Entrepreneur in Residence to Lead Early-Stage Life Science Translational Research Project
Are you an experienced life science executive with a strong combination of R&D, business and leadership skills? Are you motivated by the opportunity to create new companies within Life Science? And do you want to be part of a fast-paced international life science environment with the opportunity to create a new start up addressing unmet needs within nutrition for low- and middle-income countries?
Then join us at The BioInnovation Institute (BII) at Nørrebro, where we are currently looking for an Entrepenur in Residence (EiR), who will be responsible for driving a project in our Bio Studio programme towards company creation within three years. The project is focused on deploying a modern precision nutrition strategy integrating the often-disparate fields of food & nutrition science, data science and biotechnology. The project aims to address malnutrition and stunting in young children and women of child-bearing age in Africa. The ambition is to upgrade the quality key macro- and micro-nutrients and deliver in a sustainable, desirable, and affordable form to the consumer.
Incubated by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, BII’s mission is to create new life science solutions to address unmet societal or health needs. At BII, our Company Creating Program Bio Studio aims to build life science start-ups based on world-class research. Bio Studio projects are three-year grant funded projects sourced from leading researchers from research institutions worldwide. The projects we admit combine scientific novelty, commercial viability, and the potential for significant societal and/or health impact. The goal is to create a viable start-up company within the three years.
BII aims to recruit a strong project team for each Bio Studio project, and it is expected that this team will form the core of the future start-up spinning out from the project. Apart from establishing a solid Project Team to be headed up by an Entrepreneur in Residence, BII provides a comprehensive network of industry, investors, and subject matter experts to support the projects.
Build the Next Life Science Start-Up
BII Bio Studio is about to start a new three-year project within food, nutrition and data science sourced in by a highly renowned Principal Investigator from a US research organisation. As EiR at Bio Studio, you will be the Project Lead, ensuring that the project is ready to become an independent company. This requires scientific, development, business and people skills as well as bringing in your own relevant network to build a new start-up. We expect you will be motivated by the opportunity to become a potential co-founder. You will be hands-on with the project team on both strategic and operational tasks. The project will enter Bio Studio at research stage, so you will have responsibility for overseeing validation of the science along with identifying and employing a business development strategy and business plan and supporting on implementation while working closely and in alignment with the Principal Investigator and Host Institution.
You will play a key role in ensuring the team is coherent, highly motivated and capable, in addition to proactively seeking expertise from stakeholders within BII and externally to further support the teams. Finally, we expect you to take on the role of CEO of the eventual spin-out company.
Your ownership of our mutual journey will be to:
- Liaison with Principal Investigator and Research Institute (Remote)
- People management of the Project Team; ensure team coherence and motivation
- Create and maintain relationships with essential stakeholders in country of choice (e.g. World Food Program, UNICEF, local government and health-oriented agencies, and CMOs)
- Engage with Industry and Investors.
- Project strategy development and business planning
- Milestone planning monitoring, and reporting
- Budgeting and monitoring (with help from BII Financial Controller)
- Project execution
- Contract handling with suppliers and universities (supported by BII)
- Company presentation and pitches
- Establish the Project Board and manage the quarterly strategic meetings
- Reporting to BII leadership and Board of Directors via Bio Studio Program management
- Participate in ad-hoc projects and due diligence processes within BII upon agreement
You will have substantial opportunities to impact and shape your own role, as well as our project-sourcing and development strategy. We expect you to work independently as a potential future CEO and you will report to the Director of Bio Studio, CBO of BII, Trine Bartholdy, and interact with all our talented and inspiring colleagues across the organisation.
Your Professional & Personal Spirit
If you are motivated by the thought of potentially becoming the future CEO of the project, keep on reading. We are looking for you, who is a natural leader with strong interpersonal skills working with a collaborative approach. Ideally you have been a CXO in a start-up previously, with experience in fundraising, and thriving with stakeholder management – and additionally, you are an experienced project manager with the drive to mentor and guide teams to ensure success.
Besides this, you have:
- Demonstrated capability to drive projects in the emerging markets space, preferably regarding improving access to quality nutrition
- Demonstrated capability to lead projects at the intersection of business in science e.g. in a Business Development, Scouting, Project Manager or Director position
- Demonstrated experience with management of projects with complex stakeholder matrices.
- Preferably a scientific background at PhD level, but a strong understanding of nutritional needs in the Global South
- Strong communicator, presenter, and stakeholder management
- Experience with contract negotiation with external parties.
- Interest and experience in interacting with relevant agencies, as well as previous experience in interacting with industry and investors, are advantages.
- A deep passion for improving health in populations with high unmet need.
- Demonstrated expertise in team building and leadership.
- Previous entrepreneurial or management consulting experience is highly valued.
Besides being professional, quality-conscious and impact-oriented, you see yourself as an independent leader who can make decisions and provide input on issues relating to administration, projects and communication. You have the ability of both working as a team member and inspiring your team of talent.
Working at BII
We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunities to develop their potential. Working at BII allows you to work with world-leading entrepreneurial scientists in a position where you will have a substantial chance to impact your job and the opportunity to develop your bio entrepreneurial skills.
BII invites you to become part of a vibrant and professional workplace with a chance to bring ideas to life and science to market for the benefit of society and human welfare.
Are you curious for more?
For more information, don't hesitate to contact Tamar Szeps-Znaider, Senior Associate, via e-mail: tsz@bii.dk or on phone: +45 5052 8202. The deadline for applying for this job is 10/11/2024. However, we will hold interviews on a rolling basis and encourage you to send your application as soon as possible.
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by clicking on the “Apply now” button.