THE ROLE
As a Principal at Flagship Pioneering, you will work closely with Ignacio Martinez to ideate, research, and refine novel venture hypotheses, validate key underlying unknowns in the life sciences and sustainability, 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. The 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 Ignacio and Flagship’s venture creation team.
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, i.e., 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 must have a STEM-based Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree from a top university and/or minimum of 8 years of experience in the area of sustainability, start-up or entrepreneurial activities. The candidate must have a passion for novel science in areas such as renewable energy, agricultural biology, and sustainable materials, and should be operationally savvy.
Important skills/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
- Passion for innovation within the areas of sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, sustainable materials, and/or related fields.
- 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
- No ego
EDUCATION
The ideal candidate will have either a PhD and/or an MBA.
COMPENSATION
An attractive compensation package will be offered based upon background and experience, including significant stock options.
LOCATION
Cambridge, MA
ABOUT IGNACIO MARTINEZ
Ignacio joined Flagship Pioneering in early 2013 to lead the sustainability activities of the firm. He also focuses on entrepreneurial activities in life sciences more broadly, with a special interest in food, nutrition, and human health. Ignacio is co-founder, founding CEO and Chairman of Senda Biosciences (a therapeutics company developing novel platforms to develop biological transfer systems and programmable medicines); co-founder and founding CEO of Montai Health (a company pioneering molecular nutrition); co-founder, founding CEO and Chairman of CiBO Technologies (a company developing an industry-changing digital platform to provide science-based insights to drive transparency, efficiency and sustainability of agricultural farmland); Inari Agriculture (a company developing the world’s first Seed Innovation Foundry); Invaio Sciences (a company developing integrated biological solutions to accelerate the transition to a sustainable agriculture system; and founding director at Indigo Agriculture (a company dedicated to harnessing nature to sustainably feed the planet). Ignacio was also a member of the board of directors of Novomer (a company developing and producing cost competitive, sustainable chemicals and polymers from plant-based and renewable feedstocks) which was acquired by Danimer Scientific (DNMR) in 2021.
Prior to joining Flagship, Ignacio was founding member and managing director of Syngenta Ventures, the pioneering corporate venture capital group of agricultural giant Syngenta International, the world’s largest agrochemical business. During his tenure at Syngenta, Ignacio was directly involved in corporate strategy and led multiple venture capital investments in agribusiness, biotechnology, and sustainability companies in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Ignacio served on the Board of Directors of Biognosys AG (Switzerland), Population Genetics (England), BoMill AB (Sweden), and Agrinos AS (Norway) among others. He also played a key role in Syngenta’s external corporate venture capital activities managing Syngenta’s relationship as a limited partner with Life Science Partners (LSP) BioVentures, a $100 million agribusiness fund, and Gilde European Food and Agribusiness, a €90 million fund.
Prior to Syngenta, Ignacio was the founding CFO of Progenika Group, where he oversaw the corporate financial strategy, the launch of new companies and spinoffs and the expansion of the group to the U.S. and Latin American markets before the company was acquired by Grifols (NASDAQ: GFRS), the world’s largest supplier of blood plasma products. Earlier, Ignacio spent several years working for Najeti Ventures Fund, investing in software and biotech companies in Europe. He holds a B.S. in Economics and Business Administration from Deusto University in Spain, and an International M.B.A. from Instituto de Empresa in Spain and WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany.
ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING
Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life science platform companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has, through its Flagship Labs unit, applied its unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $90 billion in aggregate value. To date, Flagship has deployed over $2.4 billion in capital toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $19 billion of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 41 transformative companies, including Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA), Codiak BioSciences (NASDAQ: CDAK) Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX), Indigo Ag, Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), Sana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: SANA), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Sigilon Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SGTX).
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.
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