Innovation Program lead at Syngene

, karnataka, India -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

28 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

30 Nov, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Program Management, Innovation Portfolio Management, Design Thinking Facilitation, Stakeholder Management, Vendor Management, Space Design, Budgeting, Cross-Functional Collaboration

Industry

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Description

Role Title: Innovation Catalyst & Hub Lead. Location: Bangalore (on-site with limited hybrid) Purpose of the role In its first phase, you will focus on bringing the physical Innovation & Collaboration Hub to life — translating the concept into a functional, inspiring environment. You’ll lead the space setup and design journey end-to-end: from zoning and layout planning to vendor discussions, budgeting, and on-ground execution.Working with cross-functional teams, you’ll shape the identity of the Hub — defining how spaces like the AI Sandbox, Demo Theatre, Design Thinking Studios, and Partner Co-creation Bays come alive. In your first year, you’ll quite literally build the home of innovation at Syngene — imagining, designing, and activating spaces that inspire our people to think differently, collaborate deeply, and innovate boldly. In the second phase, you will run the Innovation & Collaboration Hub as a world-class, always-on engine that converts promising ideas into business value—curating spaces, methods, tech, and partnerships (incl. CDS, AI Sandbox, Demo Theatre). What you’ll own (evergreen responsibilities) Space Design & Build-Out Vision to Reality: Translate the Innovation & Collaboration Hub concept into a physical environment that reflects Syngene’s ethos of science-led creativity. Zoning & Layout: Define spatial zones — AI Sandbox, Computational Data Services (CDS) Bay, Design-Thinking Studios, Demo Theatre, Partner Co-creation Zone, Innovation Lounge, and Exhibit Corridor. Consensus Building: Facilitate cross-functional discussions with R&D, IT, Admin, EHS, and Finance to align on zoning, priorities, and usage principles. Vendor & Partner Management: Engage architects, design consultants, contractors, and technology vendors. Lead design reviews, scope finalization, cost estimation, and compliance with safety and sustainability norms. Program Management: Drive the end-to-end build plan — timelines, budgets, procurement coordination, and risk mitigation. Ensure on-time readiness and smooth handover to operations. Design Ethos: Create a space that’s functional yet inspiring — open, modular, tech-enabled, and conducive to creative collaboration. Hub Operations & Governance Develop and institutionalize operational SOPs covering space booking, access, safety, maintenance, and vendor SLAs. Build an agile governance framework for idea intake, pilot approval, and reporting. Coordinate with IT and Admin for AV, IoT, and digital scheduling systems. Ensure compliance with all EHS, data, and facility standards. Innovation Portfolio & Pilot Management Create a structured funnel for idea submission, shortlisting, and pilot execution. Work with cross-functional squads to translate ideas into testable prototypes or process pilots. Define stage-gate metrics and value-capture models for each pilot. Track progress through dashboards — utilization, throughput, cycle time, and conversion to scale. Partnerships & Ecosystem Development Forge external partnerships with academia, startups, and technology providers. Curate Innovation Days, Demo Weeks, and Collaboration Jams with partners. Build a repository of potential collaborators, emerging tech, and external facilitators. Ensure that the Hub becomes a gateway for open innovation — where ideas flow freely between Syngene and the wider ecosystem. Community & Culture Building Shape an innovation culture across Syngene through storytelling, showcases, and engagement rituals. Run initiatives such as Reflection Circles, Fail-Forward Fridays, Brown-Bag Sessions, and Innovation Challenges. Partner with HRBPs and L&D to embed innovation behaviours in capability frameworks and performance systems. Recognize and celebrate innovators and teams driving tangible impact. Measurement & Storytelling Establish a transparent KPI dashboard with metrics like utilization, idea pipeline health, POC-to-scale ratio, and realized benefits. Develop case studies and communication assets for leadership reviews and enterprise sharing. Create monthly impact narratives that demonstrate the Hub’s contribution to business outcomes. Sustainability & Future Readiness Integrate sustainability principles in material selection, energy use, and waste management. Continuously evolve the Hub with emerging technologies — AI-enabled visualization, VR labs, data co-creation spaces, etc. Keep the space and its purpose dynamic, adaptive, and future-proof. Ideal profile Experience: Good experience in product/program, R&D ops, or innovation management; prior lab/center-of-excellence experience a plus. Leadership: Builds psychological safety; champions experimentation with sensible guardrails; clear storyteller. Skills Required The below skills are over and above the Leadership Skills # Skill Name Skill Description Proficiency Level Required (1–4) Proficiency Descriptor Skill Type 1 Program / Project Management Ability to plan, track, and deliver complex, cross-functional projects (space build-out, innovation pilots) within timelines and budget. 4 – Expert Independently manages multi-stream projects; anticipates risks; applies agile methods to drive delivery. Maintaining 2 Innovation Portfolio Management Structuring idea intake, evaluation, and pilot pipelines; applying stage-gate governance for innovation projects. 3 – Advanced Designs frameworks and decision models; measures value; mentors others on innovation lifecycle management. Emerging 3 Design Thinking Facilitation Applying human-centered design methods to problem solving; conducting workshops and ideation sessions. 3 – Advanced Facilitates end-to-end sessions; guides teams from insights to prototypes; integrates user feedback loops. Emerging 4 Stakeholder Management & Influence Building consensus and driving alignment across Admin, IT, R&D, Finance, and senior leadership. 4 – Expert Influences diverse stakeholders through data and empathy; resolves conflicts; secures sponsorship. Maintaining 5 Vendor & Contractor Management Engaging, negotiating, and managing external vendors for design, construction, and technology implementation. 3 – Advanced Defines scope, SLAs, and KPIs; manages execution; ensures quality and cost compliance. Maintaining 6 Space Design & Zoning Strategy Translating innovation concepts into physical layouts and experiences that promote collaboration and creativity. 3 – Advanced Co-creates zoning layouts; integrates human, technical, and aesthetic dimensions; aligns design to purpose. Emerging 7 Budgeting & Cost Management Estimating, tracking, and optimizing spend across design, construction, and operational activities. 3 – Advanced Creates and manages cost plans; ensures CAPEX/OPEX governance; identifies efficiency opportunities. Maintaining 8 Cross-Functional Collaboration Working across scientific, technical, and business teams to drive integrated innovation outcomes. 4 – Expert Builds collaborative rituals; bridges silos; ensures shared accountability for results. KPIs (steady-state) Focus Area Success Indicators (Phase 1 Target - Suggested) Measurement Approach 1. Space Design & Build-Out • Zoning plan & concept design finalized and approved by all stakeholders • All key zones (AI Sandbox, CDS Bay, Design Studio, Demo Theatre) built & commissioned within timeline (+/- 10%) • Budget adherence ≥ 95% Project plan + CAPEX vs actuals + stakeholder sign-off milestones 2. Operational Readiness • All zone SOPs published (booking, safety, usage) • Facility handover to operations & Admin/IT integration complete • Booking system & digital scheduling live and stable Readiness scorecard & internal UAT sign-off 3. Early Adoption & Utilization • ≥ 60% average utilization of functional zones within 3 months of launch • ≥ 10 cross-functional teams host sessions or pilots • ≥ 2 partner events or external collabs held Usage analytics + event logs + feedback forms 4. Idea Pipeline & Pilot Execution • ≥ 12 ideas admitted to Hub pipeline • ≥ 5 pilots executed across functions • ≥ 2 pilots show validated benefits (time savings, efficiency gain, or cost avoidance) Hub tracker + pilot reports + benefit register 5. Community & Engagement • ≥ 12 innovation rituals held (Reflection Circles, brown-bags, mini-demos) • ≥ 150 unique participants across events • Participant satisfaction ≥ 85% Attendance records + pulse survey scores 6. Governance & Process Setup • Idea intake and evaluation framework operationalized • Monthly governance review cadence with Innovation Council established • Baseline dashboard for utilization & pipeline live by Month 9 Governance calendar + dashboard launch 7. Partnerships & External Visibility • ≥ 3 academic/start-up partnership MoUs or pilot explorations • ≥ 1 Innovation Day or Showcase event completed MoUs + event documentation 8. Storytelling & Leadership Visibility • Monthly impact update to Leadership Team • 1–2 internal case studies published on SynPulse • Launch video / inaugural showcase completed Communication metrics + leadership feedback Selection process Application: CV + 1-page “90-day plan for the Hub.” Assessments: Portfolio interview, case simulation (run a 60-min triage & create a pilot charter), stakeholder panel incl. Head of Innovation & CHRO.

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Responsibilities

You will lead the setup and design of the Innovation & Collaboration Hub, ensuring it reflects Syngene’s ethos and facilitates innovation. Additionally, you will manage the Hub's operations, governance, and partnerships to convert ideas into business value.