Director, Screening Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Screening Product Strategy

Company: Exact Sciences

Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States (with flexibility for Phoenix, AZ; Redwood City, CA; La Jolla, CA)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Strategy / Revenue Operations (GTM Focus)

Date Posted: October 6, 2025

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic direction and long-term roadmap for Exact Sciences' single organ cancer screening portfolio, focusing on innovation and market leadership.

• Lead upstream product planning, translating market insights and clinical trends into actionable product development and commercialization strategies.

• Foster robust cross-functional alignment across R&D, Clinical Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Product, and Market Access teams to ensure cohesive product lifecycle management.

• Develop comprehensive business cases and financial models to support new product concepts and market expansion initiatives, emphasizing revenue growth and ROI.

• Champion evidence generation strategies in partnership with clinical and medical affairs to support product adoption and market access claims.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Director, Screening Product Strategy," the core responsibilities of translating market insights into commercialization plans, building business cases, and aligning cross-functional teams for go-to-market readiness strongly align with a Revenue Operations (RevOps) or Go-to-Market (GTM) Operations function. This role bridges product development and commercial execution, requiring strong strategic planning and operational execution skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive, long-term product roadmaps and technology platform strategies for the single organ cancer screening portfolio, informed by market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and evolving clinical trends.

• Construct detailed business cases for new product concepts and market expansion opportunities, incorporating sophisticated financial modeling, scenario planning, and ROI projections to secure stakeholder buy-in and investment.

• Lead and synthesize market research initiatives, gathering and analyzing internal and external Voice of Customer (VOC), segmentation insights, and deep disease state understanding to identify unmet needs and emerging trends in cancer screening.

• Partner closely with Clinical Affairs, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Marketing teams to define and execute robust evidence generation strategies, including clinical trials, research grants, and health economic outcomes research (HEOR) studies, to support product claims and drive market adoption.

• Translate complex clinical and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable commercial product requirements and product development deliverables, ensuring seamless integration into the product lifecycle.

• Serve as a critical strategic liaison between product strategy, product management, and cross-functional teams, including R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Clinical Affairs, and Commercial, ensuring consistent communication and alignment on strategic objectives.

• Ensure comprehensive alignment on product requirements, strategic product positioning, and the integrated go-to-market strategy to guarantee launch readiness and successful market penetration.

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), clinicians, payers, and external partners to validate strategic direction, gather market feedback, and support product adoption.

• Represent the product strategy function effectively in internal strategic forums, executive reviews, and external industry engagements, acting as a subject matter expert.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, delegating tasks effectively, assessing performance, providing constructive feedback, and identifying opportunities for professional development and advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on strategic planning, market analysis, and cross-functional leadership, which are critical for driving revenue growth and market penetration. The inclusion of "evidence generation strategies" and "market access" indicates a need to understand the commercialization pathway beyond product development, reinforcing the connection to GTM and RevOps principles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in product strategy, upstream marketing, or product management within the healthcare or diagnostics industries.

• Minimum of 5 years of direct experience leading and managing people, teams, and/or complex projects.

• Demonstrated success in leading and motivating cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives in a matrixed environment.

• Proven track record of successfully developing and executing product strategies from initial concept through to successful market launch.

• Demonstrated ability to perform all essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy Development: Expertise in defining long-term product vision, roadmaps, and strategic positioning for complex product portfolios.

• Market Analysis & Insights: Proficient in conducting market research, competitive intelligence, Voice of Customer (VOC) analysis, and segmentation studies to identify unmet needs and market opportunities.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven ability to lead, influence, and align diverse teams (R&D, Clinical, Medical, Commercial, Market Access) towards common strategic goals.

• Business Case Development & Financial Modeling: Skilled in building robust business cases, including financial projections, scenario planning, and ROI analysis to support strategic investments.

• Evidence Generation Strategy: Experience in defining and collaborating on strategies for clinical trials, HEOR, and other evidence generation activities to support product claims and market access.

• Leadership & Team Management: Demonstrated ability to attract, retain, develop, and lead high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.

• Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Strong business acumen coupled with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Communication & Influence: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Preferred Skills:

• Cancer Diagnostics/Screening Expertise: Direct experience in the cancer diagnostics or screening technology market.

• Clinical Trial & Evidence Design: Familiarity with clinical trial design, execution, and the nuances of evidence generation specific to medical devices and diagnostics.

• Regulatory Affairs Acumen: Understanding of regulatory pathways and requirements for diagnostic products (e.g., FDA, international bodies).

• Market Access & Reimbursement: Knowledge of market access strategies, payer dynamics, and reimbursement landscapes within the healthcare industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level and focus on strategic leadership, market intelligence, and cross-functional execution suggest this role is critical for driving the commercial success of the screening portfolio. The preferred skills indicate a desire for specialized domain knowledge that can accelerate product adoption and market penetration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Roadmap Development: Candidates should be prepared to present examples of strategic product roadmaps they have developed, demonstrating how they translated market needs into a phased product development and launch plan.

• Business Case & Financial Modeling: A portfolio should include examples of business cases or financial models created to justify product investments, showcasing analytical rigor, scenario planning, and clear ROI projections.

• Market Research & VOC Synthesis: Showcase examples of market research projects or VOC initiatives led, highlighting how insights were synthesized into actionable product strategy recommendations and decision-making criteria.

• Cross-Functional Alignment & Project Management: Provide case studies demonstrating successful collaboration with diverse teams (R&D, Clinical, Commercial, etc.) to bring a product concept to market, emphasizing process management and stakeholder alignment.

Process Documentation:

• Product Strategy Frameworks: Evidence of creating or utilizing robust frameworks for product strategy development, including market assessment, competitive analysis, unmet needs identification, and strategic option evaluation.

• Evidence Generation Planning: Documentation or case studies illustrating involvement in defining evidence generation strategies, including the linkage between clinical/scientific data and commercial/market access objectives.

• Go-to-Market Strategy Integration: Examples of how product strategy was translated into integrated go-to-market plans, detailing the coordination across marketing, sales, and operational readiness activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this seniority, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just list responsibilities but demonstrate tangible outcomes and strategic thinking. For operations-minded candidates, showcasing how they've built processes, driven efficiency in product planning, or quantified the impact of their strategies will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $182,000.00 - $309,000.00 annually.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: Includes days for vacation, holidays, volunteering, and personal time, promoting work-life balance.

• Paid Leave: Comprehensive paid leave for parents and caregivers, supporting employees through significant life events.

• Retirement Savings Plan: A plan designed to help employees build long-term financial security.

• Wellness Support: Resources and programs focused on employee health and well-being.

• Health Benefits: Robust coverage including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance.

Working Hours:

• The role is full-time, generally aligning with a standard 40-hour work week. However, the dynamic nature of product strategy and cross-functional leadership may require flexibility and occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines and strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for the Madison, Wisconsin location. Exact Sciences notes that salaries may differ by hiring location. The role is also bonus eligible. The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing employee well-being and work-life integration, which is attractive for senior-level operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare / Biotechnology / Diagnostics. Exact Sciences is a leader in cancer diagnostics, providing innovative solutions for early detection and treatment guidance. The company operates in a highly regulated and rapidly evolving scientific field, demanding a commitment to quality, innovation, and patient outcomes.

Company Size: Exact Sciences is a significant player in the diagnostics market, suggesting a well-established corporate structure with dedicated departments and resources, but also a dynamic environment that fosters growth and innovation. This size implies opportunities for broad impact and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Exact Sciences was founded in 1997, indicating a history of growth and evolution in the challenging field of cancer diagnostics. This longevity suggests a stable yet forward-thinking organization committed to its mission.

Team Structure:

• Product Strategy Team: This role leads a team, implying a direct reporting structure for product strategists and analysts focused on the screening portfolio.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role is explicitly designed to work with and influence multiple departments, including R&D, Clinical Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Product Management, and Market Access. This indicates a highly collaborative and matrixed organizational structure.

• Reporting Hierarchy: The Director will likely report to a senior leader within Product, Strategy, or a Commercial function, with direct reports constituting the immediate product strategy team.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on market insights, VOC, financial modeling, and evidence generation highlights a commitment to data-driven decision-making in product strategy.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: The company employs structured processes for strategic planning, product development, and commercialization, requiring rigorous execution and alignment across functions.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Given the industry, there's an inherent focus on innovation, scientific advancement, and continuous improvement of products and processes to address evolving healthcare needs.

Company Website: https://www.exactsciences.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Exact Sciences' mission-driven approach to fighting cancer creates a compelling work environment. For operations professionals, this means a focus on impact, rigorous process adherence, and a high degree of collaboration to achieve ambitious goals in a regulated industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Director-level position represents a senior leadership role within the product strategy function. It involves significant strategic oversight, team management, and driving critical business outcomes related to product portfolio development and commercialization. This is a key strategic role that influences the company's future revenue streams and market position.

Reporting Structure: The Director will report to a senior executive (likely VP or SVP level) and will manage a team of product strategists and potentially analysts. This structure offers visibility to executive leadership and the opportunity to influence high-level decision-making. The role necessitates extensive collaboration with peer Directors and VPs across various departments, fostering a broad network and influence within the organization.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to the successful development and launch of screening products, which are core revenue drivers for Exact Sciences. Strategic product planning, effective market entry, and robust evidence generation directly contribute to market share, revenue growth, and ultimately, the company's mission to improve cancer detection and treatment. The decisions made here have a direct and measurable impact on top-line revenue and long-term business sustainability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into VP or SVP roles within Product, Strategy, or Commercial organizations, overseeing larger portfolios or broader functional areas.

• Cross-Functional Leadership Transition: Opportunity to transition into senior leadership roles in Product Management, Commercial Operations, or Business Development, leveraging a deep understanding of the product lifecycle and market dynamics.

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in oncology diagnostics and screening, becoming a recognized leader in the field with opportunities for industry thought leadership.

• Team Development & Mentorship: Continued opportunities to build and mentor high-performing teams, developing future leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step for operations professionals looking to move into strategic leadership. It offers direct influence on product strategy and commercial success, with clear pathways for advancement within a growing, mission-driven company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as On-site, with primary locations in Madison, Wisconsin, and potential flexibility for Phoenix, AZ; Redwood City, CA; and La Jolla, CA. This suggests a professional office environment conducive to collaboration, team meetings, and focused strategic work.

Office Location(s):

• Madison, WI: 5505 Endeavor Lane (Headquarters)

• Phoenix, AZ

• Redwood City, CA

• La Jolla, CA

These locations offer access to talent pools within key geographic hubs for the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes dedicated meeting rooms, project spaces, and common areas designed to facilitate interaction and brainstorming among cross-functional teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard technology, analytics platforms, and communication tools essential for strategic planning, data analysis, and virtual/in-person collaboration.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular in-person interaction with direct reports, peers, and senior leadership, fostering strong working relationships and effective communication.

Work Schedule:

• As a full-time, on-site role, the expectation is a standard work week (approximately 40 hours). However, given the Director-level responsibility and the nature of strategic product planning, there will be an expectation of flexibility to meet critical project milestones, launch deadlines, and address urgent market dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the value Exact Sciences places on in-person collaboration, team synergy, and the ability to foster a strong company culture. For operations professionals, this means being prepared for a structured work environment that prioritizes team cohesion and direct engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial screening to assess alignment with basic qualifications and role expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager focusing on strategic experience, leadership capabilities, and understanding of product strategy within the healthcare/diagnostics sector.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from R&D, Clinical Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, and Product Management to evaluate collaboration skills, ability to influence, and cross-functional alignment.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a strategic case study or prepare a presentation on a relevant topic (e.g., developing a product strategy for a new screening technology, analyzing market entry for a diagnostic). This assesses strategic thinking, analytical skills, and presentation abilities.

• Executive/Final Interview: A final interview with a senior executive (e.g., VP, SVP) to assess overall fit for the role, leadership potential, and strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Demonstrate Strategic Impact: Focus on case studies that highlight your direct contribution to product strategy formulation, market analysis, and successful product launches. Quantify results wherever possible (e.g., market share growth, revenue impact, successful evidence generation).

• Showcase Cross-Functional Leadership: Select examples that clearly illustrate your ability to lead and influence diverse teams, manage complex interdependencies, and drive consensus.

• Highlight Analytical Rigor: Include examples of strategic frameworks, market research syntheses, business cases, and financial models. Emphasize your approach to data analysis and translating insights into actionable recommendations.

• Tailor to Exact Sciences: Research Exact Sciences' current portfolio, mission, and strategic priorities. Frame your portfolio examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with their specific needs in cancer screening.

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to articulate your thought process, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved. Practice presenting your portfolio highlights concisely and engagingly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to develop a product strategy for a new screening technology or address a competitive threat.

• Market Analysis Task: Expect a task requiring you to analyze a specific market segment, identify unmet needs, and propose product differentiation strategies.

• Cross-Functional Alignment Scenario: A question or case study might focus on how you would align disparate stakeholders with competing priorities to achieve a common product goal.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess strategic thinking, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. A well-curated portfolio that demonstrates tangible results and a strategic, data-driven approach will be critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: Familiarity with systems used to manage product development processes, requirements, and documentation.

• Business Intelligence (BI) & Analytics Platforms: Proficiency in tools like Tableau, Power BI, or similar for data analysis, market trend identification, and performance tracking.

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): Understanding of CRM data for market segmentation, customer insights, and sales performance analysis, even if not directly managing it.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet): Experience with tools to manage project timelines, tasks, and cross-functional workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Research Databases: Access to and utilization of industry-specific databases and market intelligence platforms (e.g., IQVIA, GlobalData, Clarivate).

• Financial Modeling Software (e.g., Excel): Advanced proficiency in Excel for financial analysis, scenario planning, and business case development.

• Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides): Expertise in creating compelling presentations to communicate strategic recommendations and insights to various stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a "CRM & Automation" role in the traditional sales ops sense, an understanding of how CRM data informs product strategy and how automation can streamline market research or reporting processes would be beneficial.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to create clear and impactful data visualizations to support strategic narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is "Product Strategy," its proximity to commercialization and revenue generation means proficiency with data analysis, financial modeling, and project management tools is essential. The ability to translate data into strategic, commercially viable plans is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Accountability: Taking ownership of strategic initiatives and driving them to successful completion, with a clear focus on measurable outcomes.

• Innovation: Continuously seeking new approaches to cancer screening, market engagement, and product development.

• Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in scientific research, product claims, and business practices.

• Quality: A steadfast commitment to the quality of products and processes, ensuring patient safety and efficacy.

• Teamwork: Fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional efforts are paramount to achieving shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Strategic Partnership: Working as a strategic partner with commercial, R&D, and medical teams to co-create and execute product strategies.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Engaging in discussions and decision-making based on robust data, market insights, and evidence.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining open and transparent communication channels to ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned on strategic direction and progress.

• Influence & Consensus Building: Skillfully navigating diverse stakeholder needs and perspectives to build consensus and drive forward momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values (accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, teamwork) are foundational. For a Director of Product Strategy, demonstrating these values through strategic execution, ethical decision-making, and collaborative leadership will be critical for success and integration into the existing culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving Market: The cancer diagnostics landscape is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological advancements and regulatory changes, requiring continuous adaptation of strategy.

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Effectively translating novel scientific discoveries into commercially viable and regulatory-approved products within stringent guidelines.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Achieving seamless alignment and resource allocation across multiple departments with potentially differing priorities.

• Evidence Generation Complexity: Designing and executing clinical and economic evidence strategies that meet the rigorous demands of payers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Oncology Diagnostics Expertise: Deepen specialized knowledge in the science, market, and clinical applications of cancer screening technologies.

• Executive Leadership Development: Opportunities for formal leadership training and mentorship to hone executive-level strategic and management skills.

• Industry Thought Leadership: Potential to become a recognized voice in the oncology diagnostics space through presentations, publications, and strategic partnerships.

• Exposure to Diverse Business Functions: Gain comprehensive understanding across the full product lifecycle, from early-stage R&D to market access and commercial execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges inherent to a cutting-edge, regulated industry, but these challenges are directly tied to substantial growth and learning opportunities, making it an attractive position for ambitious operations leaders.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a product strategy for a complex healthcare product. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic frameworks, market analysis, cross-functional involvement, and measurable results).

• "How would you approach building a business case for a new cancer screening technology with uncertain market adoption?" (Prepare to discuss market sizing, risk assessment, financial modeling approaches, and key assumptions).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Exact Sciences' mission, and how does your experience align with our focus on cancer screening?" (Research company values, current portfolio, and recent news).

• "How do you foster a culture of accountability and innovation within your team?" (Provide specific examples of leadership behaviors and team management practices).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio example, clearly define the objective, your role and actions, the challenges faced, the strategy implemented, and the quantifiable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics related to market share, revenue, cost savings, efficiency gains, successful product launches, or evidence generation milestones.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Articulate why certain strategies were chosen, the trade-offs considered, and the long-term vision behind your decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with and influenced other teams to achieve success.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your methodology, alternative approaches, and the scalability of your solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic depth, leadership presence, and a clear understanding of the healthcare/diagnostics market. Your ability to articulate your thought process and quantify impact will be key differentiators.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, Screening Product Strategy position:

• Submit your application through the Exact Sciences careers portal using the provided link.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product strategy, healthcare/diagnostics, market analysis, cross-functional leadership, and team management. Use keywords from the job description and quantify achievements with specific metrics.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio that showcases your strategic planning capabilities, business case development, market research synthesis, and successful product launch experiences. Prepare to present 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate your impact.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Exact Sciences, its mission, its current screening portfolio, recent news, and its competitive landscape. Understand their commitment to innovation and patient outcomes.

• Interview Practice: Prepare for behavioral and strategic questions by practicing your responses, focusing on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions and developing clear, data-backed answers for strategic scenarios.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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