Job Description

Position: Associate Director Industry Vertical

Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology

Background

We live in a world of fast-paced innovation today, driven by exponential progress in science and technology (S&T) and the growth of vibrant ecosystems to commercialize research. India must aspire to be a top 3 S&T Nation, where the first two places are occupied by US and China today. To do so, India needs to be at the forefront of research: the creation of new knowledge (research) and its translation to economic and social goods. This is imperative for long-term industry competitiveness, national security, and self-reliance to attain our socio-economic goals.

The time for India to revive its S&T agenda is now or never. We have the economic size, the talent pool, a large market size and a vibrant startup ecosystem to both invest in research and be able to translate S&T knowledge into economic value.

The Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FAST India) is a non-profit institution of excellence dedicated to catalyse Indias journey to a top 3 S&T Nation.

Leadership

FAST India is founded by Varun Aggarwal, who is a successful entrepreneur and researcher, and Ashish Dhawan, a private equity investor turned philanthropist. Varun built and sold Indias largest job assessment company, Aspiring Minds and wrote a book on the science ecosystem of India. Ashish Dhawan is the chairperson of Ashoka University, a leading liberal arts university in India, and Central Square Foundation, and is passionate about promoting science in India.

FASTs advisory board is chaired by Prof. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School and consists of Dr K VijayRaghavan, formerly Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation; Dr Thomas Barlow, author, former Adviser to the Australian Government, and Financial Times columnist; Shantanu Rastogi, Managing Director at General Atlantic.

Approach

FAST aspires help to make India a Top 3 Science & Technology Nation by working closely with key stakeholders in the S&T ecosystem the government, industry and institutions, while inspiring youth for a career in science.

Our approach comprises

A) Insightful research: The FAST team conducts detailed research, developing foundational reports and knowledge base needed for policy formulation and deployment. B) Develop Salience : FAST team advocates changes and improvement ideas, utilises social media, opeds, and interactions with policy makers and change agents to suggest improvement ideas and changes.

C) Programmatic Interventions: FAST partners with various government bodies, industry and institutions to implement programs that are scalable exemplars to build Indias S&T capability.

Why join FAST

At FAST, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the Science & Technology Landscape and shape its future. We offer a collaborative, dynamic, and forward-thinking work environment where your ideas and initiatives can lead to meaningful change.

Role Summary

The Associate Director- Industry Vertical will lead FASTs engagement the Indian industry.

Industry Partnerships: Build relationships with Industry CEOs, Industry Bodies ( FICCI/CII etc.) and select bureaucrats. Inspire them with FASTs vision for S&T in India, understand their needs & perspectives, encourage and enlist their collaboration with FASTs ideas.

Research & Strategy: Provide thought leadership by developing a strategic view on various industry sectors in India. Identify and create specific areas of intervention, implement them, influence the ecosystem by promoting industry best practices and case studies, highlighting ongoing research work globally or in India, and help shape policies that can enable the industry to drive technological innovation successfully.

Sectoral Advisory Councils: Based on national priority sectors, create a team of top experts from the industry & the academia for each sector. These sectoral councils will guide FAST in development of a roadmap to building Indias capability, FAST then will work with industry institutions & government to facilitate its implementation.

Drive Salience: Create awareness of the need for increased industry R&D and product innovation efforts. Related activities showcase industry exemplars, global benchmarks, insightful case studies, editorials, social media content etc.

Team Building: Build a small high-performing team for the Industry vertical.

Leader Profile & competencies

FAST is in search of a passionate and dynamic leader who can champion the cause of R&D in industry, and conceptualize & implement ideas towards this goal. The right candidate would be accomplished leader with a passion for technology and excited by the opportunity to drive change at a national level.

Vision and Strategy: Ability to think long term and then convert the vision into actionable strategy factoring in considerations of political economy and market realities.

Leadership and Drive: Proven track record of navigating complex environments to deliver outcomes. The person should have experience of building a vertical from scratch which includes hiring and motivating people, forging partnerships and alliances and working through influence.

Dealing with ambiguity: Ability to start with a vison, develop well informed strategies, and adapt its implementation to be effective in a multi-stakeholder ecosystem.

Educational background & experience : Ideally a B Tech/ M Tech with an MBA and with about 15 years of experience.

Communication Skills: Persuasive and articulate, effective written and Oral Communication skill.

Leadership presence: The candidate must be able to productively interact with top industry leaders, senior academics, and government officials.

Pre-reading

Varuns talk on his book explaining Indias S&T ecosystem and the need for change

Keynote Remarks and Panel Discussion at India Science Fest about why India needs to invigorate its S&T ecosystem

Policy and best practices briefs by FAST