Associate Director, IT Compliance

Are you passionate about GxP compliance, SOX and other regulatory frameworks, and enabling modern IT delivery in regulated environments? Do you thrive in a role where you combine deep compliance expertise with hands-on support of agile product and platform teams?

If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Associate Director, IT Compliance.

• →Support IT product and platform teams operating in GxP-regulated environments.
• →Provide compliance consultancy across relevant disciplines within IT compliance, quality, validation, testing, and regulatory requirements.
• →Support quarterly and semi-annual SOX control activities together with a compliance team colleague.
• →Contribute to the continuous maintenance and improvement of the IT Quality Management System (IT QMS).
• →Monitor regulatory developments and help ensure relevant changes are reflected in IT governance procedures.
• →Support implementation of continuous compliance principles, shift-left testing practices, and agile methodologies.
• →Advise stakeholders on relevant regulatory requirements including GxP, data privacy, SOX, NIS2, and the EU AI Act.
• →Develop and deliver training and compliance education to colleagues across Global IT.
• →Act as a role model for quality, critical thinking, and risk-based decision making.

You hold a relevant academic degree – preferably a master’s degree and have solid IT understanding. You have experience working in regulated pharmaceutical environments and brings a strong combination of regulatory knowledge, practical validation experience

Furthermore, you have:

• GxP-regulated environments, ideally with 10+ years of experience.
• SOX controls and compliance processes.
• Pharmaceutical IT compliance and computer system validation activities.
• Validation planning, testing, test execution, and quality assurance activities.
• Regulatory frameworks such as 21 CFR Part 11, EudraLex Volume 4 Annex 11, the draft Annex 22, EU AI Act, NIS2, SOX and European data privacy regulations.
• GAMP 5 and the risk-based approach described in Appendix M.
• Teaching, training, and coaching colleagues in compliance-related disciplines.
• Supporting agile delivery teams while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.

You are a strong team player, analytical, and have a can-do attitude.

You possess a strong technical understanding and can communicate effectively with highly skilled IT professionals. You can translate regulatory requirements into practical guidance that supports efficient and compliant delivery.

You understand current regulatory expectations from both FDA and EMA and maintain an up-to-date perspective on evolving compliance requirements.

As a person, you are self-organizing and capable of managing priorities and ongoing activities independently. You enjoy sharing knowledge and helping colleagues grow and mature through coaching and guidance. You naturally act as a role model, demonstrating a quality mindset, sound judgement, and strong critical thinking skills.

You work in a pragmatic and collaborative manner, adapting your approach to the needs of stakeholders while maintaining focus on quality and compliance. Furthermore, you thrive in environments where continuous improvement, innovation, and practical problem solving are valued.

We evaluate applications when received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that we conduct interviews on a rolling basis and reserve the right to remove the job posting at any time.   

To ensure your application is reviewed, please submit it through the specified platform - applications sent by email or other channels will not be evaluated. 

We do not allow external search party solicitation.  Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma HR team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed.  If this occurs, your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.