Associate Director, Program Management

At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.

We are seeking an experienced technical Associate Director, Program Management for the development and commercialization of advanced DNA sequencing instruments. This cross-functional leader will drive initiation, planning, execution, control and closure of key programs while evolving our product development process management tools and best practices. They will interact widely with internal functions and external stakeholders including Research and Development, Operations, Commercial and Finance to provide clear direction and achieve program goals. Successful candidates will have relevant previous experience in program management for complex scientific instruments. This role will be an in-person, San Diego based role and will report to our VP, Portfolio Management.

If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute development programs spanning the product lifecycle from concept to commercialization
• Ensure program charter and product requirements are clear, grounded in customer needs and aligned with strategic business objectives
• Build and execute integrated project plans synthesizing work breakdown structure, timeline, resource loading, budget and risk management
• Create and manage a comprehensive program schedule that includes deliverables, milestones, dependencies and contingency plans
• Assemble and lead project teams while deploying effective project management practices
• Lead programs through a dynamic phase gate process ensuring that decisions are informed by a balanced and transparent representation of the relevant program data
• Provide ongoing assessment of progress toward meeting performance, quality, timeline and cost targets
• Apply decision analysis tools to analyze changing circumstances, offering pragmatic recommendations for adapting to and overcoming challenges
• Mentor program team staff and contribute to performance reviews
• Establish technical project management best practices and drive implementation of those methodologies across the company to improve the product development process

Education and Experience:

• BS in Engineering or Life Science discipline with 9+ years of relevant experience in complex scientific instrument product development (life sciences, biotechnology or medical device industries preferred)
• Proven track record as a technical program manager leading commercial product development in a multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to hold team members accountable for deliverables while maintaining strong, constructive interpersonal relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Track record of successfully collaborating with other program teams, external partners and executives
• Strong motivational, analytical, delegation and problem-solving skills
• Proactive decision maker who understands how to assess and mitigate risk
• Ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced and interdisciplinary technical environment
• Proficient with project management tools and software (eg: MS Project, LucidChart, JIRA)
• Experience in molecular diagnostics or genomic product development preferred
• Experience with commercialization of clinical diagnostic or similar regulated products is beneficial
• Experience in high-growth start-up companies is a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds.

Location:

• San Diego

Travel: 

• List amount of travel required or anticipated, if any.

Job Type:

• Full-time, Exempt

Base Compensation Pay Range:

• $167,000 - $197,000

In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off. 

Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience. 

We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.