Principal Translational Scientist & Team Leader, Oncology Biomarkers & Translational Research

About the role

The Position
Genentech's Translational Medicine Oncology (TM ONC) Department supports the entire R&D portfolio of novel therapies. We develop and implement biomarker strategies to study disease pathways, confirm a therapeutic's mechanism of action, and improve clinical trial efficiency and success.

Responsibilities

• Define the long-term translational research priorities and strategic roadmaps for the group, ensuring alignment with Genentech’s broader oncology R&D portfolio.
• Directly manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of translational research scientists, fostering a collaborative culture that bridges wet-lab biology and data science.
• Co-design and oversee translational research strategies that address key biological and clinical questions across oncology programs.
• Leverage large-scale patient cohorts, clinical trial biospecimens, and multimodal datasets to generate molecule-specific, mechanism-specific, and disease-specific insights.
• Evaluate, champion, and integrate emerging profiling technologies, including genomic, spatial, proteomic, liquid biopsy, single-cell, multimodal, and AI-enabled approaches.
• Guide tumor profiling and assay selection for correlative studies, balancing scientific objectives, sample constraints, technical feasibility, and clinical development needs.
• Lead fit-for-purpose biomarker study design, including cohort selection, assay strategy, benchmarking, quality control, analytical workflows, and data interpretation.
• Partner with biologists, laboratory scientists, computational biologists, statisticians, and AI/ML scientists to integrate data and translate findings into actionable hypotheses.
• Contribute to biomarker plans, translational medicine strategies, study protocols, publications, scientific communications, and external collaborations.
• Communicate scientific insights and strategic recommendations to multidisciplinary teams, clinical teams, and senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related discipline.
• Postdoctoral training and 3+ years of relevant industry or academic experience in translational oncology research, or 7+ years of relevant experience in industry or academia, with a proven track record of successfully leading complex translational research programs.
• Strong understanding of current and emerging tumor profiling technologies, including genomic, spatial, proteomic, liquid biopsy, single-cell, or multimodal approaches.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing, building, or formally leading teams of PhD-level scientists.
• Proven ability to guide, influence, and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams spanning biology, clinical development, laboratory sciences, computational biology, statistics, and AI/ML.
• Deep expertise in at least one oncology therapeutic area, such as breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, or hematologic malignancies.

Skills

• Experience supporting translational research within academic, clinical or commercial settings.
• Experience with statistical modeling, biomarker analysis, or multimodal data integration.
• Experience evaluating or implementing novel profiling technologies in translational or clinical research.
• Experience in leveraging AI models and tools to support productivity.
• Track record of publications, presentations, or contributions to biomarker development or precision oncology programs.
• Experience navigating complex organizational matrix structures to secure resources and align executive stakeholders.

Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus based on individual and Company performance.
• The position qualifies for the benefits.

Pay

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $141,500 - $262,900 Annual. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Schedule

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Application Instructions

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