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Senior Director/Vice President, Product Development

Emeryville, CA

Our north star is to make healthcare more accessible around the world. We are doing this by advancing cell biology to develop innovative solutions for human health.

Founded in 2012, and located in one of the largest biotech hubs in the world, Slingshot Biosciences is a growing life sciences company with a platform technology and paradigm-shifting mission to make synthetic cells the gold standard for all cell-based applications.  We currently have a suite of products that allow for rapid, stable instrument deployment and are poised to make headway into clinical markets with controls for engineered cell therapies.

At Slingshot, we value diversity and believe that a variety of backgrounds and experiences leads to more innovative ideas and a better understanding of our customers. Passion is at the core of our values, and employees are encouraged to pursue their passions in their work and contribute to the company's overall mission.

We desire motivated team members who appreciate the freedom to be creative and think outside the box to solve problems.  We offer an environment where employees are empowered to take ownership of their work, and have the ability to quickly contribute new ideas and iterate on current processes.  In everything we do, we are dedicated to delivering top-quality products and services to our customers which ultimately makes a significant impact on patient care.

We are looking for an experienced, bold leader that seamlessly navigates the dynamic, fast-paced environment at Slingshot as well the external, ever-burgeoning field of cell-based medicine. In everything we do, we are dedicated to delivering top-quality products to positively impact patient care, worldwide. The scientific requirements of this role lie at the intersection of microfluidics, material science, polymer chemistry, engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology and automation. The individual will be responsible for overseeing a talented team that is driving innovation in each of these areas, as well as supporting on-site delivery of product to Fortune 50 healthcare customers. An ideal candidate will have worked in a fast-paced environment servicing a similar need and will have domain expertise in one of the core technical areas. Process experience is a plus, including technology transfer, manufacturing, quality and design controls. 

This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and will be a key member of the leadership team. This position is also fully on-site, with no travel required.

Responsibilities 

  • Operations:
    • Lead and scale operations. Innovatively push the boundaries of capacity, scale, and product technical features under the quality guidance of ISO and cGMP. 
    • Plan, budget and efficiently scale the company’s operations across all custom and catalog products. 
  • Technical Expertise:
    • Subject Matter Expert in polymer chemistry, biochemistry, microfluidics, engineering, hydrogel biophysics.
    • KOL and SME with industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices relevant to the field.
    • Innovate and Deliver to customer needs in all areas. 
  • Communication and Reporting:
    • Collaborate with leadership and work closely with the executive team, including board members, to align operational and research strategies with company goals. 
    • Develop and manage a technical roadmap tied to product development with full ownership of P&L and budgeting responsibilities.
  • Team Leadership:
    • Oversee recruitment and development of world-class teams, fostering a culture of leadership, positivity, accountability, and collaboration across all teams.
    • Build and maintain a high performance team across key disciplines (biochemistry, process engineering, manufacturing, engineering, microfluidics and physics)
Qualifications
  • PhD of Advanced Degree in Life Sciences or Engineering
  • 10+ years of experience in a leadership role, in a fast-paced environment (startup-experience is heavily preferred). 
  • Proven track record of scaling operations and building/maintaining a high performance team. 
  • Subject matter expert in polymer chemistry, microfluidics, engineering, physics, biochemistry, or organic chemistry.
  • Experience in process development, scaling, and tech transfer from R&D to manufacturing under design control.
  • Experience with quality systems, requirements, and ownership with past experience representing quality frameworks to external customers and auditors. 
  • Proficiency in using and troubleshooting various tools, equipment, and software related to the job.
  • Excellent and hands-on, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
  • Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
 
Our salary ranges are calculated by role and level. Your position within that range will be determined by your job-related knowledge, skills, experience, relevant education, and training/certifications. In addition to those factors, we also examine internal equity as well as consider current market rate, and title may be assessed one level lower or higher accordingly. After you join the company your performance, contributions, and results along with business and organizational needs will affect your base salary. The base salary range for this full-time position is between $215,000 - $275,000 + equity + benefits.

What we offer at Slingshot:

  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan (401k)
  • Stock Option Plan
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation & Sick)
  • Family Leave
  • Life Insurance
  • Fully stocked break room with food, snacks and beverages

Slingshot Biosciences requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation. Proof of such vaccination will be required as part of the hiring process.

Slingshot Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. 

 

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