Pursue a career at the forefront of personalized healthcare by exploring Scientific Director – Pathologist and Clinical Biomarker Lab Head jobs in the dynamic field of Precision Medicine. This senior leadership role sits at the critical intersection of diagnostic pathology, laboratory science, and therapeutic development, driving the biomarker strategies that define modern targeted treatments. Professionals in this position are typically responsible for establishing and leading a clinical biomarker testing laboratory, ensuring it operates under the highest standards of scientific rigor and regulatory compliance, such as GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practice). The core responsibility involves serving as the Technical Director and primary pathologist for a lab equipped with capabilities like immunohistochemistry (IHC), genomics (including NGS and qPCR), and immunoassays (e.g., ELISA). This entails end-to-end accountability for the biomarker assay lifecycle: from fit-for-purpose design and analytical validation to ongoing quality control, change management, and timely reporting of clinical trial data. A significant part of the role is providing deep expertise in human disease pathology to guide the development and interpretation of tissue-based assays, often collaborating with computational teams to integrate digital pathology and AI tools for advanced image analysis. Operational excellence is paramount. Lab Heads are charged with managing laboratory throughput, turnaround time, capacity planning, and business continuity. They ensure data integrity, maintain audit readiness, and implement corrective actions. Furthermore, this is a people leadership role, requiring the mentorship, training, and competency assessment of laboratory personnel to foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement. The position acts as a vital bridge, translating biomarker strategies into robust, compliant laboratory operations that directly inform clinical development decisions. Typical requirements for these high-impact jobs include an MD or DVM degree with board certification in pathology, complemented by extensive postdoctoral experience in academic, clinical, or industry settings. Candidates must possess a proven track record in a GCLP-compliant clinical laboratory environment and demonstrate deep knowledge of assay validation principles for IHC, genomics, and protein-based platforms. Strong leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration skills are essential, as the role interfaces closely with precision medicine, clinical development, and bioinformatics teams. For pathologists seeking to lead scientific innovation and directly impact patient stratification in drug development, these roles represent the pinnacle of a career in precision medicine.
