Associate Director, NGS Product Management

Watchmaker Genomics•Boulder, CO

About The Position

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking a strategic and commercially minded Associate Director of NGS Product Management to lead product strategy and portfolio development across its next-generation sequencing (NGS) business. The role oversees a diverse portfolio of NGS sample preparation technologies, including DNA and RNA library preparation, amplification, methylation, and related workflow solutions, and reports to the Director of Product Management. The Associate Director will lead and develop a team of Product Managers and drive portfolio strategy, product innovation, commercialization, and lifecycle management. Working closely with R&D, Applications, Commercial, and Marketing, this person will translate market opportunities and customer needs into differentiated products and sustainable commercial growth. The role requires deep technical expertise in NGS workflows, commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and experience leading products and teams in a life sciences environment. The preferred location is Boulder, Colorado, or the position may be remote. Local candidates are preferred. Travel of up to 30%, domestically and internationally, is expected. Base compensation starts at $160,000–$190,000, plus bonus and equity; actual pay will be adjusted based on skills and experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline.
At least 10 years of relevant industry experience in life sciences, biotechnology, or genomics.
At least 5 years of product management experience, including ownership of product strategy, roadmaps, and commercial performance.
At least 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.
Strong strategic and analytical thinking, including the ability to assess market opportunities and prioritize product investments.
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, connecting 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 balancing strategic thinking and execution.
Willingness to travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

PhD or MBA.
Experience supporting strategic accounts, OEM relationships, or collaborative product development initiatives.
Customer-facing experience and demonstrated ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies.

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 goals, priorities, accountability, and performance expectations.
Provide strategic direction and hands-on guidance to Product Managers, supporting 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 align work with customer requirements, portfolio priorities, and development milestones.
Lead product commercialization and lifecycle strategies, partnering with Product Marketing, Sales, and Applications to support successful launches, market adoption, and sustained growth.
Support strategic accounts and key partnerships by 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.