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Head of Population Genomics

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the SVP, BioInsight, the Head of Population Genomics is responsible for establishing our strategy and leading a team to pursue and deliver large national genomics initiatives (LNGI).  This role combines strategic oversight with operational leadership, focusing on building effective partnerships and driving successful outcomes in large-scale population genomics programs.  In addition, this leader will inspire, guide, and empower a multidisciplinary team to architect and deliver transformative solutions.

As the strategic force behind our population genomics ambitions, you will drive innovation, cultivate partnerships, and position the organization as the trusted partner of choice for governments, health ministries, and national programs.  Your leadership will unlock new possibilities for genomic medicine at scale, driving both commercial success and societal impact.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Set the global vision and strategy for population genomics, anticipating emerging trends and shaping the future of national genomics programs.
• Inspire and lead a high-performing team across business development, product management, and product marketing to pursue and win large-scale initiatives.
• Develop and continuously refine a global playbook for engaging with national genomics opportunities, ensuring repeatable success and market leadership.

Team Empowerment & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.
• Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Development, Regulatory Affairs, and other internal leaders to deliver integrated, world-class solutions.
• Ensure the team leverages the latest advances in multi-omics, AI/ML, and cloud platforms through partnership with development teams.

Market Engagement & Thought Leadership

• Serve as the organization’s ambassador in high-profile forums and conferences, shaping the narrative and advancing the field of population genomics.
• Cultivate and nurture strategic relationships with government officials, health system executives, and academic leaders to expand our influence and impact.
• Guide the team in developing compelling proposals, leading tender and RFP submissions, and securing multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnerships.

Program Stewardship & Impact

• Oversee the successful implementation of national genomics programs, ensuring delivery excellence, stakeholder satisfaction, and measurable impact.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to demonstrate program success and ROI to partners and internal stakeholders.
• Champion ethical, inclusive, and innovative practices that advance health equity and scientific progress.

Experience

• Demonstrated success in either securing major LNGI contracts for an organization or in evaluating and selecting winning bids as a LNGI program leader.
• Proven ability to apply operational, strategic, and technical expertise to the pursuit and delivery of LNGIs.
• Experience leading product management and marketing teams is beneficial, supporting the broader goal of winning and delivering population scale programs, but not required.
• Deep understanding of what it takes to operate, establish, or lead LNGIs, with the ability to translate this knowledge into successful business development strategies.
• Public speaking and executive communication experience at industry conferences, policy forums, and board-level briefings.
• Experience with multi-omics, AI/ML, and cloud-based platforms is a strong plus.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required; PhD preferred, MBA a strong plus.
• Deep domain knowledge in sequencing technologies, population genomics, and lab operations.
• Executive presence and influence, with the ability to engage national health executives and C-suite partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel globally (30–50%); role is ideally based in San Diego, with flexibility for exceptional candidates.
• Visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader with a passion for driving innovation and impact at scale.

Experience / Education

• MS/PhD in computer science. Bioinformatics, statistics, or related mathematics or scientific field
• 20+ years product development experience in a complex systems environment
• VP level leader who has led product conceptualization and informatics product development organizations in a high growth environment such as 1.58 to 38 plus revenue
• 10+ years in a senior leadership role managing global teams and directors who are geographically dispersed
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Vice President role or equivalent preferred

The estimated base salary range for the Head of Population Genomics role based in the United States of America is: $295,400 - $443,200. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants.