Director, Program Management at Freenome

Why join Freenome?

Freenome is a high-growth biotech company developing tests to detect cancer using a standard blood draw. To do this, Freenome uses a multiomics platform that combines tumor and non-tumor signals with machine learning to find cancer in its earliest, most-treatable stages. 

Cancer is relentless. This is why Freenome is building the clinical, economic, and operational evidence to drive cancer screening and save lives. Our first screening test is for colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced adenomas, and it’s just the beginning. 

Founded in 2014, Freenome has ~400 employees and continues to grow to match the scope of our ambitions to provide access to better screening and earlier cancer detection.  

At Freenome, we aim to impact patients by empowering everyone to prevent, detect, and treat their disease. This, together with our high-performing culture of respect and cross-collaboration, is what motivates us to make every day count.

Become a Freenomer

Do you have what it takes to be a Freenomer? A “Freenomer” is a determined, mission-driven, results-oriented employee fueled by the opportunity to change the landscape of cancer and make a positive impact on patients’ lives. Freenomers bring their diverse experience, expertise, and personal perspective to solve problems and push to achieve what’s possible, one breakthrough at a time.

About this opportunity:

The Director, Program Management is responsible for planning and driving the execution of primary clinical product development programs for the company. This responsibility extends to overseeing the series of R&D initiatives, lab operations projects, and business-critical initiatives as dependencies of the program. You will serve as a functional manager for the new product initiative program managers and ensure the team’s framework and principles as a center of excellence for the broader organization.

The role reports to the Senior Director of Program Management. This role will be a Hybrid role based in our Brisbane, California headquarters. 

What you’ll do:

Drive Strategic Programs and Projects:

• Responsible for driving the cross-functional In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) product development programs
• Maintain a sustainable balance of workload and resources to deliver executive-level program status, decision trade-offs, or priorities to senior executive leadership
  
• Ownership over the list of dependent projects needed to deliver against integrated, detailed plans within budget and timelines by highlighting trade-offs and co-dependencies to meet overall goals and timelines
• Enable proactive communication in collaboration with functional directors and managers to assure integration of project, company, and functional goals towards achieving project milestones and timetables
  
• Develop, track, and analyze the project’s key performance indicators (KPIs), including the effectiveness of technical strategies, regulatory pathways, clinical development progress, project execution, and product development risks (adherence to schedule, scope, resources), to provide management detailed status updates
  
• Maintain oversight of all phases of the product development process (PDP) from Concept to Launch. Understanding of Design Control principles and managing gate-keeping, design freezes, design reviews, change control, sign-offs, etc.
  
• Organize regular team meetings to drive progress, track and mitigate risks, resolve/escalate issues, and review action items
  
• Generate the necessary documentation and assist teams with creating project plans, protocols, reports, etc.
  

Team and Skill Development:

• Lead a sustainable program function and cross-functional training to coach and partner with functions on the use of Project Management methodologies
  
• Recruit, train, manage and develop a diverse team of Program Managers, who can each lead individual project teams to success and growth within the organization
  
• Implement training and best practices for the Program Management team, introduce process excellence across the organization to improve overall performance and empowerment of teams

Must haves:

• Undergraduate degree in molecular biology, genetics, or closely related field, advanced degree preferred
  
• At least eight years of experience in medical diagnostics or biotech
  
• At least five years of program management experience with at least three years in a management or leadership role
  
• Experience leading the development of IVDs and interactions with FDA - Center of Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) regulators/reviewers
  
• Direct experience with laboratory testing or clinical study operations from a diagnostics perspective
  
• Solid understanding of systems biology or computational biology, ideally cancer biology
  
• Demonstrated track record of excelling in a process-driven function
  
• Demonstration of measurably improving organizational success and processes
  
• Demonstration of leading complex trade-off decisions between functions
  
• Experience leading the development of decision frameworks and approaches to drive prioritization
  
• Demonstrated success in presenting to executive-level audiences to facilitate decision making
  

Nice to haves:

• Systems engineering, bioengineering, or regulated software development experience for healthcare or medical devices
  
• Certification or formal training in Program Management and experience using resource management tools
  

Benefits and additional information:

The US target range of our base salary/hourly rate for new hires is $197,200.00 - $304,000.00. You will also be eligible to receive pre-IPO equity, cash bonuses, and a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the position offered.  Please note that individual total compensation for this position will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion and may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to, location, skill level, years and depth of relevant experience, and education. We invite you to check out our career page @ freenome.com/job-openings/ for additional company information.  

Freenome is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, and we value diversity. Freenome does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.  

• Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

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