Director, Innovation PMO and R&D Operations

This job is with Danaher, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?

At Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life. 

Our team at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), is united by a commitment to collaboration and scientific excellence, building on a strong foundation of innovation, expertise, and reliability. Guided by our vision to help researchers rapidly move from the lab to life-changing advances, we work closely with global partners to accelerate progress and genomics breakthroughs across fields like cancer, infectious disease, rare genetic disorders, and more. At IDT, you’ll be part of a culture rooted in continuous learning and improvement—where your growth fuels our mission to accelerate the pace of genomics and helps shape a healthier, brighter future for all. 

Learn about theDanaher Business System which makes everything possible.

The Director, Innovation PMO and R&D Operations  provides leadership and direction through managers and is accountable for the performance and results of IDT’s Innovation Project Management Office (PMO) and R&D Operations function. This role contributes to the development of company and functional strategy, applying broad industry knowledge and commercial awareness to drive portfolio execution and operational excellence across IDT’s R&D organization. Decisions are guided by functional strategy and major organizational priorities.

This position reports to the Vice President, Research & Development , and is part of the Research & Development organization. There is a preference for candidates who can work on-site in Sunnyvale, CA; Coralville, IA; or Waltham, MA. While this req is posted as on-site in the US, applications from qualified candidates in other US locations will be considered equally. ​This role will require periodic travel to team sites to attend meetings, training , and reviews, and to conduct Gemba walks in support of a geographically distributed team. 

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead through direct-report managers to provide direction and oversight to a high-performing PMO and R&D Operations organization, with accountability for project delivery, portfolio visibility, execution rigor, and safe, compliant operations.
• Develop and execute the PMO strategy aligned with IDT’s corporate product portfolio strategy and annual business plans, applying broad industry knowledge and commercial awareness to drive financial and operating performance. 
• Manage prioritization and execution across the innovation portfolio, ensuring decisions are based on strategic value, risk, resources, and financial impact in partnership with Product Management and R&D leadership.
• Establish, deploy, and continuously improve portfolio governance structures, toll-gate processes, project templates, reporting frameworks, and portfolio-level KPIs to enable transparent, data-driven decision making and corrective action.
• Lead cross-functional program reviews, executive steering committees, and decision forums, applying advanced critical thinking to resolve highly complex portfolio challenges that span within and beyond the function. 
• Drive PMO maturity and continuous improvement through adoption of best-in-class project management methodologies and Danaher Business System tools, including leader standard work, visual management, Kaizen, and structured problem solving. 
• Influence and align senior leaders and external partners by collaborating closely with Finance, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, IT, Marketing, and Product Management on priorities, resource trade-offs, and deliverables.

The essential requirements of the job include:

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD) in Life Sciences, Engineering, or a related field with 12+ years of program management experience in R&D or technical product development in the life sciences industry (genomics, biotech, diagnostics, or related); or 15+ years with a Bachelor’s degree. 
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing teams of managers and influencing senior executive stakeholders with demonstrated ability to lead through subordinate managers across multiple functions. 
• Demonstrated track record of contributing to and executing functional strategy, with broad impact on divisional or functional results through successful portfolio management and commercial programs. 
• Strong expertise in portfolio governance, project management methodologies (PMI, Lean, Agile, hybrid), and execution systems. 
• Experience applying DBS tools (leader standard work, visual management, Kaizen, structured problem solving) in a continuous improvement culture.
• Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills; demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and shape opinions within and outside the organization, with strong sensitivity to the audience. 

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Experience establishing a new R&D PMO function from the ground up—including setting strategy, building teams, and developing standard processes—within a genomics, molecular biology, or life sciences product development organization. 
• Familiarity with IDT’s product portfolio ar,eas including genomics tools, oligonucleotide synthesis, CRISPR reagents, or NGS applications. 
• PMP/PgMP or similar project management certification. 

IDT, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.

Sunnyvale, CA--The annual salary range for this role is $225,000,-$255,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Coralville, IA--The annual salary range for this role is $170,000-$190,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Waltham, MA--The annual salary range for this role is $200,000-$225,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. 

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Companys sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law. 

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

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