other
Posted May 1Director, Translational Sciences
at Natera
United StatesRemote
Responsibilities
- Lead translational functional validation for Natera’s Therapeutics & Innovations group.
- Own the external pre-clinical research model, leading CRO and academic partnerships for functional validation, including immunogenicity, Mechanism of Action (MOA), and T-cell assays
- Define experimental strategies, frameworks, and govern partner performance through rigorous statements of work (SOWs) and budgets; use data to identify risks and take ownership of corrective actions
- Incorporate high-throughput screening to validate drug-target interactions, ensuring data packages meet internal, regulatory, and clinical translation standards
- Build a scalable external network across immunology and tumor biology while developing a long-term roadmap to establish an internal wet-lab engine
- Deliver unvarnished, data-backed updates to leadership, translating complex results into direct, actionable program recommendations
- Mentor scientific staff and contractors, fostering a rigorous, outcome-focused culture as the function scales
- Proven track record of managing complex external research programs and building translational research capabilities
- Proven track record leading externalized R&D through CROs, managing governance, experimental design, and milestone delivery
Requirements
- Direct immune functional assays and lead the experimental validation of targets and biomarkers identified by AI/ML platforms using patient-derived samples
- experience in biotech, pharma, or translational academic settings; or an MS with 12+ years of directly relevant experience
- Experience with high-dimensional data (e.g., single-cell sequencing) to validate AI-driven insights
- Experience with assay development, transfer, and reproducibility best practices, treating quality as a standard
- Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health.
Benefits
- Expertise in neoantigen biology, antigen presentation validation, or tumor model systems is preferred The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location.