Senior Director of Innovation and Translational Development

Gardner Innovation Search Partners has been exclusively retained to recruit the position of Senior Director of Innovation and Translational Development for the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University Hospital is home to some of the area’s top cancer specialists, dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and managing all types of cancer. Their experienced technology transfer team guides the translation of early-stage research ideas through the commercialization process, assists with intellectual property protection when appropriate, and develops the best commercialization strategy for each technology – licensing to industry or forming start-up companies.

Position Highlights:

• Organization: Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Title: Senior Director of Innovation and Translational Development
• Salary range: Target salary is $150,000
• Work environment & Location: On-site required
• Visa Sponsorship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident preferred
• JD Required: This role involves leading negotiations and executing transactions as part of a business development team, therefore, a Juris Doctor (JD) is required

Business Development Leadership:

• Possesses gravitas and significant learning agility allowing for fluency across disciplines to digest and synthesize varied and vast information including clinical data, competitive landscape, market, and investment trends to formulate business cases that will deliver substantial enterprise value to FCCC.
• Mitigate IP, legal and reputational risks by developing and implementing appropriate contracting strategies and overseeing maintenance of a contracts clause library for transactions related to strategic alliances, master research agreements and licensing.
• Establishes and strengthens the relationship with the potential external partner throughout the scouting and deal process.
• Builds and maintains a strong external network and presence within the innovation ecosystem. Engages with the life science investment and biotech community, alongside senior FCCC executives, to represent FCCC strategic initiatives and business priorities to build relationships and industry-leading deal flow. Liaises with and support local, state, regional and national technology transfer and related organizations, as well as organizations aligned with FCCC.
• Synthesizes and communicates the merits of potential business development and investment opportunities, the role holder will enable enterprise decision-making related to business development opportunities.
• Scout homegrown and externally complimentary cutting-edge technologies and draw upon FCCC’s scientific community to rigorously evaluate their potential and fit.

Cross-functional Leadership:

• Assembles teams of internal subject matter experts. The role holder will conduct technical evaluation and due diligence activities that ensure an in-depth understanding of strategic opportunities; consult with faculty as other constituencies as appropriate to identify pain points, bright spots, barriers, and opportunities in research & development.
• Serves as the internal lead in both preparation and presentation of business case and other briefing materials for senior management with support from functions across the business. Acts with substantial urgency and entrepreneurial attitude in driving the deal and development process to go/no-go decisions.
• Works collaboratively to lead R&D, legal, finance, and commercial matrix teams throughout the entire deal process, including technical and commercial due diligence and negotiating appropriate business access terms with the potential partner to establish a business proposal. Drives forward the business development/licensing/investment proposal through FCCC governance and decision-making process.
• Working with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure effective communication, efficient decision-making, to support completion of transactions in a timely manner. Closes deals and contract in partnership with legal, finance and other areas of FCCC.

Technology Transfer & IP Operations:

• Manages, encourages, and supports the development, disclosure, and protection of FCCC’s intellectual property, technology transfer, and applications for patents, etc.
• Manages the diverse intellectual property portfolio including patent prosecution, marketing strategy, identifying potential licensees, negotiating licensing deals and maintaining a productive relationship with licensees and potential licensees.
• Advise Chief Innovation Officer on programmatic and policy development for contract and licensing activities. May provide input to university leadership on institutional administrative policies and guidelines.
• Oversees day-to-day, fast-paced negotiations of numerous types of agreements directly connected to technology transfer and IP, including, but not limited to: Material Transfer, UBMTA, Confidential Disclosure, Software License, Research Collaboration, Sponsored Research, Data Use, and Data Transfer Agreements.
• Ensures that all intellectual property are managed and compliant within the federal, state, local, and institutional guidelines (e.g. Bayh-Dole Act).

People Management:

• Manage and scale an inclusive team by attracting and mentoring people at various levels of experience to grow a high performing team around business/team needs
• Set clear expectations and goals, and assign projects aligned with team strengths, skills and motivations, provide guidance, and adjust management style to match the needs of the individual
• Manage team performance, including coaching for career growth, and create a healthy team environment
• Lead with care, recognize individual contributions, give and seek timely feedback, ensuring the team is healthy and sustaining productive relationships
• Build and scale the team by identifying skills needed, interviewing, hiring, and on-boarding new employees
• Manage team performance, including coaching for career growth, and create a healthy team environment