Senior Director, Bioinformatics & Data Analytics - Exagen Inc.

Exagen is a patient-focused and discovery-driven life sciences company dedicated to transforming the care continuum for patients suffering from debilitating and chronic autoimmune diseases.  Our goal is to enable rheumatologists to improve care for patients through the differential diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of complex autoimmune and autoimmune-related diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.  By leveraging our proprietary Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products, or CB-CAPs, technology, we help get to the real cause of a patient’s symptoms and guide their journey to improved health.

Exagen Inc. is seeking a dynamic leader in computational biology and data analytics to helm our endeavors in diagnostic testing within the realm of autoimmune diseases. As a trailblazer in the biotech sector and bolstered by our status as a publicly traded entity, our ambition is to craft a comprehensive bio-computing infrastructure. This endeavor aims to harness the vast potential of extensive clinical datasets alongside AI, paving the way from diagnostic breakthroughs to therapeutic innovations. The role of the Senior Director of Bioinformatics & Data Analytics is pivotal, tasked with sculpting the bioinformatics blueprint essential for groundbreaking target discovery and translational science endeavors. In this capacity, you will orchestrate a team of exceptional bioinformaticians and biostatisticians, steering efforts in target identification, biomarker unveiling, and patient stratification.

Your leadership will be instrumental in formulating a research strategy that spans the entirety of our organization. Collaborating closely with both internal teams and esteemed external KOLs, you will guide expansive translational clinical projects. Your vision will illuminate the molecular intricacies of human autoimmune conditions and the complexities of treatment evasion, setting the stage for the identification and validation of innovative therapeutic targets via meticulous omics data analysis and subsequent empirical verifications.

This position offers a unique vantage point in a high-energy, synergistic environment, backed by sustained funding. It presents a golden opportunity to engage with top-tier biologists, clinicians, and AI specialists. Together, you will revolutionize the entire pharmaceutical development process, leveraging big data and AI's transformative potential.

• Strategic Leadership and Vision: Develop and implement comprehensive bioinformatics and data analytics strategies that aligns with the organization’s goals in diagnostic testing and therapeutic innovations within the autoimmune disease sector. Lead the charge in establishing a state-of-the-art bio-computing infrastructure that leverages AI and extensive clinical datasets for diagnostic breakthroughs.
• Team Management and Development: Oversee, recruit, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of bioinformaticians and biostatisticians. Ensure the team's continuous professional growth and its ability to contribute to target identification, biomarker discovery, and patient stratification efforts effectively.
• Collaborative Research and Innovation: Foster collaborative research initiatives across the organization and with external Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in the field. Drive translational projects from conception through to validation, focusing on uncovering insights into human autoimmune diseases and treatment resistances.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Direct the analysis of omics data to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Ensure the integration of bioinformatics tools and statistical methods to interpret complex datasets accurately, leading to actionable insights.
• Translational Science and Target Validation: Spearhead the translational efforts to bridge the gap between bioinformatics findings and clinical applications. Support the empirical validation of identified targets and biomarkers, facilitating their transition into clinical trials and therapeutic development.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with biologists, clinicians, and laboratory specialists to enhance new product development processes. Ensure that bioinformatics strategies are fully integrated with the broader research and development efforts, optimizing the use of big data and AI for innovative outcomes.
• Funding and Resource Allocation: Manage and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that projects are well-supported and aligned with organizational priorities. Advocate for sustained funding by demonstrating the value and potential impact of bioinformatics research on the company’s mission.
• Publication and Communication: Promote the visibility through publications in high-impact journals and presentations at international conferences. Communicate complex bioinformatics concepts and results to a broad audience, including non-specialists and executive leadership, to foster an environment of shared understanding and goals.

• Educational Background: PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Work Experience: At least 8 years of post-graduate experience in bioinformatics or computational biology, with a proven track record in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in the analysis of large-scale biological data sets, including but not limited to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data.
• Management Experience: Demonstrated experience leading and managing a team of bioinformatics scientists and biostatisticians.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with experience in leading complex research projects from inception to completion.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex bioinformatics concepts to diverse audiences, including non-experts and senior stakeholders.
• Publication Record: A strong record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Software Proficiency: High level of proficiency in bioinformatics software, databases, and programming languages such as R or Python.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry Leadership: Recognized leader in the field of bioinformatics with a strong network among academia and industry professionals.
• Cross-disciplinary Collaboration: Experience in working with multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, laboratory and data scientists, and AI specialists to drive innovation in drug discovery.
• Business Acumen: Understanding of the commercial aspects of the biotech industry, including intellectual property, regulatory considerations, and market dynamics.
• Innovative Thinking: Demonstrated ability to innovate and stay abreast of the latest scientific and technological advancements in bioinformatics.
• NGS Expertise: In-depth experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis and interpretation.
• Strategic Planning: Experience in strategic planning and execution of long-term bioinformatics research goals.
• Personal Achievements: Evidence of thought leadership through awards, keynote speeches at significant conferences, or participation in influential industry panels.
• Mentorship: Proven track record in mentoring junior scientists and fostering career development.

Salary range: $200,000 - $255,000