Director, Translational Sciences
Natera · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $193,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead translational validation for immuno-oncology therapies.
- Direct external CRO and academic partnerships.
- Generate data for pre-clinical to clinical transition.
- Develop internal translational research capabilities.
- Mentor scientific staff and drive program recommendations.
About the role
Position Summary
Lead translational functional validation for Natera’s Therapeutics & Innovations group. You will direct external Contract Research Organization (CRO) and academic partnerships to advance our immuno-oncology therapies, generating the decision-enabling data needed to move from pre-clinical research to clinical impact. Every sample represents a real person, and the data you generate will directly shape therapeutic development. While initial work relies on external partners, you will evaluate the 'build vs. buy' roadmap and take ownership of building Natera’s internal translational research capabilities over time.
Primary Responsibilities
- Own the external pre-clinical research model, leading CRO and academic partnerships for functional validation, including immunogenicity, Mechanism of Action (MOA), and T-cell assays.
- Define experimental strategies, frameworks, and govern partner performance through rigorous statements of work (SOWs) and budgets; use data to identify risks and take ownership of corrective actions.
- Direct immune functional assays and lead the experimental validation of targets and biomarkers identified by AI/ML platforms using patient-derived samples.
- Incorporate high-throughput screening to validate drug-target interactions, ensuring data packages meet internal, regulatory, and clinical translation standards.
- Think team by partnering directly with R&D, Clinical Development, and Regulatory to align assay outputs with milestones without needing translation layers.
- Build a scalable external network across immunology and tumor biology while developing a long-term roadmap to establish an internal wet-lab engine.
- Deliver unvarnished, data-backed updates to leadership, translating complex results into direct, actionable program recommendations.
- Mentor scientific staff and contractors, fostering a rigorous, outcome-focused culture as the function scales.
Qualifications
- PhD (or equivalent) in Immunology, Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field, with 8+ years of post-graduate experience in biotech, pharma, or translational academic settings; or an MS with 12+ years of directly relevant experience.
- Proven track record of managing complex external research programs and building translational research capabilities.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Deep expertise in immuno-oncology, immune functional assays, and mechanistic evaluation.
- Experience with high-dimensional data (e.g., single-cell sequencing) to validate AI-driven insights.
- Proven track record leading externalized R&D through CROs, managing governance, experimental design, and milestone delivery.
- Strong project management capabilities spanning scoping, budgeting, and risk management across parallel studies.
- Experience with assay development, transfer, and reproducibility best practices, treating quality as a standard.
- Clear communication skills to influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
- Operate without a finished playbook, applying an ownership mindset to build or buy capabilities as the science dictates.
- Expertise in neoantigen biology, antigen presentation validation, or tumor model systems is preferred.
OUR OPPORTUNITY
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives. The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.
What We Offer
- Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws. If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/
Important Information Regarding Scams
Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes. For More Information: BBB announcement on job scams, FBI Cyber Crime resource page.
Key skills/competency
- Director, Translational Sciences
- Immuno-oncology
- Functional Validation
- CRO Management
- Biomarker Development
- Assay Development
- Pre-clinical Research
- Project Management
- Translational Research
- Leadership
Skills & topics
- Director Translational Sciences
- Immuno-oncology
- CRO Management
- Biomarker Development
- Assay Development
- Translational Research
- Pre-clinical Research
- Biotech
- Pharma
- Leadership
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in immuno-oncology, CRO management, and translational research.
- Showcase leadership: Emphasize your track record in directing complex external programs and building capabilities.
- Demonstrate scientific expertise: Detail your knowledge of immune functional assays and AI-driven insights.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss your ownership mindset and cross-functional collaboration.
- Research Natera: Understand their mission in personalized genetic testing and diagnostics.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Director, Translational Sciences role at Natera?
- The Director, Translational Sciences at Natera will lead the functional validation of immuno-oncology therapies. This involves managing external partnerships with CROs and academic institutions to generate critical data for advancing therapies from pre-clinical research to clinical impact. The role also includes evaluating and building Natera's internal translational research capabilities.
- What are the key responsibilities for a Director, Translational Sciences at Natera?
- Key responsibilities include owning the external pre-clinical research model, managing CRO and academic partnerships for functional validation (immunogenicity, MOA, T-cell assays), defining experimental strategies, governing partner performance, directing immune functional assays, incorporating high-throughput screening, and collaborating with R&D, Clinical Development, and Regulatory teams. The role also involves building external networks and establishing an internal wet-lab engine, alongside mentoring scientific staff and providing data-backed recommendations to leadership.
- What qualifications are essential for the Director, Translational Sciences position at Natera?
- Candidates require a PhD (or equivalent) in Immunology, Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field with 8+ years of post-graduate experience in biotech, pharma, or translational academic settings, or an MS with 12+ years of relevant experience. A proven track record in managing complex external research programs and building translational research capabilities is crucial.
- What specific scientific expertise is needed for this role at Natera?
- Deep expertise in immuno-oncology, immune functional assays, and mechanistic evaluation is required. Experience with high-dimensional data like single-cell sequencing for validating AI-driven insights, assay development, transfer, and reproducibility best practices are also important. Expertise in neoantigen biology, antigen presentation validation, or tumor model systems is preferred.
- How does Natera ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance in translational science?
- Natera ensures data integrity and compliance by incorporating high-throughput screening to validate drug-target interactions, ensuring that data packages meet internal, regulatory, and clinical translation standards. Rigorous statements of work (SOWs) and budgets are defined for partners, with data used to identify risks and implement corrective actions. The role emphasizes clear communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Regulatory, to align assay outputs with critical milestones.
- What is Natera's approach to building internal translational research capabilities?
- Natera's approach involves evaluating a 'build vs. buy' roadmap. While initial work relies on external partners, the Director, Translational Sciences will take ownership of building Natera’s internal translational research capabilities over time. This includes developing a long-term roadmap to establish an internal wet-lab engine and building a scalable external network across immunology and tumor biology.
- How does Natera approach remote work for this Director role?
- This Director, Translational Sciences role is designated as 'Remote USA'. Natera is committed to enabling its employees to do their best work, and the company offers competitive benefits to support its remote workforce.
- What kind of leadership and mentorship is expected from the Director, Translational Sciences?
- The Director is expected to mentor scientific staff and contractors, fostering a rigorous, outcome-focused culture as the function scales. They will also deliver data-backed updates to leadership, translating complex results into direct, actionable program recommendations, and operate with an ownership mindset to build capabilities as science dictates.