At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and drive commercial success for innovative lab management software.
- Company: Join Instem, a leader in life sciences technology with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, comprehensive healthcare, and generous leave options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with clear career pathways and continuous training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the life sciences industry while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and strong knowledge of laboratory information systems required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Location: Stone, Staffordshire Hybrid working, 2 days a week in our Stone Office
Status: Permanent
Package: Competitive Salary, Flexible Working, Development & Opportunity (Personal & Technical), Private Medical (Optical & Dental options), Matching Contributory Pension, 25 Days Leave + Public Holidays + Buy and Sell Scheme, Life Insurance, Referral Scheme, Employee Assistance Program, Benefits Hub.
At Instem, you’ll empower pharmaceutical companies, CROs, government agencies, academic institutions, by providing cutting‑edge SaaS solutions and consultancy services designed to help researchers make discoveries, and to accelerate and advance their research programs. You’ll work with technology that supports over 50% of global drug discovery and is trusted by leading pharmaceutical, biotech and CRO organisations worldwide. As a Director of Product, you’ll be part of that mission, using your skills to support innovation across the global life sciences industry.
The Director of Product, Matrix‑Gemini, is accountable for driving the commercial success and strategic evolution of the Autoscribe Matrix‑Gemini Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) product line. This role leads the long‑term vision, positioning, and financial performance of the Matrix‑Gemini portfolio, ensuring it meets revenue, margin, and customer value objectives across Instem’s customer base. The Director maintains deep awareness of the LIMS market, evolving life sciences regulatory landscape, customer workflows, and competitive pressures, translating these insights into clear priorities to improve revenue durability, profitability, and market relevance. This includes full lifecycle ownership of the Matrix‑Gemini product family, from strategy and business case development through execution, adoption, and end‑of‑life decisions.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Commercial & Financial Leadership: Partner with the CPO to define and execute strategic and commercial plans to drive recurring revenue growth, margin expansion, and profitability. Build rigorous, data‑driven business cases with clear cost, revenue, margin, and time‑to‑profitability projections. Develop and maintain deep understanding of cost drivers, revenue levers, and unit economics to support financially grounded decision‑making and scenario modeling. Partner with Finance and Commercial leadership to validate assumptions, define success metrics, and ensure product choices improve near‑ and long‑term EBITDA.
- Product & Portfolio Strategy: Translate corporate and product strategy into actionable plans for Matrix‑Gemini, spanning roadmap prioritization, lifecycle management, and investment allocation. Set and govern prioritization of features and initiatives based on business needs, stakeholder input, regulatory drivers, and technical dependencies, ensuring the team’s backlog reflects the highest‑value work. Facilitate alignment between product vision and technical implementation, ensuring that roadmaps are realistic, achievable, and resourced appropriately. Oversee the translation of strategic product priorities into clearly defined requirements, ensuring engineering teams have the context, acceptance criteria, and technical, regulatory, and risk considerations needed to execute, and that delivery aligns with the product vision. Monitor product and portfolio performance, recommending course corrections when financial or commercial outcomes deviate from plan.
- Market, Customer, & Competitive Insight: Serve as the subject matter expert on Autoscribe Matrix‑Gemini and the broader LIMS market serving Instem’s customer base. Interpret the needs of the market for the product, track industry and regulatory trends, and identify cost‑effective, user‑friendly approaches to meeting those requirements. Engage with key customers, partners, and complementary solution providers to strengthen value propositions and improve commercial success. Gather, analyze, and communicate competitive and market intelligence to support strategic decisions for the Matrix‑Gemini portfolio.
- Cross Functional Alignment & GTM Enablement: Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Development, Delivery, and Operations teams to ensure aligned execution, consistent value messaging, and commercial readiness for Matrix‑Gemini. Collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to gather feedback, clarify requirements, and ensure that product features meet business goals. Work closely with operations and customer‑facing teams to ensure smooth product rollout, monitor user feedback, and ensure post‑launch issues are addressed. Support go‑to‑market activities, including positioning, sales enablement, and stakeholder alignment across revenue‑facing teams.
- Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Provide regular reporting on Matrix‑Gemini product performance, financial outcomes, market trends, and competitive position. Monitor recurring revenue, profitability, and market traction to identify and proactively communicate emerging risks or opportunities.
- Compliance & Quality: Ensure adherence to the company’s Quality Management System, maintaining secure, professional, and compliant work practices.
What We’re Looking For
- Several years of product management experience in software products.
- Bachelor’s degree in the life sciences, advanced degree preferred.
- Market, Customer & Domain Insight: Strong knowledge of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and the life sciences industry. Experience with Matrix‑Gemini or comparable LIMS solutions is highly desirable. Deep understanding of the LIMS market landscape, buyer dynamics, laboratory workflows, and user needs, translating insight into commercially sound decisions. Act as a subject matter expert in product strategy, customer engagement, and industry thought leadership for the Matrix‑Gemini product family.
- Modern Product Management Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in modern product management practices, including business case development, outcome driven roadmapping, value proposition design, and prioritization frameworks. Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle, ensuring decisions balance customer needs, technical constraints, and commercial impact. Proven track record in a software product business, with direct contribution to the development, launch, or scaling of at least one successful commercial product.
- Influence, Leadership & Cross Functional Alignment: Strong ability to influence across the organization, including Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Delivery, Operations, and Finance, to drive alignment and execute against commercial goals. Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams toward clear, measurable outcomes. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the credibility and presence to engage executive stakeholders, customers, and external partners.
- Commercial Acumen: Present and influence both technical and non‑technical audiences and support go to market and sales enablement activities. Strong commercial awareness, balancing customer value, cost, revenue impact, and long‑term EBITDA contribution.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, dental, vision, life, and more)
- Comprehensive wellbeing and support initiatives
- Clear career pathways to support you with getting to the next level
- Pro‑rated and immediate vacation days
- Continuous training and development
- Generous retirement plans
Ready to Make a Difference? Join a team that values your perspective and supports your growth, while helping shape the future of life sciences. Apply now - we’d love to hear from you, and our Talent team will be in touch.
An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Director of Product, Lab Execution in Stone employer: Instem
At Instem, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the life sciences sector. Our Stone office provides a supportive environment with flexible working arrangements, comprehensive benefits including private medical care and generous leave policies, and ample opportunities for personal and professional development, ensuring that our employees can thrive while making a meaningful impact in drug discovery and research.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Product, Lab Execution in Stone
✨Unlock Networking Opportunities
Dive into industry-specific events like pharmaceutical conferences and seminars, where you can meet hiring managers from companies like Instem. These are goldmines for making connections and learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream job boards.
✨Join Relevant Professional Bodies
Get involved with organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or your local pharmaceutical professionals' network. Being an active member can boost your credibility and may even lead to job referrals in top organisations like Instem.
✨Leverage Internships for Full-time Roles
If you can, consider pursuing internships in the pharmaceutical industry, especially with companies like Instem. These opportunities often pave the way for full-time positions and allow you to demonstrate your capabilities firsthand.
✨Tailor Your Approach
When you're applying for roles, don't rush it! Take the time to customise your applications for specific positions, showcasing relevant skills and experiences that align with what Instem is looking for. A tailored application can really make you stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Product, Lab Execution in Stone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at Instem!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show Instem that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at Instem!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At Instem, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at Instem
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at Instem that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with Instem’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
