EVP Head of Innovation - Next Generation Platforms (all genders)

Purpose of the Role 

The Head of Innovation/Next Generation Platforms is a critical strategic leader responsible for driving scientific and technological breakthroughs that enhance Evotec’s drug discovery and development capabilities. This role, reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, a management board member, leads a dedicated R&D team, that looks into disruptive technologies and Platform innovation, i.e., agnostic to Therapeutic Areas. He/she will lead a small number of central R&D programs with Game-changing revenue potential (“big bets”). The details on the innovation areas will need to be developed, agreed upon and monitored in the Innovation Board.  The function serves as a catalyst for transformative innovation, supporting co-development projects with partners and reinforcing Evotec’s position as a leading data-driven biotech company. Within that function it will include a small central scouting & ideation team that collects and assesses innovation opportunities and presents to an Innovation board, aligned and supported in part by either the Head of Therapeutic Areas, the Head of In silico/AI or Segment Heads as far as their technology platforms are concerned. 

Why This Role is Critical 

This role is essential in shaping the future of Evotec’s innovation ecosystem, ensuring that next-generation platforms drive scientific breakthroughs and business growth. It enables Evotec’s strategic transformation, positioning the company at the forefront of industrialized drug discovery and development driven by superior data and AI. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Leadership in Innovation & Platform Development 

• Define and execute Evotec’s Next Generation Platforms strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate innovation goals and industry trends. This includes the selection of the Innovation areas to be proceeded going forward 

• Monitor all selected Innovation programs continuously, present them in the Innovation Board and ensure progress 

• Lead the development, validation, and integration/transfer into Operations of advanced biological, digital, and computational platforms to accelerate drug discovery. 

• Oversee the transition of innovations from proof-of-concept to scalable solutions within Evotec’s service and partnership model. 

• Act as the scientific and strategic voice for Platform innovation, representing Evotec in key external collaborations, conferences, and thought leadership forums. 

2. Cross-Functional & External Collaboration 

• Partner with R&D, Operations, and BD teams to align innovation efforts with customer needs and commercial opportunities. 

• Drive co-development partnerships with biotech, pharma, and academic institutions to expand Evotec’s technology leadership. 

• Collaborate with Therapeutic Area Heads to tailor platform innovations to specific disease areas (Immunology, Oncology, Neurology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, etc.). 

• Ensure seamless integration of Next Generation Platforms into Evotec’s drug discovery and development workflows. 

• Establish a small central scouting & ideation team that collects and assesses innovation opportunities and presents selected major opportunities to an Innovation board 

3. Operational & Financial Oversight 

• Develop and manage the investment roadmap for Next Generation Platforms, ensuring alignment with business priorities and ROI expectations. 

• Oversee budgeting and resource allocation, ensuring that platform investments are efficiently leveraged. 

• Establish KPIs and success metrics to track innovation impact, ensuring scientific and commercial viability. 

4. Capability Building & Technology Acceleration 

• Lead a small scouting and ideation team that collects and assesses innovation opportunities and identifies and initiates selected next-gen innovation technology projects. 

• Build, as/when required, a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and data experts, to establish and execute these selected technology projects, fostering a culture of breakthrough innovation. 

• Ensure Evotec remains at the forefront of cutting-edge science and technology in drug discovery by handing these technology projects over to Operations when fully validated. 

5. Innovation Board Leadership & Governance 

• Design, establish and lead Evotec’s newly formed Innovation Board (IB), a cross-functional governance body responsible for screening, reviewing, and deciding on R&D budget investments for innovation projects.  

• Develop and implement a structured process for proposal submissions, ensuring accessibility across all functions submitting proposals.  

• Prepare and facilitate quarterly IB meetings, chair discussions, and ensure comprehensive documentation of decisions and actions.  

• Maintain a neutral and facilitative role during proceedings, summarize outcomes, and track follow-ups to ensure accountability and transparency.  

• Ensure that the IB proposal review process, decisions, and outcomes are aligned with and communicated to other relevant functions such as Strategy, Transformation, Finance, Project Management, and Commercial. 

Knowledge & Experience 

• Deep expertise in technological innovation trends in the Drug Discovery and/or Biotech industry. 

• Proven track record in leading innovation and technology development in biotech, pharma, or academia. 

• Experience managing complex projects, and multidisciplinary stakeholder environments. 

• Strong financial acumen and experience with project-based ownership for ROI’s, budget management, and resource planning. 

• Strong partnership development experience, particularly in co-innovation and strategic collaborations. Solid understanding of IP and compliance-related aspects around investing into innovative technology projects and activities. 

• Excellent ability to translate scientific/technological innovation into commercially viable solutions. 

• PhD or equivalent experience in Life Sciences, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, AI, or a related field. 

Competencies 

Thought Leadership 

Shaping Strategy: The Head of Innovation/Next Generation Platforms is forward-thinking - consistently anticipating market shifts, understands current and future players, and proactively shapes actions to capitalize on opportunities. 

Leading Innovation: This leader demonstrates the ability to develop and execute Innovation platform strategies, driving scientific platforms and aligning these with organizational goals and values. S/he shapes technology platform strategies in partnership with R&D and Operations function leaders to drive change leads the organization in pioneering new approaches. 

Business Leadership 

Driving Outcomes: Demonstrates a solid understanding of commercial strategies and applies them to achieve business success. 

Building Customer Value: frequently initiates contact with customers, showing genuine interest in their needs and feedback to identify innovation opportunities for Evotec. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of customer preferences and anticipates their needs effectively. Provides well-thought-out solutions to customer issues, aiming for long-term satisfaction and value 

People Leadership 

Influencing and collaborating effectively: works with colleagues across functions to ensure the Innovation / Next Generation Platforms strategy is understood. Encourages strong engagement within the team, fostering a culture of collaboration and support. Integrates feedback seamlessly into work processes, using it to drive continuous improvement and innovation.  

Leading Teams: effectively delegates, trusting team members to handle responsibilities and provides necessary support and development; consistently communicates a clear vision and direction, ensures team alignment and understanding.  Demonstrates strategic thinking in problem-solving, addressing root causes and implementing long-term solutions. 

FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité, Evotec étudie, à compétences égales, toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.

ENG : In the frame of our Diversity policy, Evotec considers, with equal competences, all applications including people with disabilities.