Executive Director, Regional Office (Asheville) in Asheville, North Carolina at The North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Purpose

The Executive Director, Regional Office (Asheville) represents the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech) by implementing its strategic commitment to regional and statewide biotechnology and life sciences development. This includes building and engaging an Advisory Committee (AC) within a region and identifying and undertaking a range of projects to promote economic and societal benefits. Executive Director must reside in the region in question.

Supervisory Responsibility

Depending on the demands, the Executive Director may have the responsibility of supervising different classifications of employees such as temporary workers, part-time or full-time staff (time-limited or permanent), interns, or fellows. This includes coordinating with TACD, VP of Statewide Operations and SVP of Economic & Statewide Development on the hiring, training, discipline and review of employees.

Essential Duties

Create and engage an AC within a region that includes members from local industry, academia, government, economic development, investment and other partners as appropriate. The AC will ensure NCBiotech’s programs and contributions grow the regional life sciences industry and ecosystem, while driving technology-based economic development across NC.

In collaboration with the AC and regional/state partners, lead the creation and implementation of a Western NC regional life sciences economic development framework with short-, medium- and long-term goals and supporting programming. (for WNC only)

Work and consistently communicate with teams across NCBiotech to enhance regional life sciences impact. This includes cultivating the regional innovation ecosystem, expanding investment, and creating, growing and attracting jobs.

Partner with NCBiotech’s Focused Initiatives Team (FIT) to identify/prioritize life sciences-related opportunities and solutions and develop/implement programs as appropriate to drive outcomes beneficial to the region and NC.

Prioritize the Regional Impact through Statewide Engagement (RISE-NC) program, and update accordingly to promote future initiatives to advance the region’s plan for innovation, investment, jobs, solutions and opportunities (NCBiotech’s Five Impact Criteria).

Identify and undertake a range of projects, activities, and strategies to stimulate life sciences development. Prioritize frequent engagement with key partners across the region.

Build strong partnerships with business and industry, government, policy, academic and educational participants as key resources for life sciences strategy, programming and overall ecosystem and economic development. Also represent the regional biotechnology community as a thought leader within the state as well as nationally and internationally.

Serve as area conduit to the programs and goals of NCBiotech including grants, loans and assisting in creating, growing, and attracting companies; as well as communicating and connecting around ongoing opportunities and solutions in the region.

Responsible for the development and management of the regional office’s annual budget.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Regional Life Sciences Economic Development and Ecosystem Expertise: Understanding of North Carolina's biotechnology and life sciences landscape, spanning the full development lifecycle (R&D, manufacturing, commercialization), required resources, and relevant financial, legal, and regulatory frameworks. Awareness of and connection to the region’s existing life sciences economic development ecosystem.

High-Level Stakeholder Engagement: Executive presence and strong communication skills to effectively facilitate confidential discussions, unite diverse groups, and coordinate cross-sector partnerships among industry, policy, academic, non-profit and economic development partners.

Strategic & Nuanced Problem-Solving: Ability to balance big-picture strategy with intricate details while effectively navigating the complex economic, societal, ethical, regulatory, community and political issues surrounding biotechnology and life sciences development.

End-to-End Project Management: Proven capacity to gather and synthesize complex information, directing it into actionable project development, management, and successful implementation. Ability to plan, organize and lead multi-partner regional initiatives.

Education and Experience

Preferred – Master’s degree with ten years of experience described below.

Minimum – Bachelor’s degree and in business, life sciences, or public policy with at least eight years of increasingly senior experience in business, economic development, project management, or policy administration.

Executive Director must reside in the region in question.