Associate Director, NGS Product Management

Position: Associate Director, NGS Product Management

Department: Marketing

Position Type: Full-time

Location: Boulder, CO (preferred) or remote

Experience: MS degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline required; PhD or MBA preferred. 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.

Position Summary

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking a strategic and commercially minded Associate Director of NGS Product Management to lead product strategy and portfolio development across our next-generation sequencing (NGS) business. This role will oversee a diverse portfolio of NGS sample preparation technologies, including DNA and RNA library preparation, amplification, methylation, and related workflow solutions, reporting to the Director of Product Management.

The Associate Director will lead and develop a team of Product Managers, driving portfolio strategy, product innovation, commercialization, and lifecycle management. Working closely with R&D, Applications, Commercial, and Marketing, this individual will translate market opportunities and customer needs into differentiated products and sustainable commercial growth.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in NGS workflows with strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and demonstrated success leading products and teams in a dynamic life sciences environment.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy & Business Leadership

• 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.

Team Leadership & Development

• 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.

Product Innovation & Development

• 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.

Commercialization & Lifecycle Management

• 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.

Education and Experience

• MS degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline required; PhD or MBA preferred.
• 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.
• Experience supporting strategic accounts, OEM relationships, or collaborative product development initiatives preferred.
• Customer-facing experience and a demonstrated ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies.

Skills and Requirements

• 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.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally.

Compensation

The base compensation for the Associate Director, NGS Product Management role starts at  $160,000 - $190,000 + bonus + equity; actual pay will be adjusted based on skills and experience. Employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off, Holidays, employer covers 75% of base medical plan with buy-up options, EAP (employee assistance program), employer paid dental with a buy-up option, employer paid vision, employer paid $25,000 life/AD&D policy, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% match.

Application Requirements 

To apply for the position, please submit the following in a PDF format on watchmakergenomics.com: 

• Letter of motivation 
• Resume or Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Local candidates preferred.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled; however, early submission is encouraged as review will begin immediately.

If selected to participate in the interview process, the names and contact information of three professional references who are able to assess your suitability for the position in terms of the specified requirements will be requested.

*** NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE

We are only accepting direct applications for this position. We are not working with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from third-party recruiters will not be considered and will be deemed the property of Watchmaker Genomics.

*** WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if currently eligible to work in the United States of America; and if now or in the future will require visa sponsorship to continue working in the United States.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.