Director, Translational Operations

Summary

Join Generate:Biomedicines as their Director, Translational Operations and lead the operational backbone of their biomarker and translational science programs. This pivotal role requires a seasoned operational leader to drive excellence across internal and external partnerships, oversee key vendor relationships, build and scale systems, and ensure scientific deliverables are met. You will provide end-to-end operational oversight, lead vendor strategy and management, manage contracting and budgets, oversee sample operations, lead infrastructure and systems, support cross-functional programs, manage operational risks, and drive process improvements. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field, significant experience in clinical or translational operations, demonstrated leadership of cross-functional operations, deep experience with vendor management and biomarker execution, and strong project management and communication skills. This is a strategic leadership position designed for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys building systems and managing timelines with precision. Generate:Biomedicines is committed to equal employment opportunity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field; advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA) a plus
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree; 10 years with a Master's degree; or 8 years with a PhD in clinical or translational operations within biotech, pharma, or CRO
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional operations spanning discovery through clinical development
• Deep experience with vendor management, sample logistics, contracting, and biomarker execution
• Proven ability to design and implement tracking systems or tools for sample/data workflows
• Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization skills
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with a bias toward clarity and execution

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and accountability for the operational planning and execution of biomarker and translational activities across the pipeline (early research to Phase 3)
• Lead vendor identification, selection, onboarding, and performance management across CROs, central labs, biorepositories, and sample vendors
• Own the full contracting process including work order generation, scope negotiation, budget tracking, and amendment management in partnership with legal and finance
• Oversee biomarker sample collection, tracking, reconciliation, and chain-of-custody processes across all programs and studies
• Architect and implement internal systems and tools for sample tracking, data integration, and workflow transparency; evaluate and deploy partner/vendor platforms as needed
• Partner with translational scientists, clinical ops, bioinformatics, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure aligned planning and execution
• Identify operational risks early, drive scenario planning, and implement mitigation strategies to prevent downstream delays or compliance issues
• Drive continuous improvement in workflows, documentation, and cross-team communication, promoting operational excellence and scalability