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Director
Chief Executive Officer – Diagnostics Full-time NEW
[Please click the Apply button for the link or address] is a new subsidiary of Terasom s.r.o., focused exclusively on bringing a breakthrough cancer diagnostic platform to market. The platform isolates exosomes (tiny biological particles shed by cells into the bloodstream) and detects cancer biomarkers using a patented turbidimetric readout – delivering results in under 15 minutes at a fraction of the cost of current liquid biopsy technologies. The technology has been validated on 65 lung cancer and 100+ prostate cancer clinical samples, achieving 90–97% sensitivity. Three patent families protect the core technology. Independent AFM imaging by the Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry (Prague) has confirmed the quality of exosome isolation. AI-based analysis of the diagnostic data is being performed by Nanometrix (London).
The company has an existing prototype isolation device and readout instrument, a regulatory roadmap prepared by QbD Group (Belgium), and a team of 5 scientists in Prague. What it needs now is an operational leader who can take this from prototype to product.
Leadership Structure
[Please click the Apply button for the link or address] is led by its co-founders:
- Dr. Daniela Pankova (Co-Founder & CSO) – responsible for scientific direction, core technology development, and translational strategy
- Jonathan Jackson (Co-Founder)
The CEO will work in close partnership with the CSO, ensuring tight integration between scientific innovation and product development, and will be responsible for operational execution and company scaling.
The Role & Challenge
- We are seeking an experienced, hands-on CEO to lead [Please click the Apply button for the link or address] through its next phase: transforming a validated prototype into a robust, manufacturable, and commercially viable diagnostic product.
- This is a high-impact, execution-focused role, requiring close collaboration with scientific leadership and direct involvement in engineering, regulatory, and commercial strategy.
- The role expects to be a leader who can translate scientific innovation into a real-world product, in close collaboration with the founding team.
- Someone comfortable operating at the intersection of engineering, regulatory, and business.
- A builder who thrives in a resource-constrained, high-potential startup environment.
This role exists because the company faces specific, concrete engineering and commercialisation challenges that require an experienced IVD operator to solve:
- Find the company to redesigning the specific prototype into the fully working equipment.
- The company needs to navigate a three-stage regulatory pathway: Research Use Only (4–6 months), then IVDR Class A (8–12 months), then IVDR Class C diagnostic approval (20–24 months).
- The $5M investment that was expected has not materialised. The company needs to find alternative funding through grants, angel investment, and early revenue.
What You Will Do
Device Engineering & Manufacturing (First 6 Months – Highest Priority)
- Select and engage a Design for Manufacture (DFM) engineering firm to redesign both the isolation device and readout instrument for volume production.
- Manage the DFM relationship through assessment, concept design, detailed design, and prototyping.
- Redesigning and simplifying existing prototypes. Target: injection-moulded, assembly time under 5 minutes.
- Solve the readout device environmental sensitivity problem – either through on-board compensation or optical redesign.
- Qualify manufacturing partners for production at volumes of 200–10,000 units.
- Supporting other 3 independent programs.
- Supporting patents applications.
Regulatory & Quality
- Execute the QbD Scenario 1 roadmap: establish ISO 9001 QMS, achieve RUO product launch within 6 months.
- Prepare for QbD Scenario 2: transition to ISO 13485, IVDR Class A self-declaration.
- Implement design controls from the outset to minimise rework for IVDR Class C.
- Oversee clinical sample collection and clinical performance studies for IVDR Class C validation.
Commercial & Revenue
- Launch the RUO isolation device to research customers, biotech companies, and academic institutions.
- Develop the commercial strategy: pricing, distribution, key accounts.
- Build relationships with pharma companies for biomarker discovery and clinical trial partnerships.
- Generate first revenue within 9–12 months of joining.
Fundraising
- Lead grant applications (EIC Accelerator, EIC Pre-Accelerator, TACR SIGMA).
- Prepare and execute a bridge funding round (€2–€5M).
- Build relationships with biotech-focused investors for a future Series A.
Team & Operations
- Manage the Prague laboratory and team of 5 scientists on a day-to-day basis.
- CEO works in close partnership with CSO, who leads scientific direction and core technology development.
- Report to the co-founders (Jonathan Jackson and Dr. Daniela Pankova).
- Hire additional team members as needed (engineer, commercial, regulatory).
Required Qualifications
Must-Have
- 5+ years of leadership experience in an IVD, medical device, or diagnostics company – ideally in an early-stage or scaling environment.
- Direct, hands-on experience taking a medical device or IVD product from prototype through CE-marking (EU MDR or IVDR) and first commercial sales.
- Understanding of Design for Manufacture processes – you must have worked with engineering firms to turn a prototype into a production-ready product.
- Strong knowledge of ISO 13485, IVDR regulatory requirements, and design control processes.
- Demonstrated success in fundraising: track record of securing at least €2M in combined grants and investment.
- Based in Prague or willing to relocate immediately. This cannot be a remote role.
- Fluent English. Czech language skills are a plus but not required.
Highly Desirable
- Experience with optical/spectroscopic instruments or point-of-care diagnostic devices.
- Understanding of liquid biopsy, biomarkers, or molecular diagnostics.
- Experience with EU grant applications (Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator).
- Network in European diagnostics, pharma, or MedTech investment communities.
- Experience managing contract manufacturers and outsourced engineering.
What We Are NOT Looking For
- A pure scientist – we have world-class scientific leaderships.
- A big-company executive who needs large teams and infrastructure – this is a startup where the CEO will be hands-on in everything from DFM reviews to supplier negotiations.
- Someone who has never personally shepherded a device through CE-marking – we need someone who has done this before, not someone who has managed people who did it.
- A remote worker – Prague lab presence is non-negotiable.
Compensation
- Base salary: €80,000–€120,000 per annum.
- Equity: base 4–5 % of [Please click the Apply button for the link or address] subsidiary (vesting over 4 years, 1-year cliff), potentially additional 2–3 % milestone-based: (funding, CE mark, revenue) or bonuses tied to achievement.
- Potential path to CEO of the Terasom parent company based on performance.
- Relocation supports available.
Reporting & Structure
Reports to: Co-Founders (Jonathan Jackson, 70% and Dr. Daniela Pankova, 30%).
Company: [Please click the Apply button for the link or address] – a subsidiary of Terasom s.r.o.
Direct reports: Laboratory team (5 scientists), future hires.
Key partners: DFM engineering firm, QbD Group (Belgium), Nanometrix (London), RP World
(Shanghai),Dehns (England), Cambridge Consultants (England).
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and a brief cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing two questions:
(1) Describe a specific medical device or IVD product you personally took from prototype to CE-mark – what was the biggest engineering challenge and how did you solve it?
(2) What would you do in your first 90 days at [Please click the Apply button for the link or address]?
Contact: daniela.pankova@terasom.org
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Target start date: June–July 2026.