Associate Director, NGS Product Management

Watchmaker Genomics•Boulder, CO

2d•$160,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking a strategic, commercially minded Associate Director of NGS Product Management to lead product strategy and portfolio development across its next-generation sequencing business. The role oversees a 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. In partnership with R&D, Applications, Commercial, and Marketing, the role translates market opportunities and customer needs into differentiated products and sustainable commercial growth. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in NGS workflows with commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and experience leading products and teams in a life sciences environment. The position is full-time and based in Boulder, Colorado (preferred), or remote. Travel of up to 30% domestically and internationally is required. Compensation starts at $160,000–$190,000, plus bonus and equity, with actual pay adjusted based on skills and experience. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled; early submission is encouraged. Applicants must submit a letter of motivation and a resume or CV in PDF format. Local candidates are preferred.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline.
10 or more years of relevant industry experience in life sciences, biotechnology, or genomics.
5 or more years of product management experience, including ownership of product strategy, roadmaps, and commercial performance.
3 or more years of people management experience, including 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 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 the ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies.
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 navigating competing priorities and driving 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 decision-making ability in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
Entrepreneurial mindset combining 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.
Local candidates are preferred.

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 supporting revenue, profitability, market penetration, and product differentiation.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of NGS Product Managers, setting 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 on new product development, evaluating technical and commercial tradeoffs and aligning development with customer requirements, portfolio priorities, and milestones.
Lead product commercialization and lifecycle strategies with Product Marketing, Sales, and Applications to support 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.