At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy for innovative platforms in drug discovery and development.
- Company: Join Lila Sciences, a pioneer in Scientific Superintelligence™.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible time off, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on impactful scientific advancements.
- Why this job: Shape the future of medicine with cutting-edge AI and chemistry.
- Qualifications: MS/PhD in relevant fields and 7+ years in product leadership.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is hiring a Director of Product, Life Sciences (Chemistry): a strategic, cross-functional product leader who shapes the vision, roadmap, and execution for platforms that accelerate the discovery and development of new medicines.
Reporting to the Vice President, Head of Life Science Product, you will lead product strategy and delivery across capabilities at the intersection of molecular design and synthesis, wet-lab experimentation and automation, data and ML, and scientific intelligence.
The role requires strong leadership, crisp prioritization, and the ability to translate hard chemistry and biology into clear product direction and measurable outcomes for internal teams, partners, and customers.
You will be deeply customer-facing, serving as a trusted technical and product voice with prospects and partners, shaping proposals, driving commercial conversations, and closing deals that bring Lila's therapeutics platform to market.
We are hiring a product leader with real fluency in drug discovery and development, someone who understands how programs actually advance from target to candidate and what it takes to make a molecule developable.
The portfolio is deliberately modality-agnostic, depth of judgment matters far more to us than which modality you built it in.
That said, this role leans toward chemistry and small molecules, so you should be able to hold a credible conversation about retrosynthesis, SAR, DEL, and property optimization.
- What You'll Be Building
- Set the long-term product vision, roadmap, and portfolio priorities for Lila's therapeutics products; spanning antibodies, nucleic acids, targeted delivery, in vivo cell therapy, and small molecules.
- Translate frontier platform capability into commercial therapeutic programs, defining target product profiles (TPPs) across design, expression and synthesis, characterization, developability, and scale-up for pharma and biotech partners.
- Drive product execution from concept to launch across science, ML, automation, data engineering, and software.
- Represent product to executives, scientific leaders, partners, and customers as the senior external voice for the domain.
- Own commercial outcomes end-to-end: opportunity shaping, proposal development, deal closure, and revenue for the domain.
- Define success metrics and milestones (technical, product, commercial) and report progress clearly to leadership.
- What You’ll Need to Succeed
- MS, Ph D, or equivalent experience in biochemistry, protein science, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, or related field
- Deep understanding of drug discovery and development workflows; as well as the assays and methods that drive decision-making
- Track record of advancing therapeutic programs from molecules toward the clinic, or of building the platforms and products that others used to do so.
- 7+ years of product leadership (PM, Group PM, Product Lead) building and launching complex technical products: therapeutic platforms, scientific software or hardware, simulation and modeling platforms, data products, or ML-enabled systems.
- Strong executive communication: clear storytelling and decisions legible to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Highly collaborative leadership style, with the ability to influence across research, engineering, operations, and commercial teams.
- Output- and impact-focused, driven by delivered results against mission and program goals.
- Bonus Points For
- Experience with automated/self-driving labs and experience working with (not necessarily having run) ML approaches relevant to drug discovery and molecular science
- Following the rapid evolution of LLMs and other AI solutions and have thoughts and opinions on how this will impact the future of scientific discovery and product development
- Background in partnering with biopharma or research organizations to define collaborative milestones and workflows
Compensation
We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.
U. S. Benefits.
- Full-time U. S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage;
- employer-paid life and disability insurance;
- flexible time off with generous company wide holidays;
- paid parental leave;
- an educational assistance program;
- commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees;
- and a company subsidized lunch program.
International Benefits.
- Full-time employees outside the U. S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region.
- USD salary ranges apply only to U. S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.
- Expected Base Salary Range
- About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges.
We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI.
Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy.
Learn more at www. lila. ai.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance.
We’re All In
Lila Sciences iscommitted to equal employment opportunityregardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates.
The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team.
Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
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Director of Product, Life Sciences (Chemistry) in Cambridge employer: Lilasciences
Lila is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about advancing AI safety. Located in a vibrant tech hub, employees benefit from continuous professional development opportunities, a supportive team environment, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the field of advanced scientific capabilities. Join us to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research while enjoying a balanced work-life dynamic.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Product, Life Sciences (Chemistry) in Cambridge
✨Get Involved in Local Research Communities
Tap into local biotechnology meetups and research forums. These are great places to mingle with industry professionals, share your passion, and even discover unadvertised job openings. It's all about getting your face known in the field!
✨Leverage University Alumni Networks
If you're a recent grad, don’t underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network! Reach out to alumni working in biotechnology to gather tips about job openings at companies like Lilasciences. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help out a fellow grad!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Curate a portfolio showcasing any research projects or internships you've completed in biotechnology. This tangible evidence of your skills can really impress employers when you chat with them at networking events or interviews. It's about making that killer first impression!
✨Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends
Biotech is a fast-paced field, so keeping yourself updated with the latest advancements is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to broaden your knowledge and meet potential employers. Plus, it’ll give you fantastic talking points for your interviews at places like Lilasciences!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Product, Life Sciences (Chemistry) in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Lab Skills:In the biotechnology field, it's super important to highlight your lab experience in your CV. Be sure to mention specific techniques or instruments you've mastered (think PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and any relevant projects you've worked on. This will show Lilasciences that you have the hands-on skills they need.
Tailor Your Technical Skills:Make sure to emphasise your technical skills, especially those relevant to the biotechnology sector. Include any software tools or programming languages you've used, like R or Python for data analysis, which could be key for this role at Lilasciences.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time role, your cover letter should reflect not only your passion for biotechnology but also your long-term career ambitions. Share why you're excited about the work that Lilasciences does and how you envision contributing to their goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely invested in this opportunity.
Include Your Papers and Projects:If you've published any papers or contributed to significant projects, mention them! These documents can boost your application and provide tangible evidence of your expertise in the biotechnology field. Don’t forget to link to any relevant publications or project summaries—this can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lilasciences
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
Since you're eyeing a full-time gig in biotechnology, make sure you're well-versed in the lab techniques relevant to the role. Be ready to talk about PCR, CRISPR, or any specific methods mentioned in the job description at Lilasciences. You might even be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these processes.
✨Know Your Bioinformatics Tools
Get comfortable with bioinformatics tools that are commonly used in the industry, like BLAST or Bioconductor. These are key in biotechnology, and having hands-on experience or at least familiarity can set you apart. Prepare to discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, especially if they involved data analysis or genomic research.
✨Show Your Teamwork Skills
Biotech often involves collaboration across multiple disciplines. Be ready to share stories that highlight your teamwork and communication skills, especially in research projects. Think about working with different teams at university or any internships – this is where you can show how well you fit into Lilasciences's culture.
✨Research Recent Biotech Innovations
Stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in biotechnology. Knowing what's happening in the field can help you engage in more meaningful discussions during your interview. Bring up recent articles or advancements that excite you, especially those related to the work being done at Lilasciences. This shows your passion for the industry!
