Overview
Job description and what you’ll do:
ARI is launching its EDA Tech Hub, Heartland BioWorks (BioWorks), and is seeking a Director, BioLaunch who provides strategic leadership, expert guidance, and advisory support in the development and implementation of biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation and economic development initiatives. As part of BioWorks, BioLaunch will catalyze biotech innovation, support new and existing companies in Indiana and beyond, and accelerate the US production of innovative bioproducts—creating a nexus where next-generation bioproducts are discovered, made, and distributed in the US. This role will be the key leader of this initiative, working closely with the BioWorks leadership team and BioLaunch partners and staff to launch and grow programs that address biotech commercialization gaps. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep understanding of the biotech product development lifecycle. In this vital role, you will manage a portfolio of initiatives that engage start-ups to global biotech leaders. This candidate will effectively balance high level ecosystem strategy with hands-on execution, seamlessly transitioning between guiding the overall vision and diving into the details to ensure task are executed meticulously. The Director is responsible for shaping programs, fostering partnerships, and ensuring BioLaunch solutions align with regional or national priorities.
What you will do:
- Collaborate with senior leadership, ecosystem stakeholders and partners to address biotech manufacturing and commercialization gaps and needs on a local, regional and national level to inform a shared strategy for BioLaunch efforts
- Coordinate and liaise with BioWorks Commercial & Scientific Advisory Board and the Community Equity Advisory Board.
- Develop and implement a strategy to drive a portfolio of initiatives that address biotech translation and manufacturing demands for companies to bridge the early product development gaps within the ecosystem.
- Develop and implement plans to attract companies to participate in BioLaunch to achieve program metrics.
- Oversee and lead BioLaunch initiatives, providing direction and guidance to internal and external BioLaunch staff and partners.
- Collaborate with other stakeholders in the ecosystem to integrate new sources of capital for biotech innovators affiliated with the hub through new partnerships with VCs, equity partners, accelerators, and similar funders
- Drive execution success through establishment of clear metrics and robust reporting to track process and measure effectiveness of the initiative’s portfolio
- Represent BioWorks both regionally and nationally
- Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements related to biotech product development
- Possess the ability to work independently, in an unstructured environment, with multiple concurrent demands on your time
- Provide great communication and organization skills
- Willingness to travel 15% of the time – locally and within state (one day trips)
Required Qualifications to Apply:
- Bachelor’s degree in a life sciences field
- A minimum of 7 years’ experience in biotech or biomanufacturing, ideally with startup experience
- Able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams
- Proven experience cultivating and managing strategic partnerships
- Knowledge of biotechnology scale-up processes and regulatory requirements
- Creative thinker with passion for problem-solving
- United States Citizenship
- Ability to obtain a DoD Secret level clearance or other government agency equivalent
Who we are:
ARI (Applied Research Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. ARI connects regional, state and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the U.S. Department of Defense. ARI is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics, artificial intelligence and 5G. Learn more at www.theari.us.
The region is home to landmark industry leaders that span the bioecosystem (e.g., HQs of Lilly, Corteva, Elanco); the nation’s largest medical school and R1 universities focused on biotechnology and manufacturing innovations (e.g., Indiana and Purdue Universities); life sciences and biotech public private partnerships (e.g. BioCrossroads); coordinated state-regional-local prioritization of life sciences to advance economic opportunities; and a rapidly growing venture ecosystem. The Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub (BioWorks) will unite Indiana stakeholders and concentrate their efforts and resources on emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
Supported by meaningful stakeholder commitments, BioWorks will initially focus on four integrated activities that address key barriers in the region:
- BioTrain (equitable, hands-on workforce development);
- BioLaunch (networked infrastructure and support for commercialization);
- BioWorks HQ (training, technology demonstration, and convening facility); and
- BioWorks Governance (hub coordination infrastructure).
BioWorks will initially target the human/animal health sectors. However, within ten years, BioWorks will fuel Indiana’s economy by bridging and accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough technologies in human, animal, and plant biosciences, transforming these into job-creating companies that improve America’s national security, economic future, and dominance in a biotechnology future.
