Director Reagent Research and Development

Job Description

Lead the scientific strategy and end-to-end execution of reagent research and development for a highly regulated immunohistochemistry (IHC) portfolio. This role guides a multidisciplinary R&D organization, ensures projects meet quality, regulatory, budget, and timeline expectations, and advances reliable reagent products from concept through transfer to manufacturing and commercialization.

What You Will Do

• Define and execute the reagent R&D strategy for the IHC portfolio, aligned with business priorities, product roadmaps, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead planning, prioritization, resourcing, and delivery across multiple concurrent reagent development programs.

• Ensure development work follows applicable IVD and IVDR design-control expectations, including risk management, verification and validation, traceability, and audit-ready documentation.

• Provide scientific direction for antibody development, detection chemistries, buffers, controls, ancillary reagents, analytical methods, and automated IHC technologies.

• Review and approve experimental plans, data packages, technical reports, design outputs, and project decisions.

• Apply Agile approaches, such as Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid methods, to improve visibility, iteration, cross-functional coordination, and predictable delivery.

• Partner with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Product Management, Instrument R&D, manufacturing, customers, and other internal and external stakeholders.

• Guide transfer of reagent designs into manufacturing and support commercialization, audits, inspections, and post-development technical needs.

• Own departmental budgets, resource allocation, schedules, risk identification, and mitigation planning.

• Lead, coach, and develop an organization of approximately 25 to 30 employees, including four direct-report managers and the Histology Laboratory Manager.

• Oversee laboratory operations and reinforce good laboratory practices, safety, compliance, 5S, reproducibility, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

• Identify and implement technologies, automation, and process improvements that strengthen scientific rigor, throughput, and product quality.

• Communicate program status, risks, resource needs, and recommendations clearly to executive and cross-functional stakeholders.

This is an onsite position

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, biomedical science, or a related scientific field.

• Scientific expertise sufficient to direct IHC reagent development, including antibody-based technologies, detection chemistry, cancer diagnostics, and laboratory automation.

• Demonstrated people leadership in a scientific or laboratory organization, including experience leading managers and developing technical teams.

• Ability to manage an IHC or related life-science laboratory using good laboratory practices; no laboratory certification is required for this role.

• Working knowledge of regulated product development and design controls in an IVD or similarly regulated environment.

• Ability to manage a portfolio of technical projects, balancing priorities, timelines, budgets, resources, risks, and documentation requirements.

• Practical experience applying Agile methods to scientific, product-development, or technical workflows.

• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with customers and senior leaders..

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or doctorate in a relevant scientific discipline.

• Deep knowledge of IVDR requirements and audit or inspection readiness.

• Experience transferring reagent products from R&D into manufacturing and commercialization.

• Experience implementing 5S, laboratory automation, or other operational-excellence practices.

Additional Details

This job has a full time weekly schedule. Applications for this job will be accepted until at least September 11, 2026 or until the job is no longer posted.

The full-time equivalent pay range for this position is $210,528.00 - $328,950.00/yr plus eligibility for bonus, stock and benefits. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for a preferred location. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locations

Agilent Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity and merit-based employer that values individuals of all backgrounds at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases. Agilent Technologies, Inc., is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive in the workplace where everyone is welcome, and strives to support candidates with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance with any part of the application or interview process or have questions about workplace accessibility, please email job_posting@agilent.com or contact +1-262-754-5030. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please visit www.agilent.com/en/accessibility.

Travel Required:

10% of the Time

Shift:

Day

Duration:

No End Date

Job Function:

R&D