Senior Director, AI & Analytics

About KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

KalVista is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering life-changing oral therapies for individuals affected by rare diseases with significant unmet needs. The KalVista team discovered and developed EKTERLY®—the first and only oral on-demand treatment for hereditary angioedema (HAE)—and continues to work closely with the global HAE community to improve treatment and care for this disease around the world.

For more information about KalVista, please visit www.kalvista.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Director, AI & Analytics is responsible for defining and executing the company’s enterprise AI strategy, with a primary focus on delivering AI-enabled solutions that address critical business needs. This role will establish the framework for how data is structured, governed, and activated to support scalable AI applications across the organization. The Senior Director will lead the identification, development, and deployment of practical AI solutions that enhance decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and generate measurable business value. The role partners closely with leaders across R&D, Commercial, Medical, Operations, Finance, and Corporate functions to translate strategic priorities into applied AI initiatives.

This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution across AI solutions. The ideal candidate can define an AI roadmap, architect and oversee solution development, and ensure successful business outcomes.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Enterprise AI & Data Strategy

• Develop and execute a multi-year AI and organizational analytics roadmap (in partnership with existing Data leads) aligned to company priorities
• Establish a clear enterprise data strategy, including data standards, governance, and quality practices
• Define measurable goals and KPIs to track value from AI and AI enabled analytics investments
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize AI/ML use cases that drive measurable business value
• Guide design and implementation of AI-powered features, ensuring scalability, security, and ethical considerations
• Partner with 3rd party vendors and internal IT to ensure the right data pipelines and infrastructure are in place to support AI initiatives

Change Management & AI Literacy

• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide AI Literacy and training strategy
• Improve data literacy and responsible AI understanding across functions
• Lead change management efforts for new platforms and capabilities
• Promote a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement

AI, Analytics & Automation Delivery

• Define the operating model for AI and analytics delivery
• Identify and prioritize AI and analytics use cases with clear business impact
• Lead proof-of-concepts and pilots; convert validated ideas into production solutions
• Guide automation initiatives that improve productivity and reduce manual effort
• Operate hands-on when needed to support architecture and solution decisions

(Technical depth expected in machine learning, generative AI, cloud data platforms, and model lifecycle management.)

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with functional areas to align AI initiatives with overall business objectives and goals
• Collaborate with Security, Compliance, and Legal to ensure AI/ML implementations meet regulatory and ethical standards
• Evangelize innovation and AI opportunities across the organization, acting as a bridge between technical and business stakeholders
• Partner with Executive Leadership and functional leaders to align priorities
• Translate business needs into practical data and AI solutions
• Establish structured intake and prioritization processes for new requests
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, vendors, and external partners

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Define policies for data access, privacy, security, and responsible AI use
• Ensure AI and analytics solutions meet regulatory requirements (e.g., GxP, SOX, data privacy)
• Collaborate with Security, Compliance, and Legal to manage AI related risks and ensure AI implementations meet regulatory and ethical standards
• Implement decision forums and oversight structures to ensure accountability

 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required. 10-15+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, information technology, with a focus on solution delivery and business partnership
• 7+ years of experience in data analytics within information-intensive or digitally mature organizations; experience in Life Sciences required
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, developing, and/or deploying AI solutions in information-intensive or digitally advanced environments
• Extensive experience using AI technologies and methodologies, such as ML, NLP, and MLOps
• Advanced understanding of AI ethics, transparency and bias mitigation practices
• Advanced understanding of LLMs or large-scale ML systems

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work independently and have strong ability to influence outcomes
• Experience building enterprise data strategies and governance frameworks
• Excellent experience with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Snowflake)
• Advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred
• Familiarity with AI-related regulatory requirements and data privacy laws is preferred

 

EXPECTATIONS & COMPETENCIES