Director of Global Innovation & Tech Strategy

Lonza; Basel; Hybrid; CHF 200,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Lifestyle, family & leisure benefits

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

Lonza in Basel, Switzerland, seeks a Director, Global Innovation to identify and advance science and technology opportunities that strengthen Lonza’s long-term competitiveness as a CDMO. You will assess emerging technologies, build the business case for investment, and align R&D, business and leadership teams around the most promising opportunities.

You will scout external technologies across biologics, bioconjugation, AI and digital tools; develop evidence-based recommendations; manage a

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in life sciences, biotech, bioprocess engineering, pharma sciences or related field, plus business education or commercial experience.
• Strong scientific understanding of technologies relevant to pharma development and manufacturing with commercial judgment.
• Experience assessing feasibility and business potential of new technologies in a commercial setting (BD, licensing, strategy, CDMO services).
• Financial skills including business case development, valuation, NPV/IRR modelling, and scenario analysis.
• Experience coordinating due diligence across scientific, commercial, operational, IP, regulatory and financial topics.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear recommendations for senior leaders.
• Strong writing, presentation and communication skills for scientific and business audiences.
• Collaborative approach to influence teams across functions without direct reporting lines.

Responsibilities

• Scout and assess external technologies, platforms and business models across biologics, advanced therapeutics, bioconjugation, drug delivery, synthetic biology, AI and digital tools.
• Identify innovation growth areas by aligning scientific trends with customer needs and Lonza’s portfolio.
• Lead scientific, technical, commercial and financial assessments of opportunities, including proofs of concept, partnerships and investments.
• Build business cases covering market demand, revenue potential, margins, valuation and risks.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations on development, partnership, licensing, investment or acquisition to senior decision makers.
• Manage a pipeline of opportunities, tracking progress, budgets, decisions and value.
• Partner with R&D and business teams to define PoC objectives and pathways to implementation.
• Build relationships across biotech, pharma, academia, venture capital and technology providers.

Skills

Life sciences expertise

Strategic thinking

Business development

Financial modelling (NPV/IRR)

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Market and tech scouting

Education

Master's or PhD in life sciences; business education

Tools

Excel advanced

Job description

Lonza in Basel, Switzerland, seeks a Director, Global Innovation to identify and advance science and technology opportunities that strengthen Lonza’s long-term competitiveness as a CDMO. You will assess emerging technologies, build the business case for investment, and align R&D, business and leadership teams around the most promising opportunities.

You will scout external technologies across biologics, bioconjugation, AI and digital tools; develop evidence-based recommendations; manage a