Jobs and Careers

Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO

San Diego, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 17 Aug 2026

💰 $155,000/yr($124,000/yr – $155,000/yr)

About the role

Are you ready to join a team committed to making a meaningful impact on cancer treatment through the discovery and development of precision medicines? At Kura Oncology, you have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, with a lasting impact that you can be proud of.

At Kura Oncology, we are working to change the paradigm and improve the science of cancer treatment. As an organization, we strive to cultivate a diverse and talented professional culture driven to develop precision medicine therapeutics.

As we continue to build a leading biotech organization with a strong culture, a patient-focused mindset and a team focused on relentless execution, we are looking for innovative, passionate professionals to join us and make our vision a reality.

To succeed at Kura, you will need to have a demonstrated ability for excellence in drug discovery and development and a roll-up your sleeves attitude. The ideal candidate will possess a values-driven work style where integrity and grit drive all behaviors, decisions, and actions.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO is a highly trusted partner responsible for maximizing the CEO's effectiveness through exceptional organization, judgment, discretion, and proactive support. This individual anticipates needs, manages competing priorities, facilitates effective communication and follow-through, and ensures the CEO's time is focused on the Company's most important priorities.

The successful candidate is highly resourceful, technologically savvy, and comfortable embracing AI and emerging tools to improve productivity and ways of working.

Provide high-level support to the CEO and serve as a trusted liaison with the Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and key internal and external stakeholders.
Strategically manage the CEO's complex and dynamic calendar, anticipating priorities, conflicts, preparation needs, and follow-up.
Identify and adopt technology, including appropriate AI-enabled tools and automation, to improve executive and team efficiency.
Coordinate complex domestic and international travel, itineraries, logistics, and expenses, anticipating changes and contingencies.
Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, presentations, and other executive communications; facilitate meetings as needed and ensure decisions and action items are tracked to completion.
Manage sensitive and confidential information with exceptional discretion and sound judgment.
Proactively identify issues, competing priorities, and potential obstacles; recommend solutions and take appropriate action.
Drive selected projects and initiatives on behalf of the CEO, coordinating stakeholders and ensuring timely execution.
Plan and coordinate Leadership Team meetings, offsites, conferences, Board-related activities, and external events.
Coordinate contracts, purchase orders, and related administrative processes and collaborate with HR on senior leadership recruiting activities as needed.
Build strong relationships across the organization and administrative team to support Company and executive priorities.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
8+ years of experience supporting C-level executives; CEO support and biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
Ability to be onsite in the San Diego office 2-3 times per week
Exceptional organizational, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, manage multiple priorities, and operate independently in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Excellent judgment, discretion, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and relationship-building skills.
Strong technological fluency with demonstrated curiosity and aptitude for adopting AI and emerging productivity tools.
Resourceful, proactive, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering with excellence.
Ability to work flexibly across time zones and changing priorities.

WHAT EXCELLENCE LOOKS LIKE:

The exceptional Senior Executive Assistant creates executive leverage. They know what the CEO needs before being asked, surface issues early, close open loops, and create systems that enable the CEO and organization to operate more effectively.

They are relentlessly curious about technology and AI—experimenting, learning quickly, automating intelligently, and continually introducing better ways of working.

Success means the CEO is prepared, informed, focused, and able to spend time on the work that creates the greatest value for the Company.