Project Leader / Sr Project Leader

Foundation Medicine; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Job summary

Foundation Medicine in Boston, MA seeks a Project Leader at Director or Sr Director level to deliver global product development programs. You will lead cross-functional teams through Feasibility, Planning, Execution, and Launch, shaping strategy and trade-offs across time, cost, and risk.

The role requires deep diagnostics development expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to influence across functions while ensuring regulatory and quality expectations are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a life sciences field, business, engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years’ experience in program execution, including end-to-end product lifecycle with at least 5 years in biotechnology.

Responsibilities

• Ensure on-spec, on-budget, and on-time delivery of the project(s) or program(s).
• Lead cross-functional teams from Feasibility through Launch.
• Develop strategic options according to time, cost, risk, and enterprise needs.
• Collaborate with Product Manager to drive lifecycle and roadmap.
• Provide structured guidance on scope, timelines, and resources.

Skills

Program leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Biotech/diagnostics knowledge

Strategic decision making

Communication skills

Matrix leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences / related field

Master’s or PhD in life sciences / engineering / related

Job description

This position may be hired at the Director or Sr Director level based on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.

About The Job

The Project Leader is accountable for delivery of programs and solutions in line with FMI’s global product development strategy. This person will provide cross-functional leadership to global project teams through Feasibility & Planning, Execution, and program Launch. This role requires expertise in diagnostics development, is creative and strategic, with strong leadership capabilities across multiple disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for on-spec, on-budget, and on-time delivery of the project(s) or program(s).
• Execute tailored strategy aligned with FMI objectives; set clear direction for the global product development strategy from Feasibility & Planning to Launch.
• Lead team to develop scenarios including alternative development options (cost, time, risk / benefit) for strategic decision making.
• Provide structured thinking to program team on overall development including negotiation of scope, roles and responsibilities, specifications, timelines, and resources.
• Develop strategic options according to the principles of time, cost, risk, and addresses technical, regulatory, business, and operations needs.
• Guides team in making decisions on product design and development leveraging understanding of product specifications, enterprise impacts, timelines, and resources.
• Defines trade-offs in product development with a keen understanding to short- and long- term impacts to product roadmap and enterprise plan.
• Decide on product development pathways in accordance to cross-functional evaluation and risk assessment.
• Ensure optimal blend of team members so that the team is functional from an expertise and interpersonal perspective.
• Ensures all team members and functions are aligned behind the objectives and are working together on delivery of Execution activities, facilitating the removal of roadblocks, and holding team members accountable.
• Set challenging project team goals and ensure that best practices are used to attain these goals.
• Proactively identifies risks and challenges and escalates appropriately.
• Deliver a seamless transition into later stages of development by ensuring early planning and cross-functional involvement / communication in early product development strategy.
• Create a positive team environment that instills trust and ensures clear transparent communications and unifies the team behind the overall goal / vision for the project. Instill a sense of urgency and a strong can-do attitude in team members.
• Coach leaders and key talent within team to accomplish goals, monitor team performance, and develop team members.
• Collaborate closely with the Product Manager to drive product lifecycle.
• Propose best practices and implementation of lessons learned for optimal cross-functional collaborations.
• Lead process improvement, and change management, initiatives across the business to drive the highest quality results.
• Challenge the team and organization to ensure that the best possible performance is achieved.
• Encourage creative or unconventional ideas and ensure that these are exploited by the team, as appropriate.
• Comply with FMI's attendance policies.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a life sciences field, business, engineering, or a related field
• 12+ years’ experience in program execution, including end-to-end product lifecycle with at least 5 years in biotechnology

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in a life sciences field, business, engineering or a related field
• Detailed knowledge of and proven track record in clinical diagnostic product development, including:
• Regulatory and Quality systems frameworks for design controls, validations, manufacturing, and lab processes
• Management of complex systems and programs with an ability to make effective decisions based on available data
• Understanding of clinical diagnostic markets and customers and translating customer requirements to product design
• Expertise in building relationships based on trust both internal and external to an organization
• Experience leading within a matrix environment and inspiring and guiding teams to deliver results
• Leads with an enterprise mindset and leverages understanding of broad organization
• Builds and grow team members, ensuring they are equipped to execute effectively
• Will “roll up their sleeves” and do work that needs to be done on a small, scrappy team
• Communicates powerfully, to influence at all levels of the company
• Has a bias for action, with a “win as a team” approach
• Operates with a clear vision of what is at stake for patients
• Understanding of HIPAA and the importance of patient data privacy
• Commitment to reflect FMI’s values: Integrity, Courage, and Passion

The expected salary range for this position at Director level based on the primary location of Boston, MA is $177,440 - $221,800 per year. The expected salary range for this position at the Sr Director level based on the primary location of Boston, MA is $216,640 - $273,300. The salary range is commensurate with Foundation Medicine’s compensation practice and considers factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, external market conditions, criticality of role, and internal equity. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for Foundation Medicine's benefits.