BIRAC invites for Exciting Career Opportunities - 6 posts | Doctorate in Life Sciences/ Pharma/ Bio Technology

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Public Sector Section 25 ‘Not-for-Profit Company’ recently set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India to promote and nurture innovation research and growth of the biotech enterprise. BIRAC as an Interface agency serves the emerging biotech industries through gap filling interventions that facilitate high risk research, innovation and product development and also facilitates industry academia interaction. BIRAC’s focus is on empowering and enabling the biotech innovation ecosystem for affordable product development.

Posts: Head/Team Lead, Project Officer, Project Manager, Technical Officer, Business Development Manager, Head / Team Lead, Manager

Position: Head/ Team Lead - Investment Group - Level: 4/5
Purpose: Responsible for the investment programmes. Lead the implementation of the schemes for project appraisal, review, sanction, monitoring and management.
1. Key Responsibilities:
a. Project Appraisal
i. Drive project appraisal exercise (both technical and financial due diligence) for different projects under each scheme
ii. Define parameters for appraisal of projects under various schemes
b. Investment Management
iii. Develop plans for structuring of various investment schemes in areas such as target setting, modes of funding or fund disbursement etc
iv. Develop financial management guidelines, set budgets and assure expenditure monitoring of projects
v. Define performance indicators for each investment for effective monitoring
vi. Apply project management and quality assurance principles to all phases of the project.
c. Team Management
vii. Develop and nurture high performing teams
viii. Engage in continual learning to refine and develop further new programmes.
d. Project Management
ix. Ensure high quality service, and solicit and act on feedback.

2. Necessary Qualification:
– PhD in Life Sciences/ Pharma/ Bio Technology from a recognized and reputed institute

3. Experience:
– 10 years of experience in public/private sector enterprises with at least 5 years of experience in managing investment projects and leading multi-disciplinary teams in project appraisal, monitoring and management.

Position: Project Officer Investment - Level 1
Purpose: Evaluation and management of projects as per the guidelines.
1. Key Responsibilities:
a. Project Management
i. Work with Project Managers for managing different projects under various schemes, finalizing work plans and milestones with timelines
ii. Maintain, update and monitor project plan under the supervision of Manager
iii. Prepare and document project status reports
iv. Follow the established standards for project reporting and documentation
v. Deliver quality work on timely basis
vi. Understand sensitivity of projects and maintain confidentiality
vii. Timely disbursements
b. Team Management
viii. Understand team objectives and cooperate and collaborate with others to achieve them
ix. Adhere to internal and external compliance responsibilities in a timely manner
x. Demonstrate an awareness of business strategy and service offerings

2. Necessary Qualification:
B.Tech in Life Sciences/ Pharma/ Bio Technology from a recognized and reputed institute. M.Sc/ M Tech in all the stated fields will be preferred.

3. Experience:
2-4 years with at least 2 years of work experience in related area of work – Project management, Grants management.

Position: Head / Team Lead - Strategic Partnership and Entrepreneur Development - Level 4/5
Purpose: Responsible for strategic and collaborative partnerships, frame and implement strategies for business development and resource mobilization and entrepreneurship development in the biotech sector
1. Key Responsibilities:
a. Partnership Development
i. Frame and implement strategies for entering into partnerships with organizations and institutions, nationally and internationally.
ii. Lead assessment of potential partner prior to entering into partnership
iii. Carry out financial and institutional evaluation of prospective partner organizations
iv. Identify scope for enhancing relationships with existing partners
b. Business Development and Resource Mobilization
v. Identify prospects for new business opportunities
vi. Implement strategies for resource mobilization
vii. Reach out to potential donor organizations that are interested in parenting for funding innovative projects in biotech sector
c. Entrepreneurship Development
viii. Frame and implement strategies and programmes for entrepreneurship development
ix. Organize workshops, trainings, seminars etc for capacity building and mentorship.
d. Team Leadership
x. Leads and motivates staff, and builds and manages effective teams
xi. Systematically works to form trusted relationships based on mutual respect
xii. Mentors and inspires the team for optimum performance
xiii. Approaches change with flexibility
xiv. Creates environment that encourages improvement and innovation resistance

2. Necessary Qualification:
– PhD in Life Sciences/Biotechnology/ Pharma from a reputed institute

3. Experience:
– At least 10 years of business development/ alliance integration/ cooperative strategy entrepreneur development experience in a services organization of which at least 5 years should be at senior management level

Position: Entrepreneurship Development Manager/ Officer- Level 2 /1
Purpose: To promote innovation and entrepreneur development to strengthen biotech sector in India.
1. Key Responsibilities:
i. Implement entrepreneurship development programs
ii. Identify potential entrepreneurs in the biotech sector and assure that need assessments are carried out
iii. Based on need assessment, identify suitable resources to develop methods (through funding, training, education, facilities) for supporting entrepreneurship in the sector
iv. Identify entrepreneurs/ experts to conduct training / workshops
v. Organize workshops, trainings to enhance the capabilities of scientists/ entrepreneurs
vi. Evaluate entrepreneurship development program outcomes and makes suitable changes in the next phase of training
vii. Provide advisory services in managerial economics and financial planning
viii. Maintains linkages with academia and industry to provide access to required infrastructure, incubation space, equipment and pilot plant
ix. Encourage team dialogue and keep team and leadership informed on progress and issues
x. Understand personal and team role and responsibilities
xi. Prepare concise, well-written documents using appropriate business and technical language.

2. Necessary Qualification:
– BSc/ B Tech in Life Sciences/Biotechnology/ Pharma from a reputed institute. M.Sc / M.Tech / MBA from a recognized and reputed institute will be preferred.

3. Experience:
– 3-6 years with at least 2-3 years in entrepreneurship development and public private partnerships activities in a public or private organization

Position: Head / Team Lead - Specialized Services - Level 4
Purpose:
To develop strategy and guidelines for providing specialized services for empowering and enabling the biotech innovation ecosystem such as IP management, technology transfer, technology acquisition and to ensure their execution assuring highest quality.
1. Key Responsibilities:
a. Systems Development
i. Develop strategy to determine the nature, scope and modalities for specialized service offerings
ii. Develop a framework for providing specific specialized services that would outline BIRAC’s role including advisory, facilitating, partnering or acquisition
iii. Develops SOPs to monitor various service offerings
b. Advisory
iv. Assure mapping of technology and intellectual property rights and patents
v. Provide regulatory guidance to different programme teams
vi. Provide strategic solutions to problems after careful consideration of multiple alternatives
vii. Provide advisory services for licensing, acquisition and technology transfer
c. Facilitating
viii. Provides handholding and mentoring support for specialized services
ix. Conduct negotiations with partners or alliance agencies as needed to resolve key regulatory issues
x. Lead the scoping and evaluation of major strategic innovation initiatives across BIRAC priority areas
d. Partnering
xi. Devise plans for enabling acquisition/transfer or licence of innovative technology
xii. Seek partnerships with service providers
e. Team Management
xiii. Approach change with flexibility; creates environment that encourages improvement and innovation; helps others to handle change and address resistance
xiv. Form and lead high performing teams by bringing right resources together

2. Necessary Qualification:
MSc/ M Tech in Applied Life Sciences/ Biotechnology/ Medical Microbiology/ Biochemistry/ Plant Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Agriculture / Plant Sciences/ Animal Sciences /MBBS / Veterinary physician

3. Preferable:
* PhD in Life Sciences/ Pharma/ Bio Technology from a recognized and reputed institute
* Diploma/ degree holder in Intellectual Property and / or Technology Transfer & Licensing from a reputed law college or institute
* LLB from a recognised and reputed institute

4. Experience:
8-10 years of work experience in public/private sector biotech/pharma/ research enterprises out of which at least 5 years should be in leadership position in the field of Intellectual Property Rights / patenting / technology licensing and acquisitioning/ copyrighting

Position: Manager (Intellectual Property and Technology Management) - Level 2
Purpose:
(a) To provide a comprehensive understanding and implementation of issues involved in IP Management and Technology transfer and acquisition.
(b) To be responsible for ensuring that BIRAC funded projects are in conformity with the requirements of IP related rules and regulations and also assist in their IP and Technology Management.

1. Key Responsibilities:
a. IP Due Diligence
i. Conduct IP due diligence for eligible proposals received under various funding schemes
ii. Conduct freedom-to-operate searches and provides a written opinion
iii. Direct patent landscape /IP or Technology mapping to identify patenting activities
b. Advisory
iv. Provides advisory services for innovation research projects on IP policies and management
v. Review intellectual property provisions of various innovation research and assist in rendering opinions on validity and infringement
c. Patent Awareness
vi. Analysis of patent policy of India in comparison to other countries
vii. Manage and participate in IP awareness workshops
d. Technology Analysis
viii. Mapping of technologies in research organizations at national and international level
ix. Evaluate the technology on basis of its potential for commercialization.
e. Technology Transfer
x. Sourcing of technology from research and academia
xi. Facilitate the process of transfer from lab to small biotech to large biotech to market
xii. Determine technology pricing based on market demand, growth potential, innovativeness of the technology etc.
xiii. Provide assistance in drafting technology transfer agreements with assistance from Legal Cell
xiv. Facilitate discussions on technology transfer at various platforms

2. Necessary Qualification:
MSc/ M Tech in life sciences/ bio technology/ pharma/ agri/ plant sciences. PhD in any of the above will be preferred. Patent agent qualification or degree in Law or Diploma/ degree in Intellectual Property from a recognized and reputed institute.

3. Experience:
3-6 years with at least 3 experience in patent analysis, intellectual property strategy development and implementation and / or technology licensing and acquisition in biotech/ pharma/ agri/ bio informatics industry.

Interested candidates should apply by at vacancy.birac@nic.in in the prescribed format
(i)  Application Proforma (enclosed BIRAC)
(ii) Education Qualifications (enclosed BIRAC) "Copy of detailed CV may be attached"

Employees of Central / State Govts and or other CPSEs should send their applications through proper channel to the following address:

Managing Director
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
A-254, Defence Colony
New Delhi – 110024

Last Date for Application is 15th February, 2014

Notwithstanding anything contained herein or elsewhere; the decisions taken by BIRAC shall be binding upon all concerned.