At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead new product planning in physical science, translating scientific vision into real-world ventures.
- Company: Join Lila Sciences, a pioneer in AI-driven scientific discovery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, comprehensive benefits, and flexible time off.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of science with cutting-edge technology and impactful projects.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in product planning or business development with strong scientific literacy.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is hiring a Director / Senior Director, New Product Planning of Physical Science to help shape Lila Origins, our company and asset creation arm which partners to translate scientific vision into molecules, materials, and real-world ventures. As a member of a small, highly cross-functional team, this role brings the commercial voice to life. The focus is on assessing where Lila's platform can produce differentiated assets and shaping how those opportunities become ventures, partnerships, or programs.
What You’ll Be Building
- Source and evaluate new physical science opportunities for Origins, screening for scientific differentiation, commercial viability, and fit with Lila's platform capabilities.
- Track materials science, chemistry, energy systems, and advanced manufacturing trends, including platform breakthroughs, pipeline movement, and deal activity across deep tech and industry, and translate signal into actionable views for Origins.
- Match materials platforms and chemical or physical process innovations to application areas using technical rationale, competitive landscape, and unmet need, and recommend where Origins should concentrate effort.
- Build and own market sizing, end‑market demand, and deal economic models that inform go/no‑go decisions on candidate ventures and partnerships.
- Develop specifications and early commercial theses for assets under consideration, in partnership with Science, Product, and Corporate Development.
- Run primary and secondary research including expert interviews, competitor tracking, and customer and supply chain landscape analysis to stress‑test assumptions and sharpen recommendations.
- Shape deal structures and partnership constructs alongside Corporate Development, translating commercial logic into terms that work for Lila and counterparties.
- Contribute to Origins' strategic thesis by synthesizing what we learn across opportunities into recommendations on application area focus, platform bets, and partnership models.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
- 7 or more years in new product planning, commercial assessment, asset strategy, or business development inside a materials company, specialty chemicals organization, energy technology firm, deep tech startup, or physical science investor, with a track record of shaping go/no‑go calls on early‑stage assets.
- Strong scientific literacy in physical sciences including materials, chemistry, physics, or advanced manufacturing; able to engage substantively with scientists and external experts and translate technical nuance into commercial implications.
- Demonstrated ability to match platform technologies to application areas, with a clear point of view on where technical fit, unmet need, and competitive landscape converge.
- Hands‑on modeling experience across market sizing, demand forecasting, and deal economics; comfortable building models from scratch and defending assumptions.
- Active fluency in industry trends, platform movement, and deal activity across materials, energy, and deep tech.
- Strong written and verbal communication; able to distill complex commercial and scientific analyses into crisp recommendations for senior leadership.
- Genuinely energized by building structure in undefined spaces; comfortable moving forward with limited oversight and a strong instinct for bringing clarity to ambiguous situations.
Bonus Points For
- Advanced degree in a physical science discipline such as materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or physics, or an MBA with a deep focus on deep tech.
- Well‑connected across the materials, deep tech, and investment communities.
- Hands-on use of AI tools in your daily work with a clear point of view on how AI is reshaping materials discovery and asset creation.
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: $168,000 — $272,000 USD.
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.
We’re All In
Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Director / Senior Director of New Product Planning,Physical Science in Cambridge employer: Lilasciences
At Lila Sciences, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Principal or Principal Software Engineer in our AI Lab Execution System team, you will have the opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects that directly impact scientific discovery while enjoying comprehensive benefits, flexible time off, and a commitment to employee growth through mentorship and educational assistance. Join us in a dynamic environment where your contributions will shape the future of AI in science, all while working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to solving humanity's greatest challenges.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director / Senior Director of New Product Planning,Physical Science 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 / Senior Director of New Product Planning,Physical Science 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!
