Associate Principal IT Product Lead - Technical Services

Exelixis Inc; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Group medical, dental and vision coverage

Employee stock purchase program

15 accrued vacation days

17 paid holidays

Up to 10 sick days

Job summary

Exelixis Inc, based in Alameda, California, is looking for an Associate Principal IT Product Lead to drive the strategy and operational excellence of digital applications. The role involves managing the product lifecycle and ensuring alignment with business objectives while applying agile methodologies.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in IT product management within the life sciences sector, exceptional leadership skills, and a keen understanding of regulatory requirements. Compensation includes a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 11 years or master's with 9 years of experience required.
• Minimum 8+ years of progressive IT experience in leadership role.
• Proven experience in product management within life science or pharmaceutical industry.

Responsibilities

• Own product lifecycle, applying Agile methods from ideation through launch.
• Act as key liaison between IT and business functions.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure operational stability.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Agile Methodologies

Communication

Product Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related discipline

Master's degree in mathematics, statistics or engineering

PhD

Tools

SaaS platforms (e.g., Veeva, Salesforce)

Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure)

Job description

Summary / Job Purpose

The Associate Principal IT Product Lead – Digital Applications will lead a portfolio of digital products critical to Exelixis’s success and ambition to launch innovative medicines. The role drives the strategy, development, and operational excellence of our digital application ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business objectives and a strong focus on user experience and value delivery. Within a product‑centric model, the lead will define product roadmaps, foster cross‑functional collaboration, and lead agile product teams to deliver innovative digital solutions that accelerate drug discovery, development, and commercialization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Roadmap – Own a portfolio of products and develop the vision, strategy, and roadmap for in‑scope digital products (e.g., Clinical Trials Applications, R&D Informatics, Commercial Operations Platforms). Partner with senior product leads and business stakeholders to translate user needs into clear product requirements and user stories. Lead market research, competitive analysis and technology assessments to inform product planning and identify innovation opportunities. Prioritize initiatives based on business impact, technical feasibility and compliance needs.
• Product Development & Delivery – Own the product lifecycle from ideation through launch and post‑launch optimization, applying Agile methods (Scrum, Kanban). Ensure user stories and acceptance criteria are well defined and aligned with the product vision. Coordinate with engineering, architecture and QA teams for timely delivery of scalable, secure, high‑quality applications. Manage external vendors and service providers to support product roadmaps. Promote user‑centric design through research, usability testing and feedback.
• Stakeholder Management & Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Act as key liaison between IT and business functions, translating technical concepts into business language and vice versa. Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders to align product vision and priorities across multiple functional areas. Facilitate communication and coordination across product, business and IT teams to support effective decision‑making.
• Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance – Lead maintenance of operational stability, performance and security of digital applications in partnership with IT operations and infrastructure teams. Manage vendor relationships and third‑party software solutions. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (GxP, HIPAA, GDPR) and internal quality and security standards across product releases. Report on KPIs to assess product success, adoption and business impact.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Education / Experience / Knowledge & Skills

• Education – Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with 11 years of experience; or Master’s degree in mathematics, statistics or engineering with 9 years of experience; or PhD with 5 years of experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience also acceptable.
• Experience – Minimum 6 years supporting Enterprise IT enabling business functions. Minimum 8+ years of progressive IT experience, with at least 6+ years in a leadership role focused on digital applications or product management within life science or pharmaceutical industry. Proven experience leading product development teams in an agile/product‑centric model. Strong understanding of drug discovery, clinical development or commercialization lifecycle within a pharma or biotech company. Success in delivering complex digital products that drive significant business value. Knowledge of SaaS or cloud platforms (e.g., Veeva, Salesforce, AWS, Azure) and functional capabilities common in pharma (LIMS, SAP ERP, EDC, CTMS, CRM). Regulatory framework and GxP compliance experience.
• Knowledge & Skills – Exceptional leadership and team‑building skills. Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving abilities with data‑driven decision making. Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, influencing and collaborating at all levels. Deep understanding of product management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban). Solid technical acumen to understand complex IT architectures. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Occasional travel may be required. Experience with ITIL services, configuration management, GxP/SOX compliance tools, information security, and digital workplace solutions.

Working Conditions

The office is a modern, open‑plan space fostering collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas in a supportive atmosphere. Provided equipment includes dual monitors and ergonomic chairs. Occasional travel (5–10%) may be required. On‑call availability for critical escalations.

Compensation & Benefits

Base pay range: $174,000 – $246,000 annually, adjusted for geographic region, knowledge, skills and internal equity. Total rewards include 401k with company match, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, discretionary annual bonus or sales incentive plan for sales staff, employee stock purchase program, long‑term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days, 17 paid holidays and up to 10 sick days.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Exelixis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or disability. Employees seeking accommodations for the application or recruitment process may email [e-mail].

Disclaimer

The preceding job description is indicative of the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and is not intended to be an exhaustive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.