Lila Sciences

Physical Science

Director/SeniorDirectorofNewProductPlanning

$225–350k ~AI est. Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Director candidates.

The Brief

“Director / Senior Director of New Product Planning at Lila Sciences. Skills: New product planning, Commercial assessment, Asset strategy, Business development. Source physical science opportunities. Evaluate physical science opportunities”

What You'll Achieve.

Shape go/no-go decisions

Industry & Context.

Physical Science
Problems you'll solve

Analytical skills

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

7 or more years in new product planning, 7 or more years in commercial assessment, 7 or more years in asset strategy, 7 or more years in business development, Scientific literacy in physical sciences, Able to engage substantively with scientists, Translate technical nuance into commercial implications, Demonstrated ability to match platform technologies to application areas, Hands-on modeling experience, Build models from scratch, Defend assumptions, Active fluency in industry trends, Written and verbal communication skills, Distill complex analyses into crisp recommendations, Comfortable moving forward with limited oversight, Instinct for bringing clarity to ambiguous situations

Nice to Have

Advanced degree in a physical science discipline, MBA with a deep focus on deep tech, Well-connected across communities, Hands-on use of AI tools, Clear point of view on AI reshaping materials discovery

What You'll Do.

Source physical science opportunities

Evaluate physical science opportunities

Screen for scientific differentiation

Screen for commercial viability

Screen for platform fit

Track materials science trends

Track chemistry trends

Track energy systems trends

Track advanced manufacturing trends

Translate signal into actionable views

Match materials platforms to application areas

Match chemical innovations to application areas

Match physical process innovations to application areas

Recommend where Origins should concentrate effort

Build market sizing models

Build end-market demand models

Build deal economic models

Develop specifications for assets

Develop commercial theses for assets

Run secondary research

Conduct expert interviews

Conduct competitor tracking

Conduct customer landscape analysis

Conduct supply chain landscape analysis

Stress-test assumptions

Sharpen recommendations

Shape deal structures

Shape partnership constructs

Translate commercial logic into terms

Contribute to strategic thesis

Synthesize learnings into recommendations

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Cross-functional team; Science; Product; Corporate Development

Communication Scope

Written communication; Verbal communication; Crisp recommendations

Full Job Description

Your Impact at LILA Lila Sciences is hiring a Director / Senior Director, New Product Planning of Physical Science to help shape Lila Origins, our company and asset creation arm which partners to translate scientific vision into molecules, materials, and real-world ventures. As a member of a small, highly cross-functional team, this role brings the commercial voice to life. The focus is on assessing where Lila's platform can produce differentiated assets and shaping how those opportunities become ventures, partnerships, or programs. What You'll Be Building Source and evaluate new physical science opportunities for Origins, screening for scientific differentiation, commercial viability, and fit with Lila's platform capabilities Track materials science, chemistry, energy systems, and advanced manufacturing trends, including platform breakthroughs, pipeline movement, and deal activity across deep tech and industry, and translate signal into actionable views for Origins Match materials platforms and chemical or physical process innovations to application areas using technical rationale, competitive landscape, and unmet need, and recommend where Origins should concentrate effort Build and own market sizing, end-market demand, and deal economic models that inform go / no-go decisions on candidate ventures and partnerships Develop specifications and early commercial theses for assets under consideration, in partnership with Science, Product, and Corporate Development Run primary and secondary research including expert interviews, competitor tracking, and customer and supply chain landscape analysis to stress-test assumptions and sharpen recommendations Shape deal structures and partnership constructs alongside Corporate Development, translating commercial logic into terms that work for Lila and counterparties Contribute to Origins' strategic thesis by synthesizing what we learn across opportunities into recommendations on application area focus, platform bets, and partners

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