Job Description

Duke-NUS Medical School ("Duke-NUS") is conducting a search for an experienced, dynamic and creative leader for its Centre for Technology and Development ("CTeD"). As a senior member of the innovation team, the Director of CTeD is responsible for promoting strategic innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for faculty and staff, and the commercialization of their work.

A unique international partnership between Duke University and the National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS was founded to advance medicine through innovation, training future clinicians to generate knowledge that improves health. Through its strategic partnership with Singapore Health Services ("SingHealth"), the School leverages on joint capabilities and infrastructure to bring world-class research, training and patient care into a single coherent ecosystem.

Duke-NUS has an active technology commercialisation programme managed by CTeD under the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship ("OIE"), which incubates ideas from invention to commercialization, and thereby creates value by accelerating game-changing innovation. The Director will be a highly visible professional in Singapore's sophisticated and mature life sciences sector. Singapore's most significant biotech licensing deals have been negotiated by CTeD and its collaborators at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre ("AMC").

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the development of a world-class commercialisation platform at Duke-NUS and in partnership with the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC, working as a key member of the Vice Dean of OIE’s leadership team, and a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders to translate research into real-world health impact.
• Develop and lead CTeD's team of technology managers and commercialisation professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and impact across the full innovation lifecycle, from evaluation and IP protection through to commercialization and post-deal portfolio management.
• Shape and scale programmes that catalyse innovation and entrepreneurship, including translational and venture creation initiatives, to accelerate the progression of promising discoveries into deployable solutions.
• Identify, assess, and protect high-potential innovations across Duke-NUS, applying rigorous scientific, commercial and strategic assessment to determine pathways for development, licensing or venture creation.
• Drive transactions with entrepreneurs, investors and industry globally, overseeing the negotiation and execution of licensing and investment opportunities that maximise long-term value for the School.
• Develop and implement systems and processes, such as operating models, governance frameworks and standard operating procedures and activities for technology transfer aligned with the mission of Duke-NUS, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC, and Singapore.
• Continue to nurture the professional development of a world-class team of technology transfer professionals.
• Provide strategic reporting and insights to senior leadership, enabling data-driven decision-making on portfolio performance, resource allocation and long-term strategy.
• Create strategic relationships with other universities, government research institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry to co-develop commercialisation projects and programmes.
• Perform other duties, as may be required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Life Sciences. A Masters in Business Administration will be advantageous.
• Extensive experience (15+ years) in technology transfer, with a strong track record in health or life sciences commercialization; RTTP or CLP certification (or willingness to seek such certification).
• Proven expertise in deal-making and partnership development, including licensing, venture creation and strategic collaborations.
• Demonstrated leadership in building and scaling effective technology transfer teams and platforms.
• Able to navigate complexity and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment, with an entrepreneurial mindset and enthusiasm.
• Possess excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and build rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Have strong operational, budget management, project management and analytical skills, with the ability to allocate resources to maximise impact.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.