Senior Director, Head of Computational Sciences

About the role

Flagship Pioneering, Inc. is seeking a Senior Director, Head of Computational Sciences to lead and shape the computational science function across the organization. This senior leadership role is situated in Cambridge, MA USA and involves directing scientific computing strategies that span the full breadth of Flagship's venture creation and portfolio activities. The Senior Director will be responsible for building and guiding a team of computational professionals while setting the technical vision for how data science and computation drive innovation in the life sciences. This position plays a critical part in connecting computational expertise with Flagship's broader mission of launching and supporting breakthrough biotech ventures.

Key facts

What you'll do

Lead the computational sciences team and define the strategic roadmap for all computational research and data science activities at Flagship Pioneering. Manage a multidisciplinary group of computational scientists, bioinformaticians, data engineers, and machine learning specialists across diverse projects and initiatives. Partner closely with Flagship's venture creation teams to evaluate scientific opportunities and determine where computational approaches can create meaningful impact in the biotech sector. Oversee the design, development, and deployment of computational pipelines, predictive models, and analytical frameworks that support early-stage venture formation. Work hand in hand with biologists, chemists, and engineers to embed computational thinking into every stage of the scientific process. Represent the computational sciences discipline in external forums, academic partnerships, and industry relationships that advance Flagship's mission. Champion the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics methods applied to complex biological systems and large-scale datasets. Set standards for data governance, reproducibility, and scientific computing excellence that apply across the entire organization. Provide computational guidance and strategic advice to Flagship's portfolio companies as they grow and develop their technology platforms. Communicate progress, insights, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and external stakeholders through clear, compelling presentations and written reports.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience leading computational science teams in biotech, pharmaceutical, academic, or similar high-impact environments. An advanced degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, or a closely related quantitative discipline. A strong record of building, mentoring, and retaining high-performing teams of scientists and engineers. Deep expertise in computational methods for genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, or other large-scale biological data types. Solid grounding in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data analysis techniques as applied to life science problems. Experience directing research programs from initial concept through execution, validation, and delivery of results. Exceptional ability to communicate complex computational concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences with clarity and precision. A demonstrated capacity to operate effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting with shifting priorities and multiple concurrent workstreams.

Nice to have

Prior experience working within a venture creation studio, innovation hub, or similar model that blends research with business development. A background that bridges academic research and real-world industry applications of computational and data science methods. Familiarity with venture capital evaluation processes, due diligence methodologies, and the biotech investment landscape. A history of peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or other recognized contributions to the computational sciences field.

Skills & tools

Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in computational biology, including Python, R, or equivalent scripting and analysis languages. Experience with cloud-based computing platforms and high-performance computing clusters for large-scale data processing and modeling. Working knowledge of molecular simulation, cheminformatics, and structural biology software tools relevant to drug discovery and development. Familiarity with next-generation sequencing data formats, bioinformatics pipelines, and genomic data analysis workflows. Expertise in data visualization platforms and statistical analysis software for interpreting and presenting complex datasets. Understanding of version control systems, reproducible research practices, and software engineering principles applied to scientific computing environments.

Practical notes

This position is based in Cambridge, MA USA and requires regular on-site presence at Flagship Pioneering's headquarters. The Senior Director will interact daily with a diverse group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and business professionals across multiple teams and ventures. Flagship Pioneering values a collaborative, multidisciplinary culture where computational expertise meets biological insight and business strategy. Candidates should be prepared to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, from early-stage researchers to senior executives, in a dynamic and fast-moving organization.