Associate Director / Director of Product Management - Life Sciences

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? At Mesa Labs we’re passionate about protecting the vulnerable by enabling scientific breakthroughs, ensuring product integrity, increasing patient and worker safety, and improving quality of life around the world.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Lead Product Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive product strategy for the sterility assurance consumables portfolio, aligned with the overall company business goals and market trends. This includes defining product vision, roadmap, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
• Market Research and Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities for new product development, product enhancement, and market expansion. Stay abreast of industry regulations, trends, and technological advancements relevant to the field of sterility assurance.
• Product Development & Commercialization: Lead and manage the product development process for new and existing sterility assurance consumables, working closely with R&D, engineering, and manufacturing teams. Ensure that products meet customer needs, regulatory requirements, and quality standards. Lead the product commercialization process, including market launch, sales enablement, and ongoing product management.
• Product Lifecycle Management: Manage the entire product lifecycle from concept to end-of-life, including product launch, market introduction, and continuous improvement.
• Customer Engagement: Understand customer needs, build strong relationships with key customers, and leverage customer feedback to guide product development and improvement initiatives. Actively participate in customer visits, conferences, and trade shows to gather insights and build relationships.
• Sales & Marketing Support: Work closely with sales and marketing teams to develop effective product positioning, marketing materials, and sales tools. Provide technical expertise and training to sales teams on the product portfolio.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage product budgets, track product revenue and profitability, and analyze product performance to identify opportunities for optimization.
• Team Management & Development: Lead and mentor a team of product managers, scientists, and technical specialists, ensuring their development and success. Create a collaborative and high-performing environment that fosters innovation and continuous improvement. Identify competence gaps and development needs to make teams fit for current and future development challenges.
• Scientific Leadership: Lead scientific endeavors and product/process improvements and enhancements across the SDC portfolio. Develop a science and technology-based vision and lead exploration of new technologies, products, and applications to ensure long-term growth in selected markets and applications.
• Custom Products & Services: Lead the development of a scientific affairs team into an industry-leading organization delivering custom products and testing/consulting services to meet customer’s unique and challenging requirements with sterilization, cycle development, and validation.
• Acquisition & Partnerships: Lead role in acquisitions, licensing, and partnering to meet strategic objectives.
• Industry Representation: Represent SDC in scientific meetings, industry conferences, and customer accounts to build relationships and promote our expertise.
• Operational Excellence:
• Establish Standard Work: Define standard work procedures for Product Management, R&D, Lab Testing/Contract Services Functions to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Lean 5S: Model personal Lean Philosophy 5S behaviors in creating a continuously improving, clean, well-organized and self-maintaining work environment. Work closely with team members and others to motivate and improve 5S knowledge and implementation.
• SQDCM: Follow a continuous improvement approach for team accountability for achieving high performance SQDCM (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, & Morale) targets through a visual work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Education:

• Education and/or Experience:
• Required:
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology) or Engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of global or regional product management experience, with both upstream and downstream leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years of direct experience managing a team of product managers.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in a regulated industry (e.g., Medical Device, BioPharma, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing).
• Preferred:
• Master's Degree (MBA) preferred.
• Previous experience with ISO, AAMI, USP, EP, FDA 510k committees, standards, and regulations.
• 5 or more years' experience with sterilization.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
• Essential:
• Self-motivated, curious mind that pushes their knowledge boundaries and is driven to learn difficult topics independently.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to be highly organized and flexible to meet changing priorities. Proficient at managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team to foster a positive work environment.
• Experience with CRM software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to teach and present product information effectively.
• Preferred:
• Experience with regulatory requirements, particularly in the areas of sterility assurance and product development.
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations related to sterility assurance, such as ISO, AAMI, USP, EP, and FDA 510k guidelines.
• Strong understanding of sterilization processes and technologies.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Compensation/Benefits:

Mesa Labs is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Mesa Labs prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants or employees based on age, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.