Strategic Initiatives Lead

Strategic Initiatives Lead

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance (PLSA) is dedicated to making greater Pittsburgh a global life sciences leader and economic engine at the intersection of the region's unique clinical, research, manufacturing, and technology strengths. PLSA is seeking a visionary Strategic Initiatives Lead to drive innovative projects, foster collaboration, and accelerate the growth of the life sciences ecosystem in Pittsburgh. The Strategic Initiatives Lead will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and impact of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance (PLSA). This position is responsible for identifying, developing, and executing innovative regional projects and initiatives that will advance southwest PA as a leader in the life sciences industry. Under the direction of the CEO, the Strategic Initiatives Lead will identify opportunities, recommend solutions, develop project proposals, and implement new initiatives. This position requires a strategic thinker with a passion for human health innovation, strong project management skills, and ideally strong experience with AI and data analytics.

Principal (Essential) Duties :

• Conduct in-depth research on a variety of topics to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the life sciences industry, with a specific focus on data-driven healthcare (e.g. computational biology, connected devices, and health informatics).
• Consult with internal and external stakeholders, including partner organizations, to gain insights into needs and challenges.
• Research, assemble and assess critical project information including relevant sector data, institutional and entrepreneurial capabilities, pertinent market data, and prospective participating stakeholder assets and aspirations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and their potential applications in the life sciences and healthcare industry, such as AI, machine learning, and data science.
• Identify areas for collaborative regional initiatives that further human health innovation and drive economic growth.
• Develop comprehensive business cases for proposed initiatives, including platform structure, deliverables, competitive analysis, financial projections and return on investment (ROI) analysis.
• Collaborate with leadership to evaluate and prioritize strategic initiatives based on their potential impact and alignment with PLSA's strategic goal.
• Build comprehensive project plans for strategic initiatives, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Present business cases to key stakeholders, including the CEO, board members, and key industry stakeholders; incorporate feedback and refine strategic initiatives as needed.
• Lead and manage the full lifecycle of strategic initiatives (plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate), from inception to completion or proof of concept.
• Utilize project management tools to document and track progress, and ensure timely delivery of projects.
• Coordinate the delivery of these projects, monitoring and collaborating as necessary with internal and external stakeholders. Drive strategic initiatives to completion, which may include a range of tasks, depending on the project, from conducting data analysis to delivering presentations.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with healthcare organizations, technology companies, and academic institutions. Network with industry contacts to gather and identify competitive insights and best practices.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Represent PLSA at industry conferences and events to promote data-driven initiatives.
• Act as a strategic advisor on emerging trends, policy matters, potential partnerships, and community engagement opportunities.

PLSA offers a flexible, hybrid work environment in which team members generally work onsite two days per week. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :