Bio-Rad Laboratories

VP, R&D, Molecular Assay Development

Bio-Rad Laboratories • $278K — $400K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.
  • 12+ years of progressive leadership in IVD/diagnostics R&D, specifically in assay/reagent development.
  • Proven experience delivering molecular assays from concept through launch readiness, including design and validation phases.
  • Expert knowledge of FDA QSR/ISO 13485, IVDR/CE regulatory frameworks with a strong audit readiness perspective.
  • Deep technical understanding of various molecular assay chemistries and workflows.

Responsibilities

  • Set strategic direction for Global Assay Development, focusing on multi-year investment across assay modalities.
  • Own phase-gate governance and establish organization-wide development standards and quality thresholds.
  • Serve as R&D executive sponsor for design-control governance and major submission processes with regulatory bodies.
  • Determine technology strategy, evaluating build versus buy versus partner options for assay science advancements.
  • Manage organizational operating plan, budget, and talent strategy, directly overseeing high-stakes technical decisions.
  • Facilitate alignment between Systems/Instrument R&D and other functional leads to resolve program-level conflicts.
  • Represent Global Assay Development in executive meetings, articulating portfolio health and investment strategies.
  • Translate industry trends into strategic investment recommendations for the assay portfolio.

Benefits

  • Competitive medical plans for employees and families.
  • Free Health Savings Account (HSA) funding.
  • New fertility assistance offering with stipend.
  • Group life and disability insurance coverage.
  • Paid parental leave for new parents.
  • 401k plan with profit sharing options.
  • Employee stock purchase program availability.
  • Streamlined mental health support platform.
  • Extensive professional development and learning opportunities.
  • Education benefits and support for student debt relief.
Full Job Description
Overview

Leads the Global Assay Development organization (US/EU) within Bio-Rad's Clinical Diagnostics Group, setting multi- modality portfolio strategy and translating it into robust, scalable IVD assays—with particular depth in molecular (PCR, real-time PCR, digital PCR, and sequencing-based) diagnostics. Owns assay development governance (phase-gate, metrics, and risk reviews) at the portfolio level and is the final escalation point for technical, quality, regulatory, and supply constraints that cross platform or functional lines. Owns the organization's operating plan, budget, and talent strategy, directly managing and developing Sr. Directors, and represents Global Assay Development to Quality/Regulatory and executive leadership on design control strategy supporting FDA/IVDR/CE submissions and audits.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

  • Set the strategic direction and multi-year investment strategy for the Global Assay Development organization across all assay modalities — with particular depth in molecular (PCR, real-time PCR, digital PCR, and sequencing-based) diagnostics — partnering with Business Unit leaders, Marketing, and Finance to commit R&D investment against growth, margin, and menu-expansion targets.
  • Own the phase-gate governance framework, org-wide development standards, and analytical/clinical performance bar across all assay modalities, setting the go/no-go criteria and quality thresholds that Sr. Directors and Directors execute against.
  • Serve as the R&D executive sponsor for design-control governance, representing Global Assay Development to Quality/Regulatory leadership and to FDA/IVDR/CE auditors and inspectors on major submissions and inspections.
  • Set the multi-year technology strategy for emerging assay science across all modalities, deciding where the organization builds proprietary capability versus partners, licenses, or acquires — approving major make/buy/partner and licensing decisions and leading executive-level technical due diligence with Legal/Corporate Development.
  • Own the organization's operating plan, budget, and talent strategy; build and scale world-class technical leadership across all modalities, and personally engage on the highest-risk, highest-visibility technical and clinical-readiness decisions that carry portfolio-wide or company-level risk.
  • Hold peer-level accountability with Systems/Instrument R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial leadership to align the integrated systems roadmap, resolving conflicts that Sr. Directors cannot resolve at the program level.
  • Represent Global Assay Development to the CDG executive team and Bio-Rad leadership, owning the narrative on portfolio health, investment tradeoffs, and risk, and defending resourcing decisions at the executive level.
  • Own competitive and scientific intelligence for the assay portfolio, translating industry, scientific, and IVD-market trends into executive-level recommendations on where to invest, divest, or accelerate.
  • Set relative investment priority and resource allocation across assay modalities (molecular, immunoassay, clinical chemistry, and other platforms) within the Global Assay Development portfolio, balancing growth, margin, and menu expansion goals org-wide.

What You Bring:

  • Education: Masters degree or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline (required).
  • Work Experience: 12+ years of progressive leadership in IVD/diagnostics R&D, including significant experience leading assay/reagent development organizations, with particular depth in molecular (PCR, digital PCR, isothermal, or sequencing-based) platforms (required).
  • Demonstrated track record delivering molecular assays (PCR-based, digital PCR, or sequencing-based) from concept through transfer, including design inputs/outputs, verification/validation, and launch readiness (required).
  • Deep knowledge of regulated development and quality systems (FDA QSR/ISO 13485, IVDR/CE), with a strong inspection/audit readiness mindset (expert level).
  • Deep technical fluency in molecular assay chemistries and workflows (qPCR/dPCR, multiplex PCR, isothermal amplification, NGS library prep, and nucleic acid extraction), sufficient to make informed organization-wide technical strategy and risk decisions (expert level).
  • Proven ability to lead globally distributed, cross-functional teams and influence at the executive level; strong strategic, communication, and talent-development skills (expert level).
  • Assay development governance, standards-setting, and design-control strategy, including phase-gate planning, metrics, risk reviews, and compliance strategy across a global, multi-modality program portfolio (expert level).
  • Technology and portfolio strategy, including evaluation and maturation of enabling technologies, build/buy/partner/licensing decision-making, and external partnerships across all assay modalities (expert level).
  • Business acumen, including multi-year investment strategy and P&L trade-off analysis across a global, multi-modality organization (expert level).

Location: This position must be based in Hercules, CA and requires the employee to be located within commuting distance of the office.

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available for candidates who require relocation for this position, in accordance with company policy and business needs.

Total Rewards Package: At Bio-Rad, were empowered by our purpose and recognize that our employees are as well. Thats why we offer a competitive and comprehensive Total Rewards Program that provides value, quality, and inclusivity while satisfying the diverse needs of our evolving workforce. Bio-Rad's robust offerings serve to enrich the overall health, wealth, and wellbeing of our employees and their families through the various stages of an employees work and life cycle.

Benefits: Were proud to offer a variety of options, including competitive medical plans for you and your family, free HSA funds, a new fertility offering with stipend, group life and disability, paid parental leave, 401k plus profit sharing, an employee stock purchase program, a new upgraded and streamlined mental health platform, extensive learning and development opportunities, education benefits, student debt relief program, pet insurance, wellness challenges and support, paid time off, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and more!

Compensation: The estimated base salary range for this position is $278,000 to $400,000 at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if applicable, and is based on several factors we believe fairly and accurately impact compensation, including geographic location, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other job permitted factors. This position is eligible for a variable annual bonus, which is dependent upon achievement of your individual objectives and Company performance.

About Bio-Rad Laboratories

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is an American multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products. The company was founded in 1952 in Berkeley, California, by husband and wife team David and Alice Schwartz. The company is a member of the S&P 400 index and has its headquarters in Hercules, California. Bio-Rad's products are used for research and development in the life science market, as well as in clinical diagnostics and industrial markets.
Learn more about Bio-Rad Laboratories
Size
7,900 employees
Market Cap
$12.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.8 billion
5 Year Trend
+7.2%
Revenue
$2.5 billion
NASDAQ

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