Deputy Director / Senior Assistant Director, Tech-Biz Development, Chemicals

Deputy Director / Senior Assistant Director, Tech-Biz Development, Chemicals, Materials and Sustainability, I&E

To gear A*STAR up for the innovation-driven economy set out by the Research Innovation & Enterprise 2025 Masterplan, a new Enterprise Division ("Enterprise") is being established in late-2020. Enterprise will further strengthen A*STAR in generating economic and societal impact for Singapore. Importantly, Enterprise Division will provide coherence to A*STAR's RCA, licensing, and venture creation efforts. It will drive A*STAR's companies strategy and companies portfolio management. Enterprise will also play a national role in terms of grants administrations. It will be the focal point to drive Innovation & Enterprise (I&E) within A*STAR, as well as actively support I&E efforts in the wider ecosystem.

As part of the Chemical, Materials and Energy team, you will:

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for review of technologies, prioritization and commercialization of A*STAR intellectual properties in the area of electrification, decarbonisation and built environment.
• Manage, encourage, support the development and protection of intellectual property and establish IP and business strategies to assist in assessment of inventions, identification of potential markets and competitive technologies.
• Build business partnerships and technical collaboration opportunities to commercialise technologies from research labs and build new value chains with various key stakeholders.
• Proactively scope/support and manage specific projects to develop initiatives in innovation, IP management creating an impact, including acquiring industrial grants and contracts through meetings with researchers and external entities.
• Demonstrate passion to work with scientists and industries to understand key challenges and find the right solutions to build relationships and understand the technology landscape, highlighting key trends to accelerate spin-out, licensing, and provide leadership and oversight to achieve desired success. Strong negotiation skills are required.
• Have strong interests in technologies and demonstrate the ability to quickly grasp new scientific concepts and technologies to identify potential commercial viability.
• Participate and support sustainability and decarbonisation events hosted by the cluster or A*STAR.

Qualifications

• Strong background with preferably 5 years of working experience in Energy or Electrification, particularly in areas involving fuel cells and grid management.
• Qualifications in both technical areas such as Electrical Engineering, Materials/Chemicals Engineering with an MBA are preferred.
• Past experience in handling the commercialization of inventions from lab to product development and commercialization into products, creating new business opportunities.
• Good understanding of intellectual property management including identification, due diligence, and protection of IP.
• Experienced and proactive in sourcing business deals, handling commercial negotiations, and project management skills to manage multiple projects efficiently.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, along with PowerPoint skills.
• Passionate about commercialising cutting-edge technologies and possess creative problem-solving skills.

The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on its prevailing recruitment policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.