Senior Director, ECD Product Strategy & Lifecycle

Role Description

As a market leader in cfDNA-based diagnostics, we are expanding our Early Cancer Detection (ECD) portfolio to deliver transformative clinical impact at scale. The Senior Director, ECD Product Strategy & Lifecycle will lead the strategy, development, and lifecycle management of a portfolio of ECD products, from concept through launch, growth, and optimization. This role is accountable for defining product vision and strategy, translating unmet clinical and customer needs into differentiated products, and driving execution through strong cross-functional leadership. The Senior Director will build and manage a high-performing product management team and partner closely with R&D, clinical, regulatory, commercial, medical affairs, and operations to ensure successful delivery of business and patient outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
  • Own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Early Cancer Detection portfolio, aligned with corporate strategy and long-term growth objectives.
  • Lead annual and multi-year strategic planning for ECD products, including investment prioritization, sequencing, and resource allocation.
  • Identify, size, and segment new market opportunities using top-down and bottom-up analyses, incorporating clinical, commercial, and customer insights.
  • Define clear value propositions and differentiation strategies based on competitive intelligence, customer needs, and evolving standards of care.
• Product Lifecycle Management
  • Lead products across the full lifecycle, from concept and feasibility through development, launch, post-launch optimization, and eventual sunset.
  • Drive definition of product requirements, success metrics, and launch readiness in partnership with cross-functional teams.
  • Guide trade-off decisions across performance, features, timelines, and investment, particularly in technically complex genomic and algorithm-driven products.
• Customer & Market Insights
  • Lead qualitative and quantitative customer research with clinicians, health systems, payers, partners, and internal stakeholders.
  • Translate insights into clear product requirements, roadmap decisions, and business cases.
  • Monitor competitive landscape, emerging technologies, and regulatory or reimbursement changes impacting early cancer detection.
• Financial & Business Planning
  • Build and oversee robust business cases, including revenue forecasts, unit economics, ROI, and NPV analyses for new and existing products.
  • Pressure-test assumptions, evaluate sensitivities, and make data-driven investment recommendations.
  • Partner with finance and commercial leadership to align product strategy with financial objectives.
• People & Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Lead, and develop a team of Product Managers supporting innovation and lifecycle initiatives within Early Cancer Detection.
  • Establish and scale product management best practices, processes, and metrics.
  • Act as a senior product leader and influencer across R&D, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, commercial, and executive leadership.
  • Clearly communicate product vision, strategy, and priorities to align stakeholders and inspire teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (PhD, MD, or MBA) strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in product management, product strategy, consulting, or related roles within diagnostics, biotechnology, medical devices, or health technology.
• Prior experience with early cancer detection products strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing products across the full lifecycle, including successful product launches.
• Proven people leadership experience, including hiring, coaching, and developing product managers.
• Experience developing regulated clinical products and working closely with clinical trials and regulatory pathways.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic, analytical thinker with the ability to translate complex data into clear product and business decisions.
• Strong market research capabilities, including customer interviews and quantitative analysis.
• Comfortable diving deep into technical, algorithmic, and molecular concepts and translating them into customer-facing product features.
• Hands-on financial modeling and business case development expertise.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership, communication, and influence skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias toward action, accountability, and results.

Benefits

• Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
• Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits.
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits, and much more.
• Generous employee referral program.

Company Description

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.