Vice President, Life Sciences

Position Overview:  

NYC has emerged as a major center of life sciences innovation with a deep and diverse talent pool, a network of premier academic medical centers, lab space, and access to National Institutes of Health and venture funding. NYCEDC is building on these strengths and investing in the spaces, companies, and talent to create life-saving cures and treatments, while catalyzing new economic opportunities for the people of this City. Life sciences continues to play an integral role in creating healthier NYC communities and a stronger economy for all. As the industry matures, the City is committed to investing in early-stage discoveries, furthering the development of life sciences spaces, and creating more equitable health outcomes for communities.  

With over $1 billion investment in life sciences research and development (R&D) and related innovation, LifeSci NYC is expected to create nearly 40,000 new jobs over the next ten years — many accessible to New Yorkers without advanced degrees. NYCEDC is committed to growing the ecosystem in New York City, with a specific focus on:  

• Connecting existing researchers and institutions to the resources needed to advance programs to commercialization.  
• Unlocking space for life sciences companies to grow within the city. 
• Building a pipeline for the talent and workforce required to support these companies across the five boroughs.  

The VP, Life Sciences will work closely with NYCEDC colleagues and external industry stakeholders to lead and support the implementation of a strategically planned portfolio of LifeSci NYC initiatives. These initiatives include high-profile and highly complex programs focused on life sciences infrastructure, specialized real estate, company funding, ecosystem events and activities, and talent/workforce programs. The VP, Life Sciences is likely to focus on commercial real estate, including oversight of the NYCIDA life sciences portfolio in partnership with our Strategic Investments Group, Commercial Real Estate projects with our Real Estate Transactions Services and other cross-functional team members, and other strategic projects, including active program management, engagement with internal leadership and external stakeholders, and messaging/communications.   

The VP will cultivate and manage strategic relationships with stakeholders across the real estate, academic, corporate, entrepreneurial, startup, VC communities, and City agencies. The VP will manage several cross-functional project teams to drive and deliver on key project milestones and outcomes. Specific tasks may include direct reports leading their own workstreams or project teams, managing highly complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and multiple organizations; leading high profile meetings and networking at industry events; and producing, presenting, and coaching others to do the same for top quality presentations, senior leadership briefings, and quantitative and qualitative research.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:  

• Manage, provide operational direction and support highly complex programs and elements of the Life Sciences portfolio (directly and potentially as a manager of others on the team) 
• Lead and work closely with cross-departmental teams, and internal and external stakeholders to oversee project milestones, outcomes, and objectives and appropriately communicate to respective individuals.  
• Oversee a portfolio of projects with a likely focus on commercial life sciences real estate.
• Provide the team and internal leadership technical expertise and connect to external expertise as appropriate in life sciences and develop a comprehensive understanding of economic development opportunities in these areas.  
• Provide a forward-thinking approach to identify and address key issues/questions, develop and carry out comprehensive work plans (project scope, timelines, required analyses, individual responsibilities, etc.), and advise the team and leadership efficiently.
• Ensure all aspects of contract administration, including RFPs, application, review, approval, funding, and compliance, are appropriately managed.   
• Develop and foster strategic relationships and represent EDC, LifeSci NY, and/or the City, in collaboration with the broader EDC team, for engagements and events to promote programs and NYC to leaders, companies, developers, and institutions.  
• Create and deliver compelling presentations and other written communication to senior leadership in EDC’s President’s Office, City Hall, and / or external advisors and leaders (LifeSci NYC Advisory Council, Real Estate Life Sciences Advisory Board, and many more), including producing concise briefings to effectively relay key project findings and recommendations.
• Conduct or oversee primary and secondary research, data gathering, and analysis.  
• Act as a trusted advisor, and foster and contribute to a collaborative, coaching, and proactive team dynamic.
• Collaborate, offer insight and coach team members and potentially manage direct reports. 
• All other duties as required. 

Qualifications:  

• 10+ years of relevant work experience (e.g., biotechnology companies, real estate, management consulting firm, investment banking, strategic planning, program design and execution, partnership management, VCs, academic institutions, Tech Transfer Offices, and/or start-ups). 
• Extensive technical and/or business knowledge of life sciences.  
• Experience and comfort interfacing with senior officials and leaders in the public and private sectors independently.
• Track record of leading, managing, and executing complex projects at top-tier organizations.  
• Ability to work independently with minimum oversight while prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates effective communication, written and verbal, including presenting to internal and external leadership.  
• Leverage industry networks, and initiates, scales, and maintains productive working relationships with internal and external clients and parties, including successful cross-functional collaboration on highly complex projects with multiple perspectives.
• Develop rapport and credibility across the organization and promote ideas and proposals persuasively.  
• Ability to look strategically at the big picture and offer insightful, creative solutions.  
• Ability to examine, summarize, and effectively present data and find paths to implement actionable solutions to challenge the status quo.  
• Experience producing client-ready presentations, communication materials, and financial models.
• Extensive quantitative and problem-solving skills and works with appropriate parties to deliver feasible solutions.    
• Experience interpreting financial models, managing budgets, conducting ROI analysis, and skill working with data sets.
• Experience developing convincing and focused communications via Microsoft Office tools or equivalent.
• New York City residency is required within 180 days of hire. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• MBA, master’s degree, graduate degree, or experience in real estate, consulting, or industry, strongly preferred.  
• Knowledge of and interest in life sciences infrastructure or commercial life sciences real estate, preferred. 
• Experience managing and leading people, teams or matrix projects, preferred.