Associate

Vctavern; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fortune Change the World

Startup culture

Inspirational colleagues

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering in Cambridge, MA seeks an Associate to ideate, research, and refine venture hypotheses, validate unknowns in biology or technology, and transition ideas into a NewCo around the science.

You will build foundational IP, recruit early scientific teams, and define strategy, culture, and working norms while collaborating with Flagship’s ecosystem to support new companies. A STEM PhD/MD with startup experience is preferred and a passion for novel science is essential.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD from a top university in STEM.
• Experience in life sciences biotech, startup, or entrepreneurial activities.
• Passion for novel science and operational savviness.

Responsibilities

• Lead science model explorations and develop venture hypotheses.
• Outline scientific questions and plan experiments to create value.
• Identify and engage academic KOLs and thought experts.
• Understand IP landscape and draft initial patent strategy.
• Develop corporate strategy and operational plan for newCo.
• Recruit and manage early scientific team and CRO partners.

Skills

Rapid learning

Value proposition

Analytical skills

Effective communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Team leadership

Feedback culture

Urgency

Education

PhD or MD

Job description

THE ROLE

As an Associate at Flagship Pioneering, you will ideate, research, and refine novel venture hypotheses, validate key underlying unknowns of the biology or technology and transition pressure-tested ideas into building a NewCo around the science. You will help drive every facet of company origination from the early stages including identification and recruitment of critical partners and advisors, establishment of foundational IP, hiring and leadership of the early scientific team, and establishment of working norms and culture for the team. In this role you will partner with stakeholders across the broader flagship ecosystem to bring the full experience of Flagship to support your companies. A successful candidate will become the expert on the foundational science of the company, frame and clearly communicate the strategy, and translate that strategy into a plan and lead operationalization of that plan alongside a Principal or Partner on the venture creation team.

The Company

Flagship Pioneering (\"FSP\") conceives and develops first-in-category bioplatform companies to transform human health and sustainability. FSP has developed over 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $130 billion in aggregate value. FSP seeks to change the world by addressing some of humanity’s most urgent challenges: curing intractable diseases, improving human health, and feeding the world by advancing the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship Pioneering operates at three levels: the Flagship parent company (:250 FTEs); the Flagship operating enterprise (:300 FTEs in 25 newly formed wholly owned companies); and the Flagship ecosystem (:4000 FTEs in 30 growth-stage companies).

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to and lead Flagship model explorations to rapidly assess interesting areas of science and develop novel, actionable and high value venture hypotheses
• Outline key scientific questions to enable venture hypotheses and develop experimental plans to rapidly create value and pressure test ideas
• Identify, build, and maintain relationships with appropriate academic KOLs and thought experts, ie, introducing them to the Flagship model, getting early buy-in, vetting/validation and de-risking key concepts of venture hypotheses
• Understand IP landscape, formulate initial strategy, and write seminal applications for the technology and company. Assess patentability of existing IP landscape, including of key competitors and of potentially licensable estate
• Develop corporate strategy and operations plan for the company. Define value creation, identify application spaces, build out organizational chart, define company goals, timelines and resourcing and identify strategic inflection points to set the company on the path to rapid growth and success
• Develop audience‑specific pitches for company
• Support business development activities and continue to evolve the story
• Manage and coordinate early scientific and IP employees. Source, recruit and manage KOLs and early‑stage employees as well as relationships with CROs.
• Manage & lead scientific team (internal or external) and daily research.
• Manage operational tasks, including establishing lab facilities, purchasing, HR, real estate acquisition, etc.
• Become institutional subject matter expert and transfer to active company team. Stay up to date on the literature, conferences, funding opportunities, and new developments.
• Work closely with and leverage Flagship operations teams (Finance, IP, IT, HR, and Talent) expertise for maximal operational excellence

Professional Experience & Qualifications

The ideal candidate has a STEM‑based PhD or MD from a top university and/or experience in life sciences biotech, start‑up or entrepreneurial activities. The candidate must have a passion for novel science and be operationally savvy.

Important skills and capabilities include:

• Proven ability to rapidly become conversant in new areas of science and capable of engaging thought leaders at the deepest level of technological understanding
• Ability to define a clear and compelling value proposition of a given scientific opportunity and effectively and cogently communicate that to technical and non‑technical audiences
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesize & communicate complex information rapidly and effectively
• Energetic self‑starter with strong presence and the ability to work effectively in an entrepreneurial environment
• Open, transparent communication style and demonstrated willingness to engage in difficult conversations in a professional and productive manner
• Passion for growth and development, with clear demonstration of openness to both giving and receiving feedback and track record of acting on feedback
• Able to work effectively and pleasantly in teams with demonstrated abilities to lead and manage
• Unmatched sense of urgency

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Make an impact as part of a Fortune “Change the World” company
  Be energized by an exciting startup culture
• Surround yourself with inspirational colleagues and leaders
• Support innovative breakthroughs in health care and sustainability
• Expand your horizons with opportunities for professional growth
  Enjoy unparalleled employee benefits and rewards program

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies

Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.