Location: Hybrid in San Carlos, CA preferred but US Remote is considered
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Associate Director, CDx Partnership Program Management with a proven track record across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships, ideally with 10+ CDx deals/programs successfully advanced from deal evaluation through execution and delivery.
This individual will serve as a senior Program Management leader across our growing portfolio of pharmaceutical CDx partnerships and bring the depth of experience and judgment needed to evaluate, structure, and operationalize complex CDx opportunities.
The role will work at the intersection of Program Management, Business Development, Finance, CDx development teams, and pharmaceutical partners; providing the programmatic and operational expertise needed to ensure potential deals are feasible, appropriately scoped and costed, and translated into executable programs.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a senior Program Management lead and trusted advisor for pharmaceutical CDx partnerships, bringing deep experience and judgment from managing a broad portfolio of complex CDx collaborations.
- Partner with Business Development to evaluate new CDx opportunities before deal execution, assessing feasibility, scope, timelines, resource requirements, risks, and cost to ensure proposed partnerships are operationally viable
- Serve as a senior external-facing Program Management contact for pharmaceutical partners, building strong relationships and leading effective program governance and strategic discussions.
- Translate partner strategy, priorities, expectations, and commitments into clear direction and context for internal CDx Program Managers and cross-functional teams.
- Maintain a portfolio-level view across multiple pharma partnerships and CDx programs, identifying cross-program risks, resource needs, financial implications, and opportunities for improved planning.
- Partner closely with CDx Program Managers who own detailed development planning and execution, ensuring alignment between external commitments and internal delivery.
- Identify and escalate gaps between partner expectations, contractual scope, budget, timelines, and development realities before they impact the partnership or program.
- Help establish scalable frameworks, governance models, and best practices to support continued growth of the CDx pharma partnership portfolio.
Qualifications
- Extensive, hands-on experience across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships, ideally with 10+ CDx deals/programs successfully advanced from deal evaluation through execution and delivery.
- Deep understanding of the CDx/IVD development lifecycle and the activities, timelines, regulatory considerations, resources, and costs required to develop and deliver a companion diagnostic.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating and operationalizing new CDx opportunities, including scope, costing, budgeting, resource planning, and deal feasibility assessment.
- Significant experience working directly with pharmaceutical partners and senior/executive stakeholders in complex, high-visibility partnerships
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, challenge assumptions, navigate difficult partner discussions, and advise senior internal and external leaders.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, relationship-management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, MS, PhD, or equivalent in life sciences, business, engineering, or a related field preferred.
- PMP certification or equivalent program management certification preferred.
Compensation & Total Rewards
This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera’s robust Total Rewards program, including:
Annual performance incentive bonus
Long-term equity awards
Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
401(k) with company match
Generous paid time off and company holidays
Additional wellness and work-life benefits
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!
For more information, visit www.natera.com.
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/
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
Skills Required
- Extensive hands-on experience across a substantial portfolio of CDx pharmaceutical partnerships, ideally 10 or more deals or programs advanced from evaluation through execution and delivery
- Deep understanding of the CDx and IVD development lifecycle, including regulatory considerations, timelines, resources, and costs
- Experience evaluating and operationalizing CDx opportunities, including scope, costing, budgeting, resource planning, and feasibility assessment
- Significant experience working directly with pharmaceutical partners and senior or executive stakeholders in complex partnerships
- Strong executive presence and ability to influence, challenge assumptions, navigate difficult discussions, and advise senior leaders
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, relationship-management, and cross-functional leadership skills
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, MS, PhD, or equivalent in life sciences, business, engineering, or a related field
- PMP certification or equivalent program management certification
Natera Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Natera and has not been reviewed or approved by Natera.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical plan choice, fertility support, and free Natera tests for employees and families are emphasized alongside dental, vision, and life/disability coverage. These elements indicate robust core health coverage.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan is available, and equity is described as a significant part of compensation in some roles. This accessibility to ownership can meaningfully augment overall pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A flexible, no‑accrual PTO policy and parental leave are positioned as part of the package. This breadth suggests meaningful time‑off provisions are included.
Natera Insights
What We Do
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. Where some set out to build a test, we set out to achieve a mission: change the management of disease worldwide by using DNA testing to proactively inform treatment. Through a cfDNA technology platform approach, we've pioneered noninvasive testing in unlimited applications—each with their own potential to revolutionize care for patients. #TeamNatera includes clinicians, scientists, biostatisticians, researchers, and laboratory professionals from around the world. Our diverse teams blend a passion for patients with deep clinical, scientific, and technological roots. Natera’s tests are validated by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate high accuracy.
