Associate Director, CDx Partnership Program Management

natera; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Long-term equity awards

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Natera is seeking an Associate Director of CDx Partnership Program Management to lead a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical CDx collaborations from evaluation through execution in a hybrid/remote-friendly setup.

The role requires 10+ CDx deals/programs experience, strong stakeholder management, and advanced degrees with PMP preferred. You will influence senior partners, drive feasibility, and translate strategy into executable programs.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships.
• Deep understanding of the CDx/IVD lifecycle and related activities.
• Experience evaluating and operationalizing new CDx opportunities including scope, costing, budgeting, and resource planning.
• Experience working with pharmaceutical partners and senior/executive stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and cross-functional leadership.
• Advanced degree preferred; PMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior PM lead and trusted advisor for pharmaceutical CDx partnerships, bringing deep experience and judgment.
• Partner with Business Development to evaluate new CDx opportunities for feasibility, scope, timelines and cost.
• Serve as an external-facing PM contact for pharmaceutical partners, leading governance and strategic discussions.
• Translate partner strategy and commitments into clear direction for internal teams.
• Maintain a portfolio-level view across multiple pharma partnerships and CDx programs.
• Collaborate with CDx Program Managers to align external commitments with internal delivery.
• Identify gaps between expectations, scope, budget and timelines early.
• Help establish scalable governance models and best practices for growth.

Skills

CDx partnerships management

Program management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Deal feasibility assessment

Education

MBA

MS

PhD

PMI PMP certification

Job description

Location: Hybrid in San Carlos, CA preferred but US Remote is considered

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Associate Director, CDx Partnership Program Management with a proven track record across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships, ideally with 10+ CDx deals/programs successfully advanced from deal evaluation through execution and delivery.

This individual will serve as a senior Program Management leader across our growing portfolio of pharmaceutical CDx partnerships and bring the depth of experience and judgment needed to evaluate, structure, and operationalize complex CDx opportunities.

The role will work at the intersection of Program Management, Business Development, Finance, CDx development teams, and pharmaceutical partners; providing the programmatic and operational expertise needed to ensure potential deals are feasible, appropriately scoped and costed, and translated into executable programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior Program Management lead and trusted advisor for pharmaceutical CDx partnerships, bringing deep experience and judgment from managing a broad portfolio of complex CDx collaborations.
• Partner with Business Development to evaluate new CDx opportunities before deal execution, assessing feasibility, scope, timelines, resource requirements, risks, and cost to ensure proposed partnerships are operationally viable.
• Serve as a senior external-facing Program Management contact for pharmaceutical partners, building strong relationships and leading effective program governance and strategic discussions.
• Translate partner strategy, priorities, expectations, and commitments into clear direction and context for internal CDx Program Managers and cross-functional teams.
• Maintain a portfolio-level view across multiple pharma partnerships and CDx programs, identifying cross-program risks, resource needs, financial implications, and opportunities for improved planning.
• Partner closely with CDx Program Managers who own detailed development planning and execution, ensuring alignment between external commitments and internal delivery.
• Identify and elevate gaps between partner expectations, contractual scope, budget, timelines, and development realities before they impact the partnership or program.
• Help establish scalable frameworks, governance models, and best practices to support continued growth of the CDx pharma partnership portfolio.

Qualifications

• Extensive, hands-on experience across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships, ideally with 10+ CDx deals/programs successfully advanced from deal evaluation through execution and delivery.
• Deep understanding of the CDx/IVD development lifecycle and the activities, timelines, regulatory considerations, resources, and costs required to develop and deliver a companion diagnostic.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating and operationalizing new CDx opportunities, including scope, costing, budgeting, resource planning, and deal feasibility assessment.
• Significant experience working directly with pharmaceutical partners and senior/executive stakeholders in complex, high-visibility partnerships.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, challenge assumptions, navigate difficult partner discussions and advise senior internal and external leaders.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, relationship-management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Advanced degree such as an MBA, MS, PhD, or equivalent in life sciences, business, engineering, or a related field preferred.
• PMP certification or equivalent program management certification preferred.

Compensation & Total Rewards

This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera's robust Total Rewards program, including:

• Annual performance incentive bonus
• Long-term equity awards
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Additional wellness and work-life benefits

Compensation Range $155,700 - $194,600 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

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.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you'll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the indu