Associate Director, NGS Product Management

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking an Associate Director to lead product strategy and portfolio development across its next-generation sequencing business. The role leads and develops Product Managers, drives product innovation and commercialization, and partners cross-functionally to translate market opportunities and customer needs into products and commercial growth.

Responsibilities:

• Lead NGS portfolio planning, business case development, and product prioritization, balancing market opportunities, technical feasibility, and commercial potential
• Drive portfolio performance through pricing, forecasting, and growth strategies that support revenue, profitability, market penetration, and product differentiation
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of NGS Product Managers, establishing clear goals, priorities, accountability, and performance expectations
• Provide strategic direction and hands-on guidance to Product Managers, supporting effective decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and execution across product lines
• Lead market assessment, competitive intelligence, and customer discovery to identify unmet needs, validate product opportunities, and define differentiated product requirements
• Partner with R&D and Applications to guide new product development, evaluate technical and commercial tradeoffs, and ensure alignment with customer requirements, portfolio priorities, and development milestones
• Lead product commercialization and lifecycle strategies, partnering with Product Marketing, Sales, and Applications to ensure successful launches, market adoption, and sustained growth
• Support strategic accounts and key partnerships, translating customer requirements and market opportunities into product strategies and development priorities
• Monitor product performance, competitive developments, and customer feedback to guide product improvements, portfolio expansion, and end-of-life decisions

Requirements:

• MS degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience in life sciences, biotechnology, or genomics
• 5+ years of product management experience, including ownership of product strategy, roadmaps, and commercial performance
• 3+ years of people management experience, with demonstrated success leading, coaching, and developing Product Managers or cross-functional teams
• Strong technical expertise in NGS workflows, including DNA and RNA library preparation, sequencing technologies, and relevant downstream applications
• Demonstrated success bringing innovative life science products from concept through commercialization and lifecycle management
• Commercial and financial acumen, including experience with business case development, pricing strategies, revenue forecasting, and product profitability
• Experience leading cross-functional new product development initiatives and translating customer needs into product requirements
• Customer-facing experience and a demonstrated ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to assess market opportunities and prioritize product investments
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams while balancing strategic direction with hands-on execution
• Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills, including the ability to navigate competing priorities and drive alignment without direct authority
• Deep scientific and technical aptitude, with the ability to connect NGS technology innovations to customer needs and commercial opportunities
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to engage customers, technical teams, and senior leadership
• Sound judgment, organizational discipline, and the ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a balance of strategic thinking and execution
• PhD or MBA
• Experience supporting strategic accounts, OEM relationships, or collaborative product development initiatives preferred