Head of Innovation for the Business Development and Innovation Area

REF. 26-009_MS_AS

About the research group

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research center in biomedicine promoted by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital, both from the Catalan Health Institute, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, University of Barcelona and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat city council. In 2017, the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Barcelona (CMR[B]), now part of IDIBELL, launched the Program for Advancing the Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine of Catalonia (P-CMR[C]) together with IDIBELL.

IDIBELL research is focused in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the axes on which researchers work every day with the goal of improving the quality of life of citizens. IDIBELL is located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, south of Barcelona.

The Innovation Unit is part of the Business Development and Innovation Area at IDIBELL. The Business Development and Innovation Area is responsible for enhancing the value of innovative projects that are generated at IDIBELL, to promote the establishment of translational research-industry collaborations.

The Unit is responsible for identifying and prioritizing scientific and innovative research results developed on the Campus, managing the portfolio of projects and intellectual property assets, supporting the valorization of research outcomes, facilitating the transfer of IDIBELL’s knowledge and IP, and promoting an innovative culture across the Campus.

IDIBELL is currently seeking a Head of Innovation who is passionate about supporting the knowledge and technology transfer process of innovative projects on Campus, keen to foster ventures with the industry, strategic to ensure the profitability of research projects and eager to manage the highly professional and motivated Innovation team.

About the role

• Strategically manage and prioritize the portfolio of projects and patents, optimizing the Unit's resources and impact
• Oversee evaluation of innovative projects from scientific, technical, and market perspectives
• Define roadmaps and provide strategic guidance to maximize market value of innovation projects
• Monitor research group activities across the Campus to identify and prioritize high-potential innovation opportunities
• Oversee negotiation and execution of collaborative agreements and partnerships
• Strategically prepare and lead competitive calls to secure funding for innovation projects
• Identify potential licensees for IDIBELL projects, negotiate and close licensing agreements
• Mature IDIBELL projects for spin-off creation, leading alongside the researcher in securing funding and engaging with investors
• Promotion of the institution's innovation portfolio: networking with companies and trading partners
• Representing IDIBELL and innovation projects in national and international congresses
• Management of IDIBELL's Innovation Unit: people management, establishing and achieving the unit's annual strategic goals, indicators and financial objectives, controlling and executing the unit's annual budget (including IP protection budget)
• Coordination of the activity of the Innovation Unit to align it with the activity of other Departments and Units within IDIBELL
• Dialogue with researchers and other stakeholders to assess their degree of satisfaction with the Innovation Unit’s activity, as well as implementation of improvement actions
• Preparation of strategic public tenders and procurement

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Previous experience in innovation and technology transfer management, minimum 5 years
• Previous experience in leading an innovation team, with responsibility for both strategic direction and team management
• Previous experience in healthcare research or technology transfer
• Knowledge of intellectual property rights, patents and market-driven databases

Education and training

•  Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Life Sciences or a related field

Technical & soft skills

• Strategic project oversight: leads complex innovation and technology transfer initiatives, setting clear priorities
• Results orientation: drives measurable impact in innovation, knowledge transfer, and research valorization
• Leadership and communication: inspires teams and stakeholders, fostering collaboration across disciplines
• Strategic thinking: anticipates challenges and opportunities, aligning decisions with institutional goals
• Autonomy and accountability: acts proactively and independently while ensuring strategic coherence
• Negotiation and stakeholder relations: manages partnerships and represents IDIBELLs interests effectively
• Digital skills: proficient with project management and analytical tools (Microsoft Office and others)
• Good communication abilities, both written and verbal

Languages

• Good command of English, Catalan and Spanish

We will value, but not required

• Knowledge of Innovation Management Systems under international standards (ISO 56001)
• Proficiency in biomedical research ERPs for innovation and project management (e.g. Fundanet)
• Experience in business development in biomedical research
• PhD or MBA qualifications will be a plus

What do we offer

•  No. of positions: 1

•  Estimated start date: As soon as possible

•  Contract duration: Permanent

•  Estimated annual gross salary: Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay ranges.

•  You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.

•  Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way.

•  Possibility to work some days in remote -Teleworking

•  26 working days of holiday per year

•  System of accumulated hours for employees, from 88 to 104 hours depending on the year (11 to 13 working days), to attend to personal matters.

•  Paid leave package

•  Benefits of constant training are offered

•  We offer and promote diverse and inclusive conditions. Applicants are made free from any discrimination. Specifically IDIBELL works to improve gender equality in all areas with the aim of achieving gender balance, but maintaining the most scrupulous respect to any choice at the level of gender identity. Please express yourself freely, safely and non-binarily, if that's the case.

Deadline: Please submit your application by  28/02/2026

Data protection notice

In compliance with the obligations established in the General Regulation of Data Protection (RGPD), which is the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, and the Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights, it is reported that the Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), CIF G58863317, with address Av. Granvia de l'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, will process your personal data, as the controller, to apply for the position, maintain communication concerning the status of the candidature, to access the delivered CV; to compare that your data is in accordance with the offers announced by IDIBELL and to verify, where appropriate, that the information provided is accurate. You can find more information in our Privacy Policy at https://idibell.cat/en/privacy-policy-2/, request more information about the data processing carried out and exercise your rights of access, rectification, deletion, opposition, portability, limitation of processing by sending a request at email: dataprotection@idibell.cat. If you consider that you have not obtained satisfaction in exercising your rights, you may submit a claim to Catalan Data Protection Authority.

Our institute

IDIBELL is a research center that integrates the biomedical research of the Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB), and the Viladecans Hospital (HV). The research focuses of IDIBELL are cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the pivots on which researchers work every day in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Observations:

The 'HR Excellence in Research' award represents IDIBELL’s commitment to the implementation of Human Resources policies, which oversee the attracting and development of talent in an open, transparent, and based on personal merit, in alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Researchers (Charter and Code).

IDIBELL is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the implementation of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTMR).