• Job Description

  Req#: R-2023-25363

  Sr. Director, R&D External Innovation

  Alcon’s R&D mission is to lead the world in innovative eye care products and solutions to help people see brilliantly. This role supports this vision by building and nurturing scientific and technological networks through collaboration, technical evaluations, and exchange of ideas. We are looking for an inspiring leader to develop and nurture a productive early-stage eye care ecosystem.

  This position is responsible for strategy setting, relationship management, and all operational activities behind Alcon’s R&D external innovation efforts, including the overall management of the Alcon Seed Fund (ASF) and its investment portfolio, supervision of scouting engagements, representing Alcon with academia and entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as the coordination of technical evaluations and due diligences for BD&L and M&A assets under consideration in close partnership.

  By effectively synthesizing risks and merits of potential investment opportunities as well as building strong relationships with a community of entrepreneurs, this position will support Alcon’s ambition of identifying and managing a fruitful early-stage pipeline to support future eye care challenges and opportunities.

  Key responsibilities:

  • Directly contributes to the development and execution of the Alcon R&D external innovation strategy

  • Relay Alcon R&D strategic priorities to the external innovation community

  • Overall management of the Alcon Seed Fund (ASF) and its investment portfolio, including alliance management, progress tracking, financials, and scorecard reporting to the R&D Leadership Team (RDLT) and Executive Leadership Team (ELT)

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with entrepreneurs (including scouting firms, academia, start-ups, etc.) to scout, triage, and create opportunities for them to engage with Alcon R&D

  • Represent Alcon’s scientific capabilities through a deep understanding of the portfolio to ensure Alcon is considered the partner of choice for early-stage external partnerships in eye care

  • Influence investment decisions balancing risk and reward

  • Lead negotiations with potential partners (startups, research institutions)

  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Legal, Finance, BD&L) and R&D Technology Platform Leaders to ensure effective communication, efficient decision-making, and timely execution of ASF transactions

  • Serves as the primary internal R&D contact across both franchises, leading technology evaluations (TE) and d ue d iligence within R&D (assembling SMEs), to drive a detailed scientific evaluation of potential opportunities and deliver robust risk-assessment recommendations (i.e., External Technology Reviews)

  • Internal collaborations with RDLT, BD&L, Commercial, and Manufacturing for the preparation and presentation of business cases for the executive leadership team (i.e., Alcon Deal Committee)

  Qualifications

  • Deep experience and understanding of medical device and/or pharma industry, an entrepreneurial experience having started and/or run a start-up or a business unit within a larger corporation with excellence in organizational management with the ability to develop and implement program strategies.

  • Analytic and decisive decision maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals with demonstrated experience in initiating, establishing, and managing partnerships with academic institutions and companies, including between internal and external stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated experience as part of negotiation team, with proven ability to contribute to establishing relationships at a fast pace while developing a collegial, collaborative relationship with a potential partner and be comfortable working with other team members, including scientific leads, transaction, legal, finance, marketing, and commercial teams to progress and complete partnerships.

  • Collaborative mindset and a strong team player and communicator to develop and present strategic and scientific rationale to key internal constituencies. Willing to think about, develop and present innovative ways for outreach for “out-of-the-box” ideas and eager to take on additional responsibilities to develop and strengthen Alcon’s external innovation position.

  • Possess strong written and verbal communication skills with a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent public speaking skills. Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, flexible, and innovative approach to operational management with a passion, humility, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 12 years of experience in the life sciences industry is required.

  • An advanced degree (MBA and/or a MD or PhD) is preferred.

  • Possess deep experience in program budgeting and fiscal management with experience in business development, technology application, management consulting, and/or venture capital investing. Experience in the evaluation and execution of a diverse set of business opportunities is required.

  • Demonstrated adaptability to work across functions is required. This position is based in Fort Worth and requires availability to travel (both domestically & internationally) up to 25% of the time.

  Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

• About the company

  Our mission is to provide innovative vision products that enhance quality of life by helping people see better. From vision research to eye health, learn more at Alcon.com.

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