Director, Data & Technology

About the role

Flagship Pioneering, Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Director of Data & Technology to lead the organization's data strategy and technological infrastructure. This role is critical in shaping how data, software, and IT services support scientific research, operational efficiency, and business growth. The successful candidate will oversee the design, development, and implementation of data architecture, cloud solutions, and software workflows, ensuring they meet the organization's strategic objectives. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Strategy and Operations, this position will manage a team of 3-5 direct reports, including data engineers, software developers, and IT specialists. The role also involves collaborating with external vendors and consultants to ensure the organization's technological needs are met with high standards of security, reliability, and scalability. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data engineering, cloud platforms, and enterprise IT operations, with a proven track record of delivering complex technical projects in a scientific or R&D environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive data strategy that aligns with the organization's overall goals, ensuring data quality, security, and accessibility across all departments.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a multidisciplinary team of data engineers, software developers, and IT professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Translate stakeholder requirements from scientific, operational, and business units into detailed technical projects, setting clear milestones and ensuring timely delivery.
• Design and enhance the organization's data architecture, focusing on cloud-based solutions, data modeling, data governance, and scalable data pipelines.
• Collaborate closely with software engineering teams and scientific staff to implement reliable workflows for deploying software applications, machine learning models, and data processing pipelines in production environments.
• Oversee the development of custom software solutions, automation workflows, and integrations to streamline scientific and operational processes.
• Manage the organization's IT infrastructure, ensuring secure, compliant, and high-performing IT services, including cybersecurity, identity management, and SaaS administration.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external vendors, consultants, and service providers to support data and IT needs, negotiating contracts and ensuring service level agreements are met.
• Serve as the primary strategic leader for data and technology initiatives, providing regular updates to senior leadership on progress, challenges, and opportunities.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize infrastructure to improve efficiency, reliability, and security.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data privacy regulations and industry standards, maintaining best practices in data security and IT governance.
• Support scientific teams by providing data infrastructure and tools that facilitate research, experimentation, and data analysis, ensuring workflows are and reproducible.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices in data engineering, cloud computing, and enterprise IT to continuously improve the organization's capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data engineering, bioinformatics, information systems, or a related field; an advanced degree such as a Master's or PhD is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in data engineering, software development, digital platform management, or IT operations, preferably within a scientific or R&D environment.
• Proven track record of formulating and executing a comprehensive technical strategy that aligns with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams of technical professionals, including direct reports and external service providers, with a focus on mentorship and performance management.
• Strong knowledge of cloud data architecture and engineering, with experience in designing and managing data pipelines, data lakes, and data warehouses. Familiarity with AWS cloud services is preferred.
• Hands-on experience deploying, maintaining, and scaling production software applications and machine learning workflows.
• Deep understanding of enterprise IT operations, including cybersecurity, identity management, SaaS administration, and compliance standards.
• Experience supporting complex scientific workflows, data analysis pipelines, or R&D data infrastructure.
• Track record of delivering high-quality results on schedule, with excellent problem-solving and project management skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, capable of working effectively with both technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and adapt to changing organizational needs.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), such as Benchling, or similar scientific data management tools.
• Experience working with generative AI, workflow automation, or AI-native tools to enhance data and software workflows.
• Knowledge of scientific data standards and best practices for reproducibility and data sharing.

Skills & tools

• Data engineering and management tools such as data pipelines, ETL/ELT frameworks, and data modeling.
• Cloud platforms, primarily AWS, including services like S3, EC2, Lambda, and RDS.
• Software development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps practices.
• Machine learning frameworks and deployment tools.
• Cybersecurity best practices for enterprise IT and data security.
• IT service management and SaaS administration.

Practical notes

This position may require occasional travel to support vendor meetings, conferences, or organizational events. Flagship Pioneering offers a competitive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. The organization values diversity and inclusion and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Applications should be submitted by [insert application deadline].