External Innovation Lead/Manager RNA Therapeutics

The Position

In Roche s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organisation (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs.

At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

This position is anchored into Nucleic Acid Based Medicine (NABM), a department within Therapeutic Modalities which creates transformative therapeutic options in areas of high unmet medical need and leverage oligonucleotides, gene therapy as well as other nucleic acid based drug modalities.

We closely collaborate with our therapeutic areas and functions to convert hypotheses into innovative therapeutics.

You will be a member of the newly formed cross-functional RNAHub, where disease-biologists, nonclinical development experts, molecular biologists, molecule engineers, bioengineers and data scientists from various pRED functions join together to create and apply technologies that perturb RNA to discover drugs, biomarkers and targets.

The RNAHub takes a very data-centric approach, utilizing both artificial and human intelligence, that requires a high degree of data-literacy.

In the RNAHub, we build a strong, collective and engaged community, where we employ, explore and evolve new ways of working in a research environment.

Role Mission

We are offering an outstanding opportunity for an External Innovation Manager RNA Therapeutics to work within a multidisciplinary team of scientists dedicated to initiating and implementing novel drug discovery projects, and to jointly shape our future portfolio as a member of a broad network of drug discovery specialists.

Your Impact

You enable access to novel technologies that enhance or complement oligonucleotides as drugs. Following the RNAHub strategy, this can range from novel monomers, conjugates, mode-of-action-concepts to delivery technologies.

Closely connected with RNAHub project teams, external innovation and outsourcing networks including Roche Partnering, you co-develop and help execute workstreams to bring outside innovation in.

This would include scouting, landscaping, and evaluating suitable external partners, as well as contributing in due diligence as a technical expert.

You build trustful relationships and effective collaborations with internal and external partners.

Your Profile

You have an extensive professional network and deep scientific understanding of RNA, oligonucleotide technologies and oligonucleotide chemistries.

With a PhD in chemistry or related field, you and have worked at least 5 years in Pharma or Biotech after PhD in the field of drug discovery of oligonucleotide therapeutics.

You are proactively staying abreast of competition and able to bring relevant input for strategy development and areexperienced in establishing and maintaining business-to-business relationships in drug discovery that will allow you to support the development of Roche’s RNA platforms.

You are able to engage in strategic business discussions and to represent Roche’s RNAHub in external forum and have demonstrated influence and negotiation skills.

You have strong oral and written communication skills and are proficient in working with and driving cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams that may span several organizations.

You are able to competently evaluate opportunities even when limited data is available. You recognize the larger picture while dealing with scientific details.

You thrive in a dynamic, inclusive environment which gives you full accountability for your own contributions and development.

You have a keen interest in continuously building a personal network. You are resourceful and flexible in problem solving and in working in a collaborative and inclusive manner.

You have a sense for ensuring that everyone has the required information at all times.

Our commitment

Roche commits to recognizing talent and aptitude. We prioritize encouraging and supporting our employees on their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their career.

We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering hard questions, and challenging the status quo.

Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.