Director, NGS Research

Summary of Major Responsibilities

The Director, Research works on multiple projects that are extremely complex in scope. As a thought leader, the Director, Research brings knowledge and expertise to bear in planning, design, and execution to ensure successful and timely completion of large or complex projects. This position is responsible for providing the timeline, plan, and successful completion for assignments/projects. This position also plays a critical role in the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data and provides data driven outcomes to senior management. This role will be involved in early research and discovery projects, serving as a thought leader and subject matter expert by providing technical guidance in exploring, researching, and testing new -technologies. This position provides leadership to a team of scientists by defining clear and realistic goals, clearing barriers to success, and understanding of skills and tasks associated with successful execution. This person is responsible for supporting a collaborative environment that promotes positive teamwork where all members are working for the good of Exact Sciences.

This Director, Research role will work on multiple next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based early research and discovery projects, and will require leadership, and expert technical guidance and research testing new NGS technologies. #LI-JR1

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, technical guidance, and mentorship to a team of research associates and scientists.

• Work on significant and unique issues where analysis, situations, or data requires an evaluation of intangible variables and may impact future concepts, products, or technologies.

• Develop, plan, and analyze results of comprehensive advanced research experiments within several product or technology areas within defined timelines; effectively present and clearly communicate findings at data meetings, group meetings, and project team meetings to determine the next steps and the path forward for successful outcomes.

• Act independently to determine methods and procedures or technologies on new assignments and provide ideas for new techniques and methods.

• Provide the timeline, plan, and successful completion for assignments/projects.

• Maintain knowledge of technological industry developments; provide technical assessment and guidance when evaluating or developing technologies, methods, and procedures.

• Provide deep scientific leadership and technical input and participate in decisions affecting project planning and experimental design.

• Prepare, provide, and present information and data for scientific abstracts, and industry conferences, project meetings, or publication.

• Prepare manuscripts of major findings and research outcomes for review and publication.

• Perform complex analyses and present results and data driven outcomes to senior management, as well as to a variety of audiences throughout the organization.

• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio by implementing innovative and creative ideas to solve problems or improve on current methods.

• Help with IP disclosures and assist in answering questions related to IP filings.

• Generate, document, and communicate development plans for critical projects.

• Prepare, review, and approve detailed technical procedures, protocols, and reports.

• Evaluate impact of nonconforming data to product or process.

• Prepare reports and documentation and provide highly technical analysis or summarization of experimental results, outcomes, next steps, and provide future direction of the project to functional leader, technical teams/groups, or project teams.

• Present experimental results and defend scientific ideas and findings at project or departmental meetings; critically evaluate scientific data for its merits; lead meetings and help provide directions as a subject matter expert.

• Work on problems which are extremely complex in scope in which analysis of data requires an evaluation of intangible variables.

• Exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions.

• Maintain awareness to change in technology, methods, or processes and adapt as needed.

• Work on assignments individually and with project team members and direct reports to meet department and project objectives.

• Ability to determine project timeframes which will result in successful outcomes on multiple projects.

• Provide expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts on projects that are extremely complex in scope.

• Act as subject matter expert and strategic leader in departmental, team, core team, and/or cross-functional meetings.

• Exercise latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical assignments.

• Supervise direct reports; including, but not limited to, organize and prioritize work, write/conduct performance reviews, train/develop, and manage work performance.

• Communicate goals clearly to employees to ensure understanding and success in achieving them.

• Motivate and inspire employees to do their best work through coaching.

• Maintain morale and support employee engagement initiatives.

• Promote an open, collaborative environment built on trust to foster positive teamwork.

• Ability to develop formal networks with key decision makers, internally and externally.

• Apply deep scientific expertise, innovation, creativity, and collaboration with others and independent thought.

• Communicate clearly and frequently with all levels of the organization; including team members, project team members (core and extended), functional managers, clinical lab, and other stakeholders.

• Create and deliver high quality presentations that effectively communicate and tie into a cohesive story the project status and/or experimental results.

• Apply qualitative and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to effectively work on several varied projects at one time, with frequent changing priorities.

• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills.

• Exercise technical proficiency, scientific creativity and rigor, and independent thought when challenging and debating scientific ideas.

• Apply sound technical ability and knowledge.

• Apply experimental knowledge and outcomes to new and valuable problems; ability to make predictions based on a deep understanding of the fundamental nature of the inputs into a decision or action.

• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.

• Support and comply with the company's Quality Management System policies and procedures.

• Regular and reliable attendance.

• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds for approximately 5% of a typical working day.

• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 50% of a typical working day.

• Ability to grasp with both hands; pinch with thumb and forefinger; turn with hand/arm; reach above shoulder height.

• Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements.

• Ability to use various types of laboratory equipment; including microscopes, microtomes, blades, strainers, and pipettes for extended periods of time.

• May perform repetitious actions using lab tools.

• Ability to use near vision to view samples at close range.

• May be exposed to hazardous materials, tissue specimens, and instruments with moving parts, lasers, heating and freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation.

• Ability and means to travel between Exact Sciences locations.

• Ability to travel 20% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend/international travel.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in life sciences, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, chemical/physical/biological science, or field related to the essential duties of the position; or Master's degree in life sciences, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, chemical/physical/biological science, or field related to the essential duties of the position and 4 years of related experience in lieu of a Ph.D.; or Bachelor's degree in life sciences, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, chemical/physical/biological science, or field related to the essential duties of the position and 6 years of related experience in lieu of Ph.D.

• 12+ years of industry or academia experience in biology and/or chemistry.

• 10+ years of experience in medical device/IVD, biotech, life science, or pharmaceutical industry.

• 3+ years of experience leading or directing people and/or project teams.

• Demonstrated thought leader in the principles of molecular biology, biochemistry, next-generation sequencing (NGS) genomics.

• Demonstrated leadership in the area of product/assay research, design, or development.

• Excellent understanding of GMP, ISO, and Quality Systems.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office to include Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in medical device/IVD, biotech, life science or pharmaceutical industry.

• 5+ years of experience leading or directing people and/or project teams.

• 5+ years of experience leading NGS-based project(s).

• Demonstrated thought leader in the principles of epigenomics.

• Previous experience as a project lead for a team of scientists.

• Experience in a pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing environment, preferably in a GMP and/or ISO environment.

• Experience in PCR and molecular biology.

• Experience with genomic databases and software.

• Background containing a substantial amount of laboratory work including troubleshooting.

• Demonstrated knowledge of DNA/RNA purification.

• Knowledge of statistical models for data analysis and results reporting.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Applicable portions of the Company's affirmative action program are available to any applicant or employee for inspection upon request.