safety and pharmacovigilance strategy aligned with Vaxcyte’s corporate objectives and regulatory requirements. This executive will ensure scientific excellence, regulatory alignment, and operational rigor. The successful candidate will drive proactive risk management, foster a culture of innovation, and represent Vaxcyte in senior leadership and external forums.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

Serve as the primary safety representative in senior leadership forums, governance bodies, and external engagements with regulatory authorities and partners.
Champion a culture of safety, scientific integrity, and innovation across the organization. Anticipate and shape future strategic initiatives to ensure Vaxcyte remains at the forefront of safety science and regulatory compliance.

Safety Evaluation & Risk Management

Lead the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of safety risks across the product lifecycle, leveraging advanced analytics and real-world evidence.
Oversee comprehensive safety signal detection, validation, and management, ensuring timely escalation and resolution of potential safety issues.
Drive the development and execution of risk management plans, safety specifications, and benefit-risk assessments for regulatory submissions and ongoing clinical programs.
Provide expert oversight for safety data review, including aggregate analyses, periodic safety reports (DSURs, PSURs), and responses to regulatory queries.
Ensure robust safety surveillance through continuous monitoring of emerging safety data from clinical trials, post-marketing sources, literature, and external databases.

Pharmacovigilance Operations & Compliance

Oversee global PV systems and processes, including case processing, aggregate reporting, ensuring compliance with international regulations (FDA, EMA, PMDA, etc.).
Lead safety-related elements of inspection readiness and manage responses to audits, regulatory inquiries, and corrective action plans.
Develop and Maintain SOPs, safety governance frameworks to ensure operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
Stay abreast of evolving global safety regulations, guidelines, and best practices, proactively updating Vaxcyte’s policies and procedures

Team Leadership & Development

Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Provide strategic guidance, career development, and performance management for team members, ensuring the team’s growth and success.
Drive organizational efficiency through effective resource management, outsourcing, and alliances.

Cross-Functional & External Collaboration

Partner with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Manufacturing, and Quality to ensure integrated safety oversight and seamless execution of safety strategies.
Collaborate with external partners, CROs, and affiliates, managing PV vendors and pharmacovigilance agreements, as needed to ensure consistent safety practices, reporting, and compliance across all programs.
Represent Vaxcyte at external meetings with regulatory aut