Director, Product Management

Position: Director, 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. 15+ years of relevant industry experience in life sciences, biotechnology, genomics, or molecular diagnostics. 5+ years of product management experience, including demonstrated ownership of product strategy, roadmaps, and commercial performance. 5+ years of people management experience, with a proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor Product Managers.

Position Summary

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking a strategic and commercially minded Director of Product Management to lead product strategy across our next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular diagnostics (MDx), and enzyme portfolios. This role will guide portfolio investments, product development, and lifecycle strategies to drive innovation and sustainable growth, reporting to the VP of Marketing.

The Director will lead and develop a team of Product Managers while partnering closely with R&D, Commercial, Marketing, and executive leadership to align customer needs, market opportunities, and business priorities. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise, commercial acumen, and proven leadership in bringing innovative life science products to market.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy & Business Leadership

• Partner with R&D and executive leadership to define and drive the overarching product strategy and multi-year roadmap across Watchmaker's NGS, MDx, and enzyme portfolios.
• Lead portfolio business planning, investment decisions, and resource prioritization, balancing near-term commercial opportunities with longer-term innovation.
• Establish portfolio performance objectives and guide pricing and growth strategies to drive revenue, market penetration, profitability, and product differentiation.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Product Managers, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and performance expectations.
• Serve as a strategic sponsor for portfolio initiatives, empowering Product Managers while ensuring cross-functional alignment and execution.

Product Innovation & Development

• Guide market assessment, competitive intelligence, and customer discovery to identify unmet needs, evaluate new product opportunities, and inform portfolio priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of product development initiatives, ensuring alignment across Product Management, R&D, and Applications on priorities, customer requirements, and business objectives.

Commercialization & Lifecycle Management

• Provide strategic oversight of product commercialization, partnering with Product Marketing, Sales, and Applications to ensure successful transitions from development through launch and market adoption.
• Partner with Commercial to support strategic accounts and key partnerships, aligning product strategies and development priorities with customer needs and business opportunities.
• Monitor product performance and market feedback to identify opportunities for portfolio optimization, lifecycle management, and sustained growth.

Education and Experience

• MS degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline required; PhD or MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of relevant industry experience in genomics, or molecular diagnostics.
• 5+ years of product management experience, including demonstrated ownership of product strategy, roadmaps, and commercial performance.
• 5+ years of people management experience, with a proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor Product Managers.
• Demonstrated success bringing innovative life science products from concept through commercialization and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated commercial and financial acumen, including experience with business case development, pricing strategies, revenue forecasting, and product profitability.
• Strong technical understanding of NGS workflows and molecular diagnostic applications, with the ability to lead across a diverse technical portfolio.
• Experience leading cross-functional new product development teams and making strategic product investment decisions.
• Experience supporting strategic accounts, OEM relationships, partnerships, or customized product solutions strongly preferred.
• Customer-facing experience and a demonstrated ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies.
• Familiarity with quality and regulatory considerations relevant to molecular diagnostics, including experience collaborating with Quality and Regulatory teams.

Skills and Requirements

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to evaluate complex market opportunities and make sound portfolio investment decisions.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams while empowering individual ownership and accountability.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and influencing skills, including the ability to navigate competing priorities and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Strong scientific and technical aptitude, with the ability to connect emerging technologies to customer needs and commercial opportunities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to engage customers, technical teams, and executive leadership.
• Sound judgment, organizational discipline, and the ability to make decisions in an environment of ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a balance of strategic vision and execution.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally.

Compensation

The base compensation for the Director, Product Management role starts at $180,000 - $210,000 + 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 (upload where it says cover letter)
• 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.