Director, Computational Discovery at Foundation Medicine, Inc. – Boston, Massachusetts

• Full Time

About the Job

The Director, Computational Discovery develops strategy and leads a team of computational biologists and machine learning scientists supporting research and early development of personalized diagnostics, with a primary focus on oncology and select non-oncology applications. The role partners cross-functionally to define research plans and establish external collaborations that advance R&D objectives. The Director contributes to Foundation Medicine’s computational research strategy, focusing on generating novel insights through the integration of genomic profiling, tissue imaging, and clinical outcomes, and is responsible for hiring, mentoring, and leading the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Governance
  • Define, own, and execute the Computational Discovery strategy in partnership with R&D and Product leadership.
  • Own computational research portfolio planning, prioritization, and execution within established FMI governance and stage-gate frameworks.
  • Advance computational research programs from discovery through evaluation and into the FMI product and service portfolio.
  • Establish, mature, and uphold best practices for computational research governance, reproducibility, and scientific rigor.
• Functional Leadership & Talent Development
  • Manage any team recruiting and interviewing.
  • Provide clear scientific direction, technical oversight, mentorship, and performance management for both people managers and individual contributors.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and delivery-oriented culture.
• Execution & Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Serve as the Computational Discovery representative within R&D to ensure alignment with other FMI functions and effective translation of computational research into products and product features.
  • Scope, prioritize, and develop new computational research capabilities aligned with strategic needs.
• External Collaboration & Scientific Leadership
  • Establish and lead external collaborations with pharmaceutical, academic, and clinical partners to generate evidence and access clinical specimens, data, and patient consent for research.
  • Maintain current knowledge of advances in oncology, personalized medicine, and computational biology.
  • Author and oversee high-quality scientific presentations, abstracts, and manuscripts as required.
  • Maintain current awareness of advances in oncology, precision medicine, and applied computational biology relevant to product development.
• Additional
  • Own departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and staffing plans.
  • Travel up to 10% of the time.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelors Degree in molecular biology, genetics, computational biology, or a related field
  • 10+ years of relevant employment experience
  • 5+ years experience managing cross functional teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred Qualifications
  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of post-graduate experience in cancer genomics, molecular diagnostics, or related translational research.
  • Strong track record of scientific contribution in oncology or precision medicine (e.g., publications, patents, or equivalent industry impact).
  • Demonstrated success leading highly complex, cross-functional scientific programs and teams.
  • Advanced expertise in computational biology, including statistics, algorithm development, coding, and machine learning applied to large-scale genomic and NGS data.
  • Deep understanding of next-generation sequencing technologies, biomarker discovery, and translational assay development.
  • In-depth knowledge of clinical product development and regulatory data requirements.
  • Proven ability to synthesize and interpret complex scientific, clinical, and business data and communicate insights clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Strong relationship-building and influence skills across internal and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated creativity, scientific curiosity, and sound judgment in applied research settings.
  • Working knowledge of HIPAA and responsible use of patient data.
  • Alignment with Foundation Medicine values and patient-centered mission.
  • Understanding of HIPAA and importance of patient safety and data privacy regulations and guidelines
  • Commitment to reflect FMI’s values: Integrity, Courage, and Passion

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Boston, MA is $207,000 - $258,800 per year. The salary range is commensurate with Foundation Medicine's compensation practice and considers factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, external market conditions, criticality of role, and internal equity. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for Foundation Medicine's benefits.

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About Foundation Medicine

Confidence, or the belief that we need to check every box before applying for a job, can sometimes hold us back from going after a role that inspires us. At Foundation Medicine there's no such thing as the 'perfect' applicant, and our company is a place where every employee can make an impact and continue to grow whatever background they may have or path they may have taken. So, as long as you meet the basic qualifications for a role, please apply if you see a position that would make you excited to work with us to transform precision medicine in cancer and beyond.