Associate Director, Engineering Project Management Contract

Associate Director of Engineering Project Management

Position Overview:

Natera is seeking a seasoned Associate Director of Engineering Project Management to lead a team in delivering impactful software projects across our strategic portfolio. You will play a critical role in driving value through collaboration with cross-functional teams, utilizing lean portfolio management, and ensuring projects meet their objectives on time and within budget. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in the life sciences and healthcare industries while contributing to transformative projects that directly impact patients and healthcare providers.

As an Associate Director, you will manage multiple complex software development projects, lead a team of project managers, and report to the Senior Director of Engineering Project Management. You will be a key influencer, providing transparency to stakeholders and ensuring alignment across engineering and business teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Project & Portfolio Leadership

• Lead cross-functional portfolio management of software development initiatives, autonomously managing 1-3 high-complexity projects.
• Oversee a team of 2-5 Engineering Project Managers, providing coaching, guidance, and support.
• Foster collaboration across engineering teams and other Natera business domains or external partners, focusing on early-stage risk management and dependencies.
• Maintain project timelines, documentation, and stakeholder reporting while considering available resources, risks, and priorities.

1. Technical Expertise & Process Improvement

• Leverage a deep understanding of software architecture principles and the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to guide project planning and execution.
• Track progress of product requirements and software delivery using enterprise tools such as Jira, Confluence, GitLab, and Jama, as well as Smartsheet.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (FDA design controls, HIPAA, etc.) and contribute to evolving best practices, templates, and processes within the Engineering Project Management (EPM) team.

1. Strategic Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as the key liaison between engineering teams and business partners, ensuring transparency and alignment on project goals.
• Provide regular portfolio reviews to executive leadership, negotiating outcomes and effectively managing stakeholder expectations.
• Take ownership of delivering projects within scope, on time, and within budget, while navigating challenges and driving solutions.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in project management within software development, ideally in the Life Sciences, Biotech, or Healthcare space.
• Demonstrated success in leading enterprise project portfolios, developing timelines, and managing reporting.
• Advanced knowledge of software delivery and requirements management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, GitLab, Jama).
• Experience working in regulated environments (FDA, HIPAA, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP, CSM, or equivalent) is highly desirable.

Skills & Abilities:

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership.
• Strong leadership abilities, fostering an environment where teams can navigate challenges and achieve success.
• Deep understanding of software development best practices and systems architecture.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to coach and develop team members, promoting lean, servant-leadership principles.

Tagged as: project management