Director, Digital Product Manager, Analytical Services

Director, Digital Product Manager – Analytical Services (ASD)

At Thermo Fisher's PPD clinical research business, we're using digital innovation, data science, and AI to reimagine how life-changing therapies reach patients. Our teams combine deep scientific expertise with advanced analytics, automation, and digital platforms to make research smarter, faster, and more connected.

At PPD we know that innovation happens when diverse minds meet. Our Digital Science, Data, and AI professionals collaborate closely with scientists, clinicians, and operational experts to solve real-world challenges in clinical research. Alongside our partnership with Open AI, you can be part of the collaboration that will help to improve the speed and success of drug development, enabling customers to get medicines to patients faster and more cost effectively.

You'll join a culture that values experimentation, learning, and collaboration — where your ideas can help shape how we deliver life-saving solutions and improve global health outcomes. Whether you're a data engineer, product manager, software developer, or AI scientist, you'll find opportunities here to apply your skills to work that truly matters — improving global health outcomes.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Digital Product Manager – Analytical Services (ASD) will lead the strategy, vision, and execution of flagship digital capabilities supporting the Analytical Services Division within the Clinical Research Group. This role is responsible for defining and delivering scalable, user-centric digital solutions that enable laboratory operations, scientific data management, and customer engagement across internal and external stakeholders.

You will align product roadmaps with business objectives, customer needs, and regulatory requirements, while partnering closely with the CRG Digital organization as a primary development partner. This role requires deep expertise in digital product management within regulated environments, strong knowledge of laboratory systems and data, and demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in complex, matrixed organizations.

Key Responsibilities: Product Roadmap and Vision:

• Develop and communicate a compelling product vision and multi-year roadmap aligned with ASD strategic objectives and CRG digital priorities.
• Conduct market analysis, voice-of-customer research, and competitive intelligence to identify opportunities for innovation in laboratory digital capabilities.
• Align product investments with measurable business value, operational efficiency, and customer impact.
• Provide transparency and executive-level reporting on product pipeline, milestones, risks, and outcomes.

Detailed Product Definition and Execution:

• Translate complex laboratory, operational, and business requirements into detailed product specifications, features, and user stories.
• Partner closely with engineering, UX/UI, lab operations, quality, and scientific stakeholders to ensure precise execution.
• Lead agile product development cycles, ensuring clarity of requirements, rapid iteration, and high-quality delivery.
• Oversee and coordinate internal and external development partners to ensure timely, scalable delivery of digital capabilities.
• Represent ASD product needs within the broader CRG Digital organization and ensure alignment across shared platforms.

Laboratory Domain Expertise & Digital Enablement:

• Apply deep understanding of laboratory operations, laboratory data flows, and systems such as LIMS, ELNs, and related digital platforms.
• Drive integration strategies across internal systems, external platforms, and customer-facing capabilities.
• Ensure product design accounts for data integrity, auditability, regulatory standards, and quality system requirements within clinical research environments.
• Identify opportunities to modernize and digitize analytical workflows to improve efficiency, traceability, and customer experience.

Advanced Analytics and AI Enablement:

• Collaborate effectively with data scientists and ML engineers; demonstrate fluency in AI/ML concepts (e.g., regression, classification, NLP, predictive modeling) and their application in laboratory and clinical contexts.
• Leverage advanced analytics and AI to enhance data interpretation, operational insights, forecasting, and customer value delivery.
• Ensure responsible, compliant deployment of AI-driven capabilities within regulated environments.

User-Centric Product Development:

• Champion intuitive, high-impact user experiences across scientific, operational, and customer-facing workflows.
• Validate product concepts through structured user research, feedback loops, and analytics-driven insights.
• Continuously refine solutions to maximize adoption, usability, and measurable business outcomes.

Stakeholder Leadership and Communication:

• Collaborate across business leaders, lab operations, quality, regulatory, digital engineering teams, and external partners.
• Clearly articulate product vision, tradeoffs, and progress to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Influence investment decisions through data-driven analysis and compelling strategic narratives.
• Manage and strengthen relationships with external development partners and key technology stakeholders.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Lead and mentor product managers and product owners, emphasizing execution excellence, data-driven decision-making, and customer focus.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrate strong people leadership experience managing global and matrixed teams.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree; advanced degree in healthcare, life sciences, computer science, business, or related field preferred.
• Previous product management experience delivering complex digital software solutions, with significant experience in clinical research, laboratory services, life sciences, or other regulated industries that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 12+ years' experience)
• 2+ years of people leadership experience managing global or matrixed teams.
• In some cases, an equivalency, consisting of appropriate education, training, and/or directly related experience will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong business acumen and demonstrated ability to drive digital innovation and measurable growth.
• Deep understanding of full product lifecycle management from concept through commercialization.
• Prior experience with laboratory operations and systems (LIMS, ELN, scientific data platforms) strongly preferred.
• Experience working within quality systems and regulatory frameworks applicable to clinical research and laboratory environments.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams in large, matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional communication, executive storytelling, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience collaborating with external development partners.
• Familiarity with agile product management tools (e.g., Jira, Aha!, Azure DevOps).
• Experience applying AI/ML concepts within data-intensive environments preferred.

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we are committed to fostering a healthy and harmonious workplace for our employees. We understand the importance of creating an environment that allows individuals to excel. Please see below for the required qualifications for this position, which also includes the possibility of equivalent experience:

• Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.
• Able to work upright and stationary for typical working hours.
• Ability to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with proficiency.
• Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.
• May require as-needed travel (0-20%).

Location: Remote US (East Coast preferred). Relocation assistance is NOT provided.

*Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. *Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.

The annual salary range estimated for this position in North Carolina is $185,000- $215,000 USD. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.