Role description and purpose: Reporting to the VP R&D Strategy and Collaboration, the Associate Director - Technology Evaluation will play a key role in the identification and technical assessment of novel radiopharmaceutical product opportunities, primarily in the oncology disease space but including other disease areas (such as cardiology and neurology). This will involve building a holistic view of external opportunities through horizon scanning, landscape mapping and analysis, and proactive radiopharmaceutical technology scouting from biotech/pharma/technology transfer offices (TTO’s). This role will involve in-depth technical evaluation of new product opportunities relevant to our industry and business needs.
The Associate Director - Technology Evaluation will contribute to the development of the long-term pipeline strategy, including but not limited to in-licensing pipeline products and the establishment of longer-term strategic R&D collaborations to develop novel agents. The role will require collaboration with Blue Earth colleagues and across Bracco functions, such as the Bracco Corporate Development Team and Bracco Global R&D Early-Stage Innovation Department.
Main Responsibilities, Activities, Duties and Tasks:
1. Work closely with the VP Innovation & Strategy and New Assets Evaluation Team to develop and maintain a clear view of emerging trends in the radiopharmaceutical landscape, to define promising areas of clinical unmet need for future investment focus.
2. Assist the VP Innovation & Strategy as well as domain experts in the business relevant disease areas (e.g. oncology) by providing technology/IP landscaping and analysis reports as required.
3. Provide scientific rigor on new concepts in diagnostic imaging as well as emerging technologies.
4. Lead on the identification and technical assessment of product pipeline opportunities, against pre-defined criteria (e.g. target validation, clinical unmet need, market size, imaging performance, strategic fit, intellectual property position, competition) and provide written summaries of outputs, in collaboration with BED colleagues and the Bracco Corporate Development team.
5. Manage the due diligence process for prioritized opportunities, working with functional experts to undertake gap analysis and rigorous in-depth assessment; support market research activities.
6. Develop technical risk assessments and potential mitigation approaches for product pipeline opportunities.
7. Contribute to developing business case presentations, supporting the Associate Director/Director - Business Development with technical input.
8. Develop and maintain a good understanding of current business product portfolio within the broader context of the molecular imaging landscape.
9. Support the Bracco Global R&D Early-Stage Innovation Department with technology evaluation intel, to influence the shape of their early-stage nuclear medicine project portfolio.
10. Contribute to the identification and establishment of longer-term strategic R&D collaborations.
11. Investigate potential opportunities to leverage grant funding, for academic research collaborations relating to the new product pipeline.
12. Communicate accurately and clearly to a wide variety of stakeholders to enable high quality and timely decisions for portfolio growth.
13. As a representative of Blue Earth, responsible for clear and confident communication with external parties and effective internal and external stakeholder management.
14. Ensure compliance with BED’s Standard Operating Procedures.
Education: Educated to at least degree level, preferably with a PhD in the life sciences or equivalent research experience.
Professional Experience, Knowledge & Technical Skills:
1. A background in research and development or technology innovation, in a pharma or biotech company, or a technology transfer office, preferably focused on the oncology drug development space.
2. Must have an excellent understanding of cancer biology and recent developments in cancer diagnostics and therapy, with the ability to gauge a broad range of technological and scientific fields.
3. Experience of identifying novel technologies from academic research, pharma or biotech, including familiarity with scouting processes and evaluation tools.
4. Demonstrable experience of leading and delivering on multiple technical assessments of sourced opportunities in the pharmaceutical space to an advanced stage of evaluation, taking them through internal decision-making processes.
5. A good understanding of the desired acceptance and exclusion criteria for a promising molecularly targeted diagnostic imaging (and therapeutic) agent is required.
6. Must be able to interpret and synthesize scientific data, verbally present and critically discuss scientific data at internal and external meetings.
7. Experience of conducting initial assessments of the intellectual property relating to novel technologies preferred.
8. R&D experience of radiopharmaceuticals preferred but not required.
9. Experience of managing projects involving external research collaborations a plus.
Soft Skills – Company Values & Behaviours:
1. Excellent interpersonal skills, including communication verbally and in writing. Ability to influence and build relationships/earn credibility quickly in a global organization.
2. Excellent organizational skills, including multitasking, efficiency, punctuality, and project management.
3. Excellent collaboration skills including experience in a cross-functional and highly matrixed organization.
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