Department: Provost's Office/CBC
Salary/Grade: EXS/15

Job Summary:

The Senior Director of New Program Innovation and Entrepreneurship will oversee the professional development of the Chicago Biomedical Consortium’s (CBC) Entrepreneurial Fellows (EFs).  The Senior Director will use prior experience in early-stage drug development and strong collaboration skills to work with the other members of the CBC to supervise EFs from the start of their term all the way to the end, helping them analyze faculty members’ research and develop investment theses that help determine how CBC science awards are allocated.  The Senior Director will work with the EFs to monitor and guide faculty whose research is funded.

*Note:  Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• The Senior Director supervises CBC EFs day-to-day as they identify potential projects that have the most promise for commercialization.
• The Senior Director guides the EF as they work with CBC member Faculty to develop their research projects into an investment plan that will be considered for Accelerator Award funding. 
• The Senior Director monitors EFs as they work with CBC faculty to make presentations to funding committee.
• The Senior Director develops a curriculum that establishes the foundation of biomedical business and analysis.  This curriculum will be administered at the beginning of the EF terms to give the EFs grounding in early-stage biopharma asset development.  During the term, the Senior Director invites speakers to give a series of talks and connect EFs to mentors to enrich the curriculum and experience.
• The Senior Director, working with the Executive Director and other CBC personnel, helps the EFs ensure that Accelerator Award recipients execute according to plan.  The team monitors progress monthly and iteratively refines the development plan to accommodate any real time issues that arise.
• The Senior Director oversees the EFs as they help CBC Faculty make connections to other capital and expertise resources.  To do this, the Senior Director will curate a host of services and Contract Research Organizations that will be necessary for moving projects forward.
• The Senior Director collects data needed to assess the health and success of the EF program including metrics of collaboration, productivity, and new research directions.  The Senior Director ensures that these data are available to present for oversight and fundraising
• The Senior Director builds relationships with CBC member faculty and members of the Chicagoland life sciences community to connect EFs to future opportunities after their fellowship.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• MA/Ph.D. with 7+ years of relevant science experience preferably in bio-pharmaceutical/ life science industry
• Familiarity with efficient strategies to solve problems relevant to early drug discovery, preferably in oncology, immunology, or neuroscience
• Knowledge of assay design, validation, and implementation across multiple target classes
• Strong understanding of best-in-class target validation through in vitro mechanistic and in vivo studies
• Understanding of the classic biotechnology/life sciences venture process and M&A
• Experience up-managing multiple people and multiple simultaneous projects
• Ability to balance execution across the multiple processes needed for programing including advisory board meetings, applications process, curriculum, etc.
• Experience mentoring junior scientists and developing talent
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, independently troubleshoot and deliver results in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Ability to collaborate with partners and key stakeholders to facilitate the completion of CDAs, MSAs, MTAs, and Statements of Work
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with clear and effective written and verbal communication skills needed to build positive relationships with partners

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