Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Republic of Serbia recognizes that technological progress is fundamentally changing the world we live in, and in addition to enhancing the quality of life of the population, it represents a significant opportunity for the economic development of the country. A McKinsey report states that the BioRevolution will be an economic opportunity potentially exceeding US$4 trillion a year. Serbia wants to be a forerunner of this new revolution and to become one of the most renowned places in the world to create new technologies, products, and services to be used across the globe. The BIO4 Campus, whose creation and development are the focus of this project, is envisioned to be a unique concentration of talent, knowledge, and infrastructure for multidisciplinary R&D, a key driver of economic growth for Serbia in the years and decades. Innovation through integration is at the heart of the Bio4 initiative – creating new solutions that may emerge when knowledge of multiple disciplines is merged.
The BIO4 Campus Project is envisioned as a multi-phased project that will be implemented through a portfolio approach, as it aims to meet two outcomes: (1) to establish the National BIO4 Campus and (2) to improve the technical capacities of the National BIO4 Campus. The support provided to meet Outcome 1 will predominately be expertise and support for the establishment and capacity building of the BIO4 Campus and its staff to meet the needs of the smooth running of the Campus, provide services to the Campus tenants, and improve the BioEconomy ecosystem and legal system. Also, the support will promote national and international opportunities and possible investments into Serbian BioEconomy and the Campus while drawing in new tenants, nurturing startups, bringing in venture capital funds, and fostering cooperation, research, and development. Support to meet Outcome 2 is focused on the identification, procurement, and installation of equipment that will technically equip the BIO4 Campus to enable it to be a leader in its field and attract new tenants and investment into research and development opportunities available at the Campus. First phase of the project will be dedicated to raising awareness activities, as well as to foster scientific and business collaboration involving big pharma, startups, investors, CROs, and research institutions. A Scientific Policy Analyst will contribute to alignment of the BIO4 Campus project with national and international policies, fostering a supportive BioEconomy ecosystem, and attracting investments and partnerships.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide scientific research expertise to UNDP’s “Support for Accelerated BioEconomy Development – BIO4 Campus (Phase A)” project
- Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with research institutes, universities, and faculties to align their expertise with the goals of the BIO4 Campus.
- Lead the coordination with the BIO4 d.o.o. Beograd related to implementation activities in the designed project.
- Perform analysis of the existing scientific research capacities, scientific infrastructure, technical expertise, and provide per-member personalized advice regarding future strategic development.
- Identify areas of scientific innovation potential and commercialization opportunities for collaboration within the Serbian research ecosystem and global markets.
- Perform analysis of key global biotechnology ecosystems and develop strategies for meaningful connection between members of BIO4 Campus and industry leaders within life sciences in the global market.
- Identify transformation needs for Research and Development institutes, faculties, and other BIO4 Campus ecosystem members, and suggest future development phases for overall BIO4 Campus scientific development.
- Create recommendations for individual development plans for each of the BIO4 Campus members and align those with global biotechnological trends and initiatives.
Provide advisory and guidance to government partners
- Provide advisory and guidance services to government partners on global trends in the bioeconomy, biotechnology, and multidisciplinary R&D to inform the strategic scientific development of the BIO4 Campus.
- Take lead in preparing and updating project dashboard with all internal and external planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation deadlines with regards to the streamlining of the startup process related to BIO4 Campus.
- Take a lead in developing MedTech and BioTech start up ecosystem within the BIO4 Campus; this includes identification of major investment companies within the Serbian ecosystem, but also global stakeholders that are relevant for life science fields.
- Regularly share updates from international funding partners on thematic areas relevant to project implementation.
- Provide guidance on communication channels and frameworks for specific connections between academic teams and industry; these frameworks should foster partnerships and promote innovation through commercialization frameworks.
Coordinate the implementation of programmes with stakeholder and counterparts related to BIO4 Campus.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations for policies and initiatives that support the BioRevolution and enhance Serbia’s competitiveness in the biotech sector.
- Act as a liaison between government bodies, academia, and the private sector to promote synergies within the bioeconomy.
- Identify and nurture potential startups emerging from academic and institutional scientific research related to BIO4 Campus.
- Track the progress of collaborations, partnerships, and initiatives to ensure alignment with project goals.
- Prepare reports and analyses on the impact of BIO4 Campus initiatives on Serbia’s scientific and economic landscape.
Network with partners and beneficiaries:
- Maintain communication with stakeholders within the Government of Serbia who are responsible for tasks pertaining to the project’s scope of work.
- Maintain cooperation and communication with the project’s partners and beneficiaries on implementing the agreed activities, especially for the events, trainings, and workshops.
- Identify key stakeholders and develop regional scientific workshops which will strengthen BIO4 Campus’s role within local European region.
- Create regional life science network for positioning BIO4 Campus members and for strengthening start up ecosystem.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
Scientific Policy Analyst will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Analyst, SDG Integration.
Competencies
| Core | |
| Achieve Results: | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline |
| Think Innovatively: | LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements |
| Learn Continuously: | LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback |
| Adapt with Agility: | LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
| Act with Determination: | LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident |
| Engage and Partner: | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion: | LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination |
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Digital | Innovation ecosystem curation | Ability to identify key players in an ecosystem, engage with them and mobilise them to build a community and over time a movement around a common mission that can bring about changes at the system level. Ability to give sense of purpose and build trust, develop programmes of activities and platforms to build and strengthen relationships. |
| Business Management | Working with Evidence and Data | Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. |
| Partnership management | Strategic engagement | Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives. |
| Business Direction and Strategy | System Thinking | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. |
| Business Development | Knowledge Generation | Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Applied Sciences, Engineering, Biotechnology and Bioeconomy fields is required. OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant scientific research experience
Required skills:
- Proven track record of working on policy initiatives or coordination of technical activities related to education is required.
- Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Experience in research focused on biotechnology and bioeconomy fields would be considered as asset.
- Experience in multiple cross-functional projects is an asset.
- Providing support in coordinating and implementing projects, documenting project progress and execution is desired.
- Experience working in international teams and companies, performing both scientific works as well project management is an asset.
- Scientific publications and/or patents are preferable.
- Professional experience should show strong ability to work as individual contributor but also to be able to work as a team member on highly complex problems and tasks is desired.
- Strong ability to initiate project and develop it from beginning to final phases.
- Strong scientific background within academic environment as well as industry is preferred
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in Serbian and English is required
The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application.
Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully.
Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements