Rajesh Vinodrai Naik

Rajesh Vinodrai Naik is the current SVP & Global Head, Human Resources at SAI Life Sciences. Rajesh has over twenty years of experience in the field of human resources, research and development, and program management. Prior to their current position, they served as the Vice President and Site Head of R&D at Sai Life Sciences Ltd for five years and two months. In this role, they were responsible for enhancing scientific productivity while ensuring complete safety and compliance with all statutory regulations. Rajesh also oversaw the implementation of operational excellence initiatives across the company’s flagship R&D site, which spanned discovery, development, and scale-up. This involved a 650-member cross-functional team and related infrastructure comprising 40 process chemistry labs with 450 fume cupboards, state-of-the-art analytical laboratories, a process safety lab, and pilot plants with 16 reactors and advanced automation.

Sai Life Sciences is a fully integrated global CDMO known for providing advanced discovery, contract development, and manufacturing solutions. Rajesh has played a key role in collaborating with leading innovators and biotechnology companies to reduce time to market and cost of drug development using high quality scientific services. Rajesh has also been instrumental in identifying and developing new technology platforms and groom future R&D leaders.

Rajesh’s primary responsibility is to lead a team of techno-commercial Project Managers and influence & guide the entire delivery teams to ensure that all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. Rajesh is also responsible for improving delivery efficiencies by implementing effective & efficient tools & techniques, generating delivery MIS & data analytics reports, and simplifying systems & processes. In addition, they support organization initiatives of improving customer centricity & delivery focus by sensitizing & influencing the scientific talent.

Rajesh Vinodrai Naik has a Ph.D. from University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) in Organic Chemistry, which they received in 1990. Rajesh also has three diplomas from Welingkar Institute of Management in Industrial Management, Marketing Management, and Business Management, which they received in 1991, 1990, and 1987 respectively.