Vice President, Core Product Management

Illumina; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 279,000 - 418,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to genomics sequencing

Family planning

Health/dental/vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Illumina is seeking a strategic VP of Product Management to lead global portfolio strategy, lifecycle execution, and commercial success across research to clinical workflows. The role partners with R&D, regulatory, quality, and regional teams to translate scientific innovation into differentiated products.

Candidates should bring extensive leadership experience in biotech and a strong enterprise mindset. Based in the United States (California/San Diego), this senior role requires a track record

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field required.
• 15–20 years in product/portfolio leadership in biotechnology, life sciences, or related regulated industries.
• 10+ years of people leadership, including senior product managers or cross-functional teams.
• Experience partnering with R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, and regional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define global product strategy, vision, roadmap, and investment priorities for the portfolio.
• Translate market trends and customer needs into differentiated product priorities.
• Lead lifecycle from concept to launch, growth, maturity, and rationalization.
• Own product-level performance, including revenue growth, margins, and market share.
• Lead, develop and scale a high-performing Product Management team.
• Influence across functions and regions to align priorities with enterprise goals.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Portfolio management

Biotech domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences / related field

MBA / PhD / MD or master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life‑changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary The Vice President, Product Management will lead the strategy, roadmap, lifecycle management, and commercial success of a high‑impact biotechnology product portfolio. This leader will serve as the enterprise product owner for a complex, matrixed business, partnering closely with R&D, Business Units, Market Access/Customer Insights, Operations, Regulatory, Clinical, Quality, Finance, and regional teams to translate market needs, customer workflows, and scientific innovation into differentiated products and solutions. This role requires a strategic, customer‑obsessed, commercially minded product leader who can operate at the intersection of science, technology, clinical/research workflows, and business execution. The VP will be accountable for shaping product vision, prioritizing investment decisions, driving portfolio performance, and building a high‑performing Product Management organization capable of delivering growth, innovation, and customer impact in a transforming biotech environment.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

Define and lead the global product strategy, vision, roadmap, and investment priorities for the assigned portfolio. Translate enterprise strategy, market trends, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and emerging science into clear product priorities. Own product lifecycle management from concept through development, launch, growth, maturity, and rationalization. Make disciplined portfolio trade‑offs based on market opportunity, customer value, technical feasibility, regulatory requirements, financial return, and strategic fit. Partner with Business Units, R&D, and other Commercial leaders to ensure the product portfolio supports growth, profitability, and long‑term competitive differentiation. Establish clear portfolio governance, decision rights, and product operating rhythms across the matrix.

Customer, Market & Scientific Insight

Build a deep understanding of customer workflows across research, clinical, diagnostic, biopharma, translational, and applied markets. Ensure product decisions are grounded in voice‑of‑customer, market intelligence, competitive insight, and real‑world customer pain points. Partner with Market Research, Commercial, Scientific Affairs, and regional teams to identify unmet needs, market expansion opportunities, and customer adoption barriers. Serve as an external‑facing product leader with key customers, KOLs, strategic partners, and industry stakeholders. Anticipate shifts in biotechnology, genomics, diagnostics, data/AI, automation, and workflow integration that may create new product or platform opportunities.

Cross‑Functional Product Execution

Partner closely with R&D, Engineering, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing, Commercial, Finance, and regional teams to advance product priorities. Drive clear product requirements, business cases, launch readiness, and lifecycle plans. Ensure strong alignment between product strategy, technical development, regulatory pathways, manufacturability, customer experience, and go‑to‑market execution. Create clarity in a matrixed environment by defining roles, decision rights, escalation paths, and accountability across functions. Remove barriers, resolve trade‑offs, and ensure timely decision‑making on critical product and portfolio issues.

Commercial & Financial Performance

Own product‑level business performance, including revenue growth, margin contribution, adoption, retention, portfolio health, and market share. Partner with Commercial, Finance, and Pricing teams on pricing strategy, segmentation, forecasting, and revenue planning. Support launch excellence through clear positioning, value proposition, claims strategy where applicable, customer training, sales enablement, and regional readiness. Partner with Commercial teams to understand field feedback, customer adoption patterns, competitive pressure, and product performance in market. Use data and business metrics to evaluate product success and adjust priorities as needed.

Product Organization Leadership

Lead, develop, and scale a high‑performing Product Management team. Build product management capability, discipline, and consistency across portfolio strategy, lifecycle management, roadmap planning, business case development, and cross‑functional execution. Coach product leaders to operate strategically, influence across the matrix, and make enterprise‑minded trade‑offs. Create a culture of customer focus, accountability, inclusion, scientific curiosity, speed, and strong business judgment. Establish tools, processes, and operating mechanisms that improve product decision‑making, transparency, and execution quality.

Enterprise Leadership & Matrix Effectiveness

Serve as a senior enterprise leader who can influence across functions, regions, and business units. Partner effectively with senior leaders to align product priorities with broader transformation, innovation, and growth objectives. Model enterprise mindset by balancing functional, regional, commercial, technical, and customer priorities. Build trust and credibility across technical and commercial stakeholders. Lead through ambiguity, complexity, and change with clear communication, sound judgment, and strong follow‑through.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, biotechnology, molecular biology, genomics, engineering, chemistry, bioinformatics, business, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred; MBA, PhD, MD, or master’s degree in a relevant scientific or business discipline strongly valued.
• Typically requires 15–-20 years of progressive experience in product management, portfolio management, general management, commercial strategy, or related leadership roles in biotechnology, life sciences, diagnostics, medical technology, genomics, biopharma, or adjacent regulated industries.
• Typically requires 10 or more years of people leadership experience, including leadership of senior product managers or cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated success leading complex product portfolios across multiple lifecycle stages.
• Strong understanding of product development, commercialization, customer workflows, market segmentation, pricing, forecasting, and lifecycle management.
• Experience partnering with R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Finance, and regional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Track record of translating customer and market insights into differentiated product strategies and measurable business outcomes.
• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in genomics, sequencing, diagnostics, proteomics, multiomics, clinical workflows, bioinformatics, life sciences instrumentation, assays, software, or integrated workflow solutions.
• Experience managing global product portfolios and regional market differences.
• Experience in both research‑use‑only and clinical or regulated product environments.
• Familiarity with FDA, IVDR, CLIA/CAP, ISO, or other relevant regulatory and quality environments, depending on portfolio scope.
• Experience leading product strategy through business transformation, acquisition integration, portfolio rationalization, or operating model change.
• Experience building product management operating models, talent capability, and scalable portfolio governance.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

• Strategic enterprise thinking– Connects product strategy to enterprise growth, innovation, and market position.
• Customer‑back mindset– Deeply understands customer workflows, pain points, and unmet needs.
• Commercial judgment– Balances scientific innovation with market relevance, financial performance, and adoption.
• Matrix leadership – Creates clarity, alignment, and accountability across functions without relying solely on authority.
• Portfolio discipline– Makes thoughtful trade‑offs and prioritizes resources against highest‑value opportunities.
• Execution orientation – Moves from strategy to action with strong operating rhythms and follow‑through.
• Talent leadership– Builds and develops strong product leaders and cross‑functional teams.
• Change leadership– Leads effectively through transformation, ambiguity, and evolving business priorities.

Success Measures

• Product portfolio growth, revenue, margin, and market share performance.
• Quality and clarity of product strategy, roadmap, and lifecycle plans.
• Improved portfolio prioritization and investment discipline.
• Successful product launches and adoption in target customer segments.
• Stronger alignment across Product, R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Operations, and regions.
• Increased customer satisfaction, workflow relevance, and product differentiation.
• Improved product management capability, talent depth, and team effectiveness.
• Clearer decision rights and accountability across the product matrix.

The estimated base salary range for the Vice President, Core Product Management role based in the United States of America is: $278,800 - $418,200. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long‑term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

• access to genomics sequencing
• family planning
• health/dental/vision
• retirement benefits
• paid time off

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.

Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics.

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The potential of genomics to change the world is unparalleled. At Illumina, we are leading the way. Our technology empowers researchers and clinicians globally to improve cancer treatments, change the course of diseases, protect the environment, and fight food insecurity. We are made up of dedicated professionals, all‑in on creating a better world – and we need every skill set on our path to making genomics useful for all. Learn more about life at Illumina.