Innovation Program lead

Date: 17 Nov 2025

Location:

Bangalore, KA, IN, 560100

Division: Essential Functions

Role Title:
Innovation Catalyst & Hub Lead.

Location:
Bangalore (on-site with limited hybrid)

Purpose of the role
In its first phase, you will focus on
bringing the physical Innovation & Collaboration Hub to life
— translating the concept into a functional, inspiring environment. You'll lead the
space setup and design journey
end-to-end: from zoning and layout planning to vendor discussions, budgeting, and on-ground execution.

Working with cross-functional teams, you'll
shape the identity of the Hub
— defining how spaces like the AI Sandbox, Demo Theatre, Design Thinking Studios, and Partner Co-creation Bays come alive. In your first year, you'll quite literally
build the home of innovation at Syngene
— imagining, designing, and activating spaces that inspire our people to think differently, collaborate deeply, and innovate boldly.

In the second phase, you will run the Innovation & Collaboration Hub as a world-class, always-on engine that converts promising ideas into business value—curating spaces, methods, tech, and partnerships (incl. CDS, AI Sandbox, Demo Theatre).

What You'll Own (evergreen Responsibilities)

• Space Design & Build-Out

• Vision to Reality: Translate the Innovation & Collaboration Hub concept into a physical environment that reflects Syngene's ethos of science-led creativity.

• Zoning & Layout: Define spatial zones — AI Sandbox, Computational Data Services (CDS) Bay, Design-Thinking Studios, Demo Theatre, Partner Co-creation Zone, Innovation Lounge, and Exhibit Corridor.
• Consensus Building: Facilitate cross-functional discussions with R&D, IT, Admin, EHS, and Finance to align on zoning, priorities, and usage principles.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Engage architects, design consultants, contractors, and technology vendors. Lead design reviews, scope finalization, cost estimation, and compliance with safety and sustainability norms.
• Program Management: Drive the end-to-end build plan — timelines, budgets, procurement coordination, and risk mitigation. Ensure on-time readiness and smooth handover to operations.

• Design Ethos: Create a space that's functional yet inspiring — open, modular, tech-enabled, and conducive to creative collaboration.

• Hub Operations & Governance

• Develop and institutionalize operational SOPs covering space booking, access, safety, maintenance, and vendor SLAs.

• Build an agile governance framework for idea intake, pilot approval, and reporting.
• Coordinate with IT and Admin for AV, IoT, and digital scheduling systems.

• Ensure compliance with all EHS, data, and facility standards.

• Innovation Portfolio & Pilot Management

• Create a structured funnel for idea submission, shortlisting, and pilot execution.

• Work with cross-functional squads to translate ideas into testable prototypes or process pilots.
• Define stage-gate metrics and value-capture models for each pilot.

• Track progress through dashboards — utilization, throughput, cycle time, and conversion to scale.

• Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

• Forge external partnerships with academia, startups, and technology providers.

• Curate Innovation Days, Demo Weeks, and Collaboration Jams with partners.
• Build a repository of potential collaborators, emerging tech, and external facilitators.

• Ensure that the Hub becomes a gateway for open innovation — where ideas flow freely between Syngene and the wider ecosystem.

• Community & Culture Building

• Shape an innovation culture across Syngene through storytelling, showcases, and engagement rituals.

• Run initiatives such as Reflection Circles, Fail-Forward Fridays, Brown-Bag Sessions, and Innovation Challenges.
• Partner with HRBPs and L&D to embed innovation behaviours in capability frameworks and performance systems.

• Recognize and celebrate innovators and teams driving tangible impact.

• Measurement & Storytelling

• Establish a transparent KPI dashboard with metrics like utilization, idea pipeline health, POC-to-scale ratio, and realized benefits.

• Develop case studies and communication assets for leadership reviews and enterprise sharing.

• Create monthly impact narratives that demonstrate the Hub's contribution to business outcomes.

• Sustainability & Future Readiness

• Integrate sustainability principles in material selection, energy use, and waste management.

• Continuously evolve the Hub with emerging technologies — AI-enabled visualization, VR labs, data co-creation spaces, etc.
• Keep the space and its purpose dynamic, adaptive, and future-proof.

Ideal profile

• Experience: Good experience in product/program, R&D ops, or innovation management; prior lab/center-of-excellence experience a plus.
• Leadership: Builds psychological safety; champions experimentation with sensible guardrails; clear storyteller.

Skills Required
The below skills are over and above the Leadership Skills

#
Skill Name

Skill Description

Proficiency Level Required (1–4)

Proficiency Descriptor

Skill Type

1
Program / Project Management

Ability to plan, track, and deliver complex, cross-functional projects (space build-out, innovation pilots) within timelines and budget.

4 – Expert

Independently manages multi-stream projects; anticipates risks; applies agile methods to drive delivery.

Maintaining

2
Innovation Portfolio Management

Structuring idea intake, evaluation, and pilot pipelines; applying stage-gate governance for innovation projects.

3 – Advanced

Designs frameworks and decision models; measures value; mentors others on innovation lifecycle management.

Emerging

3
Design Thinking Facilitation

Applying human-centered design methods to problem solving; conducting workshops and ideation sessions.

3 – Advanced

Facilitates end-to-end sessions; guides teams from insights to prototypes; integrates user feedback loops.

Emerging

4
Stakeholder Management & Influence

Building consensus and driving alignment across Admin, IT, R&D, Finance, and senior leadership.

4 – Expert

Influences diverse stakeholders through data and empathy; resolves conflicts; secures sponsorship.

Maintaining

5
Vendor & Contractor Management

Engaging, negotiating, and managing external vendors for design, construction, and technology implementation.

3 – Advanced

Defines scope, SLAs, and KPIs; manages execution; ensures quality and cost compliance.

Maintaining

6
Space Design & Zoning Strategy

Translating innovation concepts into physical layouts and experiences that promote collaboration and creativity.

3 – Advanced

Co-creates zoning layouts; integrates human, technical, and aesthetic dimensions; aligns design to purpose.

Emerging

7
Budgeting & Cost Management

Estimating, tracking, and optimizing spend across design, construction, and operational activities.

3 – Advanced

Creates and manages cost plans; ensures CAPEX/OPEX governance; identifies efficiency opportunities.

Maintaining

8
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Working across scientific, technical, and business teams to drive integrated innovation outcomes.

4 – Expert

Builds collaborative rituals; bridges silos; ensures shared accountability for results.

KPIs (steady-state)
Focus Area

Success Indicators (Phase 1 Target - Suggested)

Measurement Approach

• Space Design & Build-Out
• Zoning plan & concept design finalized and approved by all stakeholders
• All key zones (AI Sandbox, CDS Bay, Design Studio, Demo Theatre) built & commissioned within timeline (+/- 10%)
• Budget adherence ≥ 95%

Project plan + CAPEX vs actuals + stakeholder sign-off milestones

• Operational Readiness
• All zone SOPs published (booking, safety, usage)
• Facility handover to operations & Admin/IT integration complete
• Booking system & digital scheduling live and stable

Readiness scorecard & internal UAT sign-off

• Early Adoption & Utilization
• ≥ 60% average utilization of functional zones within 3 months of launch
• ≥ 10 cross-functional teams host sessions or pilots
• ≥ 2 partner events or external collabs held

Usage analytics + event logs + feedback forms

• Idea Pipeline & Pilot Execution
• ≥ 12 ideas admitted to Hub pipeline
• ≥ 5 pilots executed across functions
• ≥ 2 pilots show validated benefits (time savings, efficiency gain, or cost avoidance)

Hub tracker + pilot reports + benefit register

• Community & Engagement
• ≥ 12 innovation rituals held (Reflection Circles, brown-bags, mini-demos)
• ≥ 150 unique participants across events
• Participant satisfaction ≥ 85%

Attendance records + pulse survey scores

• Governance & Process Setup
• Idea intake and evaluation framework operationalized
• Monthly governance review cadence with Innovation Council established
• Baseline dashboard for utilization & pipeline live by Month 9

Governance calendar + dashboard launch

• Partnerships & External Visibility
• ≥ 3 academic/start-up partnership MoUs or pilot explorations
• ≥ 1 Innovation Day or Showcase event completed

MoUs + event documentation

• Storytelling & Leadership Visibility
• Monthly impact update to Leadership Team
• 1–2 internal case studies published on SynPulse
• Launch video / inaugural showcase completed

Communication metrics + leadership feedback

Selection process

• Application: CV + 1-page "90-day plan for the Hub."
• Assessments: Portfolio interview, case simulation (run a 60-min triage & create a pilot charter), stakeholder panel incl. Head of Innovation & CHRO.