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!
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
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.
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