Head of Research & Development (R&D), Spatial Biology Division

Role Summary

Head of Research & Development (R&D), Spatial Biology Division at Bio-Techne. Lead the division’s global R&D organization across Newark, CA and Tolochenaz, Switzerland. Oversee an end-to-end portfolio of multi-omic assays, reagents, automation/instrumentation, software and analytics, anchored by RNAscope in situ hybridization technologies and COMET sequential immunofluorescence instrumentation. Run R&D as a single operating system with a unified strategy, governance, and execution, balancing sustaining activities with build-the-future product development and clinical expansion to translate innovation into adoption and growth.

Responsibilities

• Advance the SBD R&D strategy and own the portfolio
• Define and maintain an integrated R&D strategy and roadmap across Newark and Tolochenaz, aligned to SBD business strategy and customer needs
• Own portfolio prioritization and resource allocation across:
  • New Product Introduction (NPI) / platform evolution
  • Sustaining product, technology & lifecycle improvements
  • Applications, evidence generation, and customer enablement
  • Longer‑horizon innovation programs
• Make disciplined, transparent tradeoffs across customer value, technical risk, manufacturability, margin/COGS, time‑to‑market, and strategic differentiation
• Partner with Legal/IP to shape an SBD IP strategy aligned with platform roadmaps and competitive positioning
• Run a unified R&D operating system
• Establish and lead an operating cadence that makes cross‑site delivery predictable through portfolio reviews, gate reviews, roadmap refreshes, and executive updates/readouts
• Ensure strong end‑to‑end program execution for integrated products and workflows (reagents, instruments, and software/analytics), including phase‑gate discipline, technical risk management, verification/validation, and launch readiness
• Build/strengthen processes that improve speed and quality by ensuring alignment with customer needs, clarifying requirements, and ensuring design transfer readiness
• Lead, develop, and retain a world‑class cross‑site team
• Lead and develop global teams across major capability areas, including assay chemistry and reagents, engineering/instrumentation, software/analytics, and applications
• Build leadership bench strength through succession planning, targeted hiring, and capability development across both sites
• Create a culture of accountability with clear goals, decision ownership, and evidence‑supported planning and delivery
• Drive innovation that converts to adoption and growth
• Translate customer “problems‑to‑solve” into integrated workflow and product requirements, closing the gap between scientific novelty and everyday customer utility
• Map innovation investments across short/mid/long horizons, ensuring continuity from strategy to impact and creating protectable IP
• Strengthen end‑to‑end workflow differentiation (multi‑omic assays, automation, analytics, high‑value applications) to increase adoption, utilization, and pull‑through
• Partner cross‑functionally to deliver business outcomes
• Partner closely with Product Management, Marketing, Project Management, Operations, Quality, Clinical/Medical Affairs, and Commercial to ensure priorities and tradeoffs reflect:
  • customer segmentation and adoption barriers
  • manufacturability, quality readiness, and supply chain constraints
  • evidence generation, claims strategy, and clinical pathway considerations
• Leverage Bio‑Techne’s cross‑divisional technologies (antibodies, dyes, complementary platforms, etc.) to elevate SBD solutions and create differentiated workflows

Qualifications

• Education
  • Ph.D. in life science, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent combination of advanced degree and industry experience)
• Experience
  • 12+ years of industry experience in life science tools, diagnostics, or closely related instrumentation/reagent businesses
  • 5+ years in senior leadership (Director/Sr. Director/VP) managing multi‑disciplinary R&D teams and leaders within a global setting
  • Demonstrated success taking integrated systems (instrument + consumables/reagents + software) from concept to commercialization
  • Significant experience in spatial biology or pathology workflows (e.g., ISH, IHC, IF), including instrumentation and image analysis pipelines
  • Experience operating within phase-gate product development systems and partnering effectively with Quality/Regulatory in QMS environments

Skills

• Portfolio owner: makes principled decisions from best evidence and clearly explains tradeoffs and “the why”
• Operator: advances governance and operating rhythms that drive predictable execution across sites
• Integrator: aligns teams and cultures across geographies and builds shared norms and accountability
• Customer-centric leader: connects R&D investments to adoption, workflow fit, and measurable value
• Communicator: translates complex scientific/technical topics for bench teams, executive leadership, external KOLs and biopharma partners