Associate Director, Scientific Research

Job description

Join to apply for the Associate Director, Scientific Research role at Illumina .

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know?

Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world.

Our efforts enable life‑changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself.

Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference.

Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world‑changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary

Illumina, a world‑leading microarray and next generation sequencing (NGS) company, is seeking an Associate Director to lead the Singapore Assay R&D team.

The successful candidate will lead in executing scientific R&D in the field of molecular biology and biochemistry to develop novel, best‑in‑class multiomics NGS products.

The Associate Director will be part of a multi‑disciplinary team working to execute the design and development of novel, robust products for Illumina sequencing platforms.

They will be a strong technical and strategic contributor to the development of biochemistry and have a successful track record of working collaboratively on projects in a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies focused on business excellence, aligning with the overall goals of the organization and company vision.
  
  
• Directly manage, guide, coach and develop a team of scientists, managers and other staff to meet project milestones and business objectives.
  
  
• Oversee day‑to‑day departmental operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with company goals and standards.
  
  
• Lead or support various projects, including technology transfers, new process implementation and scientific initiatives, often across multiple sites or globally, through ambitious goals and challenging trade‑off decisions while maintaining an energized and motivating work environment.
  
  
• Liaise effectively and influence peers within departments and across the organization.
  
  Build and maintain close relationships with other functional groups in RnD, Process Engineering, Operations, Business Development, Product Management, and QA.
  
  
• Recommend targets for new capabilities, technologies and initiatives, and drive evaluation and implementation of process improvements and technological integration.
  
  
• Manage functional spending, budget creation, forecasting, and financial management activities for the department and its programs.
  
  
• Prioritize, align and adjust resources to ensure success across multiple projects and priorities.
  
  

Qualifications And Skills

• Demonstrated ability for strong leadership skills, including ability to lead teams, develop talent, and manage multiple priorities.
  
  
• Proven ability to assess and organize complex information, solve ambiguous problems, and develop actionable strategies.
  
  
• Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written and in presentation for effective engagement with diverse stakeholders.
  
  
• Proven experience in the biotech or pharma industry, with a strong understanding of relevant product development, operational and regulatory landscapes.
  
  
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to build relationships with global stakeholders.
  
  

Experience/Education

• Requires PhD or equivalent, with a strong foundation in relevant scientific discipline such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics or related fields.
  
  
• 10+ years of extensive experience in reagent and product development in biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
  
  

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 To learn more, visit: The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants.

Required Skill Profession

Science, Research And Teaching