Director, BioTrain

Job Description

Position Number: H24-022
Status: Full-Time (Exempt)
Reports to:
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Job description and what you’ll do:

ARI is launching its EDA Tech Hub, Heartland BioWorks (BioWorks), and is seeking a Director, BioTrain who provides strategic leadership, expert guidance, and project management in the construction of the BioWorks hands-on training facility (BioWorks HQ) and the implementation of biotechnology and biomanufacturing training programs that will occur at the HQ.

As part of BioWorks, to meet Indiana’s biomanufacturing workforce challenges, BioTrain will bring more workers into the regional economy, prepare talent for priority positions, connect historically excluded residents with high-quality jobs, and catalyze innovation by diversifying workplaces. This role will be responsible for planning, executing, and delivering the BioWorks HQ facility to be sited at 16Tech in Indianapolis. This will require strong project management skills, the ability to lead cross-functional teams, and expertise in managing budgets, schedules, and stakeholder expectations. The Director will ensure the project is completed on time, within scope, and within budget, while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance.

This role will also be the key leader of the BioTrain workforce development programming, which will fully launch once the facility is operational and align with broader workforce training strategies under development by BioWorks members and partners. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for developing and nurturing talent. This candidate will effectively balance high level ecosystem strategy with hands-on execution, seamlessly transitioning between guiding the overall vision and diving into the details to ensure tasks are executed meticulously. The Director will be responsible for shaping programs, fostering partnerships, and ensuring BioTrain solutions and capital investments align with regional and national priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Project Planning and Strategy:
    • Establish stakeholder connections and roles/responsibilities associated with project scope development and decision-making
    • Develop detailed project plans outlining scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
    • Define project milestones and deliverables, and set achievable targets aligned with consortia goals.
    • Conduct feasibility studies and risk assessments to inform project planning and execution.
  • Facility Design
    • Identify and contract engineering firm to complete conceptual and detailed engineering design and construction documents.
    • Identify and develop processing equipment and utility functional requirements and specifications.
    • Network, align and modify design scope and details, as required, to broadly meet stakeholder expectations.
  • Construction Planning/Execution
    • Identify and establish contractual relationship with a construction management firm.
    • Ensure all applicable permit applications are submitted and approved.
    • On-board contractors to complete construction activities; monitor progress and address issues in real-time.
    • Oversee the procurement of supplies, materials and equipment, ensuring compliance with EDA guidelines.
  • Budget and Financial Management:
    • Prepare and manage project budgets, including cost estimation, financial forecasting, and expense tracking.
    • Implement cost-control measures to ensure project stays within financial constraints; establish robust change management process.
    • Provide regular financial reports and updates to stakeholders.
  • Schedule and Resource Management:
    • Create and manage project schedules, ensuring all tasks are completed on time and within scope.
    • Allocate and manage resources effectively, including personnel, equipment, and materials.
    • Monitor project progress and make adjustments as needed to meet deadlines and budget requirements.
  • Stakeholder Communication:
    • Act as the primary point of contact for all project stakeholders, including, BioWorks governance committee(s), consortia members and the EDA.
    • Facilitate regular project meetings and provide updates on project status, risks, and issues.
    • Address stakeholder concerns and feedback to ensure project satisfaction and alignment.
  • Risk and Issue Management:
    • Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to address them proactively.
    • Monitor and manage project risks, issues, and changes, and implement corrective actions as necessary.
    • Ensure compliance with EDA requirements, safety and environmental regulations, quality standards, and industry best practices.
  • Quality Assurance:
    • Implement and oversee quality control processes to ensure project deliverables meet or exceed established standards.
    • Conduct regular inspections and audits to verify compliance with project specifications and requirements.
  • Documentation and Reporting:
    • Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, reports, and records of decisions and changes.
    • Prepare and deliver regular project status reports to key stakeholders.
    • Ensure transparency and accuracy in all project-related documentation and communication.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership, ecosystem stakeholders and partners to assess workforce needs and identify skill gaps on a local, regional and national level to inform a shared strategy
  • Coordinate and liaise with BioWorks Commercial & Scientific Advisory Board and the Community Equity Advisory Board.
  • Develop and implement a BioTrain strategy that addresses pipeline demands across the educational spectrum (K-12 to PhD level) to bridge the WFD gaps within the ecosystem.
  • Oversee and lead BioTrain implementation, providing direction and guidance to internal and external BioTrain staff and partners.
  • Drive execution success through establishment of clear metrics and robust reporting to track process and measure effectiveness of the initiative’s portfolio
  • Represent BioWorks both regionally and nationally
  • Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements related to workforce
  • Possess the ability to work independently, in an unstructured environment, with multiple concurrent demands on your time
  • Provide great communication and organization skills
  • Willingness to travel 15% of the time – locally and within state (one day trips)

Required Qualifications to Apply:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education or supporting degree field
  • Proven experience in workforce development, talent management, education or curriculum development, with a minimum of 7 years’ experience
  • Able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams
  • Knowledge of training and development principles, methodologies, and best practices, with experience designing and delivering training programs
  • Creative thinker with passion for problem-solving
  • United States Citizenship

Who we are:

ARI (Applied Research Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. ARI connects regional, state and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the U.S. Department of Defense. ARI is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics, artificial intelligence and 5G. Learn more at https://theari.us.

The region is home to landmark industry leaders that span the bioecosystem (e.g., HQs of Lilly, Corteva, Elanco); the nation’s largest medical school and R1 universities focused on biotechnology and manufacturing innovations (e.g., Indiana and Purdue Universities); ); life sciences and biotech public private partnerships (e.g. BioCrossroads); coordinated state-regional-local prioritization of life sciences to advance economic opportunities; and a rapidly growing venture ecosystem. The Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub (BioWorks) will unite Indiana stakeholders and concentrate their efforts and resources on emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Supported by meaningful stakeholder commitments, BioWorks will initially focus on four integrated activities that address key barriers in the region:

  1. BioTrain (equitable, hands-on workforce development);
  2. BioLaunch (networked infrastructure and support for commercialization);
  3. BioWorks HQ (training, technology demonstration, and convening facility); and
  4. BioWorks Governance (hub coordination infrastructure).

BioWorks will initially target the human/animal health sectors. However, within ten years, BioWorks will fuel Indiana’s economy by bridging and accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough technologies in human, animal, and plant biosciences, transforming these into job-creating companies that improve America’s national security, economic future, and dominance in a biotechnology future.

Company’s website:

https://theari.us

Benefits:

Salary: $115,000-$150,000 based on qualifications and experience

Location:

Indianapolis, IN

To apply: Please email your resume to hr@theari.us and reference H24-022

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