Senior Assistant Director, Tech Biz (SRTT, SIBER)

A.STAR Strategic Research and Translational Thrusts (SRTTs) are mission-focused programmes in strategic and emerging areas that are cross-disciplinary and of wider strategic interest to A.STAR and Singapore. Set up to address ambitious technological challenges towards impactful outcomes, each SRTT is led by a Programme Director (PD) and is centrally facilitated and supported by A.STAR HQ.

The Singapore Integrative Biosystems & Engineering Research (SIBER) SRTT harnesses synthetic biology capabilities to aid the sustainable transformation of Singapore Energy & Chemicals sector with the aim to expand to other sectors. It will initially create a synthetic biology platform for sustainable chemicals and fuels, powered by a unique library utilising the biodiversity of Singapore. SIBER's vision is to be a premier hub in industrial biotechnology innovation for the energy / chemicals as well as other sectors, empowering Singapore to seize opportunities in the future bioeconomy.

Job Description:

• Foster and promote R&D collaboration between companies/agencies with researchers/research units in A.STAR SRTT, to drive impactful outcomes working closely with the SIBER SRTT Programme Director (PD) and the Scientific Programme Manager (SPgM).
• Work closely with the SIBER SRTT PD, SPgM, Principal Investigators and Research Scientists to handle commercial collaboration agreements and ensure compliances are met accordingly to A.STAR practices and policies. Identify market opportunities and prepare market intelligence information to the SIBER SRTT PD, SPgM to facilitate decision-making and occasionally convinces others where strong interests exists to adopt new concepts and approaches.
• Work with I&E IPM to handle filed IPs generated from A.STAR SRTT.
• Work with I&E Industry cluster through grant applications for productization, licensing or formation of new spin off. The person should also be supporting project management of projects establish through the collaborations.
• Compile, update and maintain marketing materials on SIBER SRTT technologies for industry engagements.
• Relevant ad-hoc duties as required by SPgM.

Requirements:

• Master or PhD in Biology, Chemistry, or Engineering Sciences or equivalent.
• 5 years of industry/agency experience, with 3-5 years in a business development and/or technical strategic planning and execution role.
• Candidates with experience and knowledge in advanced scientific concepts and cutting-edge technologies, synthetic biology, molecular biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, bioinformatics or other related fields, will have an advantage.
• Experience in project management in an R&D, Technology and/or Operations environment, interfacing with private and public sector agencies would be a plus.
• Excellent oral and writing skills
• Pro-active, quality conscious, and results oriented.
• A strong collaborative ethos for team-based working.