Job Title : Scientific Director – Innovation
Location : Rouken Discovery Centre, Motherwell, ML1 3ST
Reports to : Chief Science Officer
We take our tagline seriously, disrupting the traditional CRO model with our personalised and collaborative approach. We provide our global customer base with in vitro research services across the therapeutic areas of inflammation, auto-immunity, immuno-oncology and oncology. Backed by brilliant minds, our high-quality data accelerates customers’ drug discovery journeys to the clinic. From our beginnings in 2015, to our current vision of being the most trusted research partner to biotherapeutic innovators, we prioritise sustainable growth. Our culture and values are the core of all we do – that’s what makes us proud and stand out.
Interested? Apply now to become part of the team at an innovative CRO.
THE ROLE
The Innovation department plays a pivotal role in identifying market demands and delivering high-value, transformative solutions to meet RoukenBio’s customer needs. As Scientific Director, you will serve as a leader, offering direction and inspiration across the company within your scientific domain.
In this role, you will take ownership of the development of new services, products, and business initiatives, from initial concept through to successful commercial launch. You will lead teams and be accountable for the efficient execution of transformational programs that drive the company’s growth.
You will lead or support efforts to secure external funding and establish strategic research partnerships with customers, collaborators, and stakeholders, ensuring the company maintains excellence and competitiveness. Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will contribute to strategic decision-making and value creation initiatives aimed at scaling the organization’s capabilities and impact.
As a thought leader, you will motivate, mentor and upskill scientific talent, fostering an environment of continuous learning and innovation. Additionally, you will play a key role in promoting and communicating RoukenBio’s scientific expertise to internal teams, partners, and the broader community.
WHAT WE EXPECT YOU TO DO
Key responsibilities:
1. Independently plan, manage, lead and support R&D and innovation programmes which aim to expand the company’s service offerings in line with its strategic objectives.
2. Own and be accountable for lifecycle of innovation programs, including inception, validation, technical delivery, commercialisation, marketing and operational readiness.
3. Generate ideas, define, validate and demonstrate commercial value for new products and service.
4. Collaborate with commercial team to analyse customer and market needs and support validation and commercialisation of innovation programmes.
5. Keep on trend with scientific and drug development advances and be able to translate this knowledge to actionable insights to enhance the company’s service provision.
6. Support CSO and leadership in developing the company’s scientific strategy.
7. Prepare patent applications and support the company’s IP strategy.
8. Evaluate, develop and commercialise new technologies and equipment.
9. Act as a subject matter expert in your area of expertise to support wider innovation strategy and customer needs.
10. Lead grant proposal preparation and submission.
11. Understand the need for and prepare financial justification for new capex or programs of work, prepare robust ROI information to allow the Board to take decisions about future spend.
12. Act as a scientific role model, motivate, inspire and promote innovative mindset.
13. Train, mentor and develop scientists to their full potential, building the company’s capacity, enhancing capabilities and improving customer service.
14. Line-manage members of your team.
15. Provide feedback to teammates and colleagues, encourage people to ask questions and ensure all team members have the opportunity to be heard.
16. Conduct performance and training reviews in accordance with company policies.
17. Create training material and deliver training as and when required.
18. Act as a role model and champion our Core Values for all, which supports our culture and behaviours within the Company.
Leadership
1. Lead cross functional teams to deliver against project milestones and deadlines.
2. Take control and actively resolve problems.
3. Communicate clearly to your team and colleagues’ critical information and feedback on projects.
4. Be decisive and accountable. Make tough calls on projects and provide directions. Take responsibility for decisions, own projects both successful and challenging.
5. Be confident of your abilities and aware of your limitations.
6. Be results-orientated and have a to-do attitude.
Project Management
1. Independently and efficiently project manage several projects.
2. Assess and plan future project demands and allocate resources. Assess risks and prepare for it.
3. Proactively and efficiently define and communicate project milestones and progress to internal and external stakeholders.
4. Define collect and interpret KPI to assess efficacy of innovation process and output.
Commercial
1. Lead or support proposal and contract development, negotiate contracts and work closely with business development teams to respond to customer requests.
2. Stay up to date with trends in biotechnology, drug development pipelines, regulatory environments, and competitors to help shape service offerings and win new business.
3. Pitch the organisation’s capabilities, demonstrate scientific values and explain how the organisation can solve specific customer needs.
4. Directly or indirectly engage in activities that contribute to revenue generation, including supporting marketing initiatives, building new services and products, repurposing current capabilities.
5. Act as a thought leader in specific scientific areas by actively participating and presenting in conferences, presenting research in webinars, collaborating on publications that highlight scientific achievements.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FROM YOU
We would like you to have the following:
* PhD or equivalent experience in life sciences (e.g. Cell Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology etc).
* 7+ years of experience within the CRO, biotechnology industry or academia ideally with exposure to both early-stage R&D and commercialisation.
* In-depth knowledge and a strong interest in cell biology, molecular biology, or immunology. Candidates with expertise in stem cell technologies, iPSCs, organotypic model development, and their applications in drug development will be considered favourably.
* In depth understanding of various experimental methodologies such as flow cytometry, SPR, qPCR, immunology assays, molecular editing, cell engineering, high content techniques (e.g. scRNAseq).
* Demonstrated experience in managing complex scientific projects involving cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and tight deadlines.
* Extensive experience in interpreting scientific data and making actionable decisions based on results output.
* Experience driving innovation and R&D programs from inception to market.
* Strong communication skills, including the ability to present scientific concepts and research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
* A proven record of scientific leadership i.e., leading a scientific group in an industrial or academic environment.
* Understanding of market research, competitor analysis, business case development, and the ability to identify commercial opportunities for scientific innovation.
* Strong scientific writing skills, demonstrated through successful grant applications, research publications, and technical reports.
* Understanding in leveraging digital tools, data analytics, and automation to optimize innovation, R&D productivity, and decision-making is desirable but not essential.
To support a culture within RoukenBio which is aligned to our company values and behaviours, we would like you to be:
* Able to lead and drive motivation within the team and with wider colleagues and projects in support of achieving the company’s strategy.
* Goal-oriented, able to deliver success for both self and the wider team within required timescales.
* Self-motivated, highly organised, multi-tasker who can work independently whilst overseeing team productivity.
* A strategic thinker who is adaptable to change in order to achieve the company’s strategy.
* Resilient with high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ) with the ability to see things from others perspective.
* Able to see the big picture and translate this into meaningful decisions/actions.
* Able to present, influence and persuade key stakeholders at all levels of a customer organisation, including executive Board and C-suite.
* Highly aware of what’s happening in other areas of the business in order to anticipate imminent business needs and prepare in advance.
* Solutions driven which helps to solve problems and drive continuous improvement.
* Focused, with an exceptional attention for detail.
* Customer focused with our customers at the heart of everything that you do particularly in understanding the needs and requirements of our customers.
* A team player to learn, grow, and share best practice with colleagues.
* Of a curious mindset, question, listen, and enhance your own understanding of what we do.
* Customer focused, with the customer at the heart of everything that you do.
* Flexible and adaptable.
WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM US
You will get the chance to learn, grow, develop, and enhance your career within a biotechnology company at the forefront of drug development strategies. In addition, the company offers the following benefits package:
•Competitive salary starting from £64,963.
•32 days holiday per annum (inclusive of public holidays) which increases to a maximum of 37.
•Death in Service Benefit which includes access to a 24/7 virtual GP.
•Flexible working.
•Yearly Audible subscription.
•Refer a Friend Scheme.
•Free Healthy Snacks.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £64,963.00 per year
* Company events
* Company pension
* Discounted or free food
* Flexitime
* Life insurance
* On-site parking
* Referral programme
Schedule:
* Monday to Friday
#J-18808-Ljbffr