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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in drug discovery and develop next-gen platforms for scientific breakthroughs.
- Company: Join Evotec, a leading data-driven biotech company shaping the future of drug development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in biotech by driving transformative innovations and collaborating with top experts.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent in Life Sciences, strong leadership, and innovation experience required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with excellent career advancement opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Innovation/Next Generation Platforms is a critical strategic leader responsible for driving scientific and technological breakthroughs that enhance Evotec’s drug discovery and development capabilities. This role, reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, leads a dedicated R&D team that looks into disruptive technologies and platform innovation, agnostic to therapeutic areas. He/she will lead a small number of central R&D programs with game-changing revenue potential. The details on the innovation areas will need to be developed, agreed upon, and monitored in the Innovation Board. The function serves as a catalyst for transformative innovation, supporting co-development projects with partners and reinforcing Evotec’s position as a leading data-driven biotech company.
Why This Role is Critical
This role is essential in shaping the future of Evotec’s innovation ecosystem, ensuring that next-generation platforms drive scientific breakthroughs and business growth. It enables Evotec’s strategic transformation, positioning the company at the forefront of industrialised drug discovery and development driven by superior data and AI.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership in Innovation & Platform Development
- Define and execute Evotec’s Next Generation Platforms strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate innovation goals and industry trends.
- Monitor all selected Innovation programs continuously, present them in the Innovation Board and ensure progress.
- Lead the development, validation, and integration/transfer into Operations of advanced biological, digital, and computational platforms to accelerate drug discovery.
- Oversee the transition of innovations from proof-of-concept to scalable solutions within Evotec’s service and partnership model.
- Act as the scientific and strategic voice for Platform innovation, representing Evotec in key external collaborations, conferences, and thought leadership forums.
- Cross-Functional & External Collaboration
- Partner with R&D, Operations, and BD teams to align innovation efforts with customer needs and commercial opportunities.
- Drive co-development partnerships with biotech, pharma, and academic institutions to expand Evotec’s technology leadership.
- Collaborate with Therapeutic Area Heads to tailor platform innovations to specific disease areas.
- Ensure seamless integration of Next Generation Platforms into Evotec’s drug discovery and development workflows.
- Establish a small central scouting & ideation team that collects and assesses innovation opportunities and presents selected major opportunities to an Innovation board.
- Operational & Financial Oversight
- Develop and manage the investment roadmap for Next Generation Platforms, ensuring alignment with business priorities and ROI expectations.
- Oversee budgeting and resource allocation, ensuring that platform investments are efficiently leveraged.
- Establish KPIs and success metrics to track innovation impact, ensuring scientific and commercial viability.
- Capability Building & Technology Acceleration
- Lead a small scouting and ideation team that collects and assesses innovation opportunities and identifies and initiates selected next-gen innovation technology projects.
- Build, as/when required, a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and data experts to establish and execute these selected technology projects.
- Ensure Evotec remains at the forefront of cutting-edge science and technology in drug discovery by handing these technology projects over to Operations when fully validated.
- Innovation Board Leadership & Governance
- Design, establish and lead Evotec’s newly formed Innovation Board (IB), a cross-functional governance body responsible for screening, reviewing, and deciding on R&D budget investments for innovation projects.
- Develop and implement a structured process for proposal submissions, ensuring accessibility across all functions submitting proposals.
- Prepare and facilitate quarterly IB meetings, chair discussions, and ensure comprehensive documentation of decisions and actions.
- Maintain a neutral and facilitative role during proceedings, summarise outcomes, and track follow-ups to ensure accountability and transparency.
- Ensure that the IB proposal review process, decisions, and outcomes are aligned with and communicated to other relevant functions.
Knowledge & Experience
- Deep expertise in technological innovation trends in the Drug Discovery and/or Biotech industry.
- Proven track record in leading innovation and technology development in biotech, pharma, or academia.
- Experience managing complex projects and multidisciplinary stakeholder environments.
- Strong financial acumen and experience with project-based ownership for ROI’s, budget management, and resource planning.
- Strong partnership development experience, particularly in co-innovation and strategic collaborations.
- Solid understanding of IP and compliance-related aspects around investing into innovative technology projects and activities.
- Excellent ability to translate scientific/technological innovation into commercially viable solutions.
- PhD or equivalent experience in Life Sciences, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, AI, or a related field.
Competencies
- Thought Leadership - The Head of Innovation/Next Generation Platforms is forward-thinking, consistently anticipating market shifts, understands current and future players, and proactively shapes actions to capitalise on opportunities.
- Business Leadership - Demonstrates a solid understanding of commercial strategies and applies them to achieve business success.
- People Leadership - Works with colleagues across functions to ensure the Innovation / Next Generation Platforms strategy is understood.
EVP Head of Innovation - Next Generation Platforms (all genders) in Macclesfield employer: Evotec SE
Contact Detail:
Evotec SE Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land EVP Head of Innovation - Next Generation Platforms (all genders) in Macclesfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at conferences. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or presentation that highlights your past projects and innovations. This will help you stand out during interviews and showcase your strategic thinking.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Evotec, and express your interest in their innovation initiatives. A little initiative can go a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Keep learning! Stay updated on the latest trends in biotech and drug discovery. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also show potential employers that you're passionate about the field.
We think you need these skills to ace EVP Head of Innovation - Next Generation Platforms (all genders) in Macclesfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of EVP Head of Innovation. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; focus on your achievements! Quantify your successes where possible, like mentioning specific projects that led to significant breakthroughs or revenue growth. We love numbers!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets right to the heart of your qualifications and ideas.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Evotec SE
✨Know Your Innovation Landscape
Before the interview, dive deep into the latest trends in drug discovery and biotech innovation. Familiarise yourself with Evotec's current projects and how they align with industry advancements. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also your strategic thinking capabilities.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading cross-functional teams and driving innovation. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed complex projects and fostered collaboration among diverse stakeholders. This is crucial for a role that demands strong people leadership.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand Evotec’s business priorities and how the Next Generation Platforms can drive growth. Be prepared to discuss how you would develop and manage an investment roadmap that aligns with these goals, showcasing your financial acumen and strategic insight.
✨Engage with Thought Leadership
Demonstrate your ability to think ahead by discussing potential future trends in biotech and how Evotec can leverage them. Bring ideas on how to position the company as a thought leader in the industry, showing that you’re not just reactive but proactive in shaping the future.