Principal, Pioneering Intelligence

Introduction:

Pioneering Intelligence (PI) is the newest business unit within Flagship Pioneering, focusing on inventing and building AI/ML and tech-based platform companies that transform innovation, productivity and outcome across therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications. PI is at the forefront of both technological innovation in AI/ML, and company origination that translates technology into value-creating platforms.

Position Summary: 

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative individual to join our team as AI/ML and tech-focused Principal on the origination team. The individual will guide a team of associates to ideate/research/refine novel venture hypotheses, develop the business case and drive new company origination, and provide strategic / operational / technical oversight to early-stage companies. A successful candidate will have a strong entrepreneurial drive, a clear understanding of the operational aspects of AI/ML solutions, and a keen business and strategy acumen for AI/ML-driven value creation.

Key Responsibilities:

Venture Hypothesis Ideation:

• Oversee multiple Flagship-model explorations, guiding associates to rapidly ideate interesting areas of innovation where AI/ML can create outsized impact, and develop novel, actionable and high value venture hypotheses
• Pressure-test assumptions, value pools, technical choices, proof-of-concept results and competitive landscape, to iteratively solidify venture hypotheses with associates
• Guide team to develop pitch for new venture creation, including formulating initial strategy, operation plan, and risk mitigation

New Company Origination and Operation:

• Oversee early-stage company operations, including but not limited to guiding team on running effective development sprints, coordinating with Flagship operations team (Finance, IP, IT, HR, etc.), pressure-testing product roadmap, and proactively seeking out internal and external KOLs and stakeholders
• Provide technical oversight on overall solution, such as robustness of tech stack choice, coding standards and collaboration processes, testing standards, release protocol, as well as Responsible AI and InfoSec practices (working closely with IT)
• Proactively manage operational and strategic risks, such as what proof-of-concept studies to conduct in what sequence, anticipating potential hurdles and pre-emptively de-risking, keeping a close pulse on emerging results and their strategic implications
• Work with team to clearly communicate progress and risks to Flagship leadership on regular basis
• Drive early-stage business development discussions, for both internal strategic discussions and external engagements with potential partners and customers

Capability Building and Team Building:

• Coach associates on transferrable skills, such as project management, communications, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management
• Drive PI-wide initiatives, including contributing to regular Pioneering Intelligence strategy refresh exercise, mentoring summer fellows, and building relationships with other Flagship business units

Qualifications: 

• Advanced degree from top universities, either PhD/MS/MA/equivalent in STEM fields, or MBA
• 5+ years of professional experience in tech, biotech or related tech-centered industry. Experience in a startup environment and demonstrated passion for entrepreneurship preferred
• 2+ years of top-tier management consulting experience or a similar managerial role
• Well-rounded exposure to both the business and technical side of AI/ML
• Excellent problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable navigating uncertainty, and a willingness to explore uncharted territories

What We Offer: 

• Make an impact as part of a Fortune “Change the World” company
• Work on creating impactful companies
• Surround yourself with inspirational colleagues and leaders
• A dynamic and innovative work environment, with an exciting startup culture as well as the full support and expertise from Flagship ecosystem
• A platform to grow, learn, and lead

Location:  Cambridge, MA

More about Flagship Pioneering:

Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com  

Location:  Cambridge, MA

More about Flagship Pioneering:

Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com  

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. 

At Flagship, we recognize there is no perfect candidate. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. Experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique background.

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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