We are seeking a Manager/Senior Manager, Business Development and Industry Partnerships to lead the development and execution of the DIGNIFIED Programmes’ industry engagement and commercialisation strategy The role will be responsible for building and converting an industry partnership pipeline, identifying commercial opportunities, supporting technology translation and licensing activities, and facilitating the adoption of DIGNIFIED innovations within the food manufacturing and aged care sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Business Case Development and Commercialisation

• Develop business cases, value propositions, and market entry strategies for DIGNIFIED’s texture-modified food products
• Develop and implement the commercialisation strategy for DIGNIFIED technologies, products, and IP.
• Evaluate commercial opportunities arising from programme outcomes.
• Convert industry engagement into co-development, licensing or commercial opportunities.
• Assess regional and international market opportunities, including Southeast Asia and China.

Market & Business Intelligence

• Conduct market analyses on elderly nutrition, dysphagia management, texture-modified foods, and healthy ageing sectors.
• Evaluate competitor products, market trends, regulatory considerations, and business opportunities.
• Identify potential customers, adopters, and commercial partners.

Industry Engagement & Partnerships

• Develop, manage and convert a pipeline of prospective industry partners, licensees and commercial collaborators across the elderly food ecosystem.
• Working together with the DIGNIFIED programme manager, identify and engage food manufacturers and other ecosystem stakeholders.
• Facilitate discussions leading to research collaboration agreements, licensing agreements, pilot trials, and commercial partnerships.
• Participate in licensing negotiations and industry partner discussions.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Nutrition, Engineering, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Innovation Management, or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualifications (MBA or related fields) would be advantageous.

Experience

• 8–10 years of experience in business development, industry partnerships, innovation management or commercialisation.
• Experience in food manufacturing, food technology, nutrition, healthcare or consumer products sectors.
• Strong industry network in Singapore's food ecosystem.
• Experience managing industry partnerships, licensing discussions or technology translation initiatives.
• Able to operate at the interface between academia, industry and government.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and manage partnerships.
• Experience developing business plans and commercialisation roadmaps.
• Strong presentation, communication, and networking skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams comprising researchers, clinicians, engineers, and industry stakeholders.

Key Deliverables

• Develop a comprehensive commercialisation roadmap and business cases for DIGNIFIED technologies and products.
• Establish and maintain an active industry partnership pipeline and convert identified opportunities into co-development projects, licensing discussion and commercial collaborations.
• Identify regional market opportunities and potential commercial partners.
• Support the preparation of commercialisation plans, business plans and reports required by funders and stakeholders.

*Note : The incumbent will be appointed as Research Engineer/Research Fellow if successful.