Strategic Opportunities Analyst

Garvan Institute of Medical Research brings together world leading researchers and clinicians, collaborating locally and globally, to improve human health. Our mission is to harness all the information encoded in our genome to better diagnose, treat, predict and prevent disease. From the individual patient with rare disease, to the many thousands affected by complex, widespread illness, we are pioneering discoveries across diseases that have the deepest impact on our community.    

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research seeks a Translational Strategy & Portfolio Analyst to play a central role in shaping the Institute’s translational portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Translation Officer, this position will evaluate emerging scientific assets through an integrated commercial, clinical, and competitive lens to inform asset prioritisation, indication strategy, and commercialisation pathways, applying independent judgment and synthesising incomplete or emerging data to support disciplined investment decisions.

Working closely with researchers, the Development & Translation Platform, and the Commercialisation Working Group, the Translational Strategy & Portfolio Analyst will identify, assess, and position high-potential opportunities. Through structured analysis and targeted market validation, the Analyst will define and support execution of viable pathways to translation, including licensing, partnership, or venture formation, ensuring that Garvan’s most promising programs are advanced with clear strategic intent.

Salary: Up to $125k + super + salary packaging (depending on experience)

Employment Type: 2 year fixed term contract with possibility to extend.  

SNAPSHOT OF BENEFITS

• Generous salary packaging to save you income tax on your wages thereby boosting your monthly take home pay (max. $15,900 general expenses + $2,650 meals/accom)

• Ample opportunities for on-going training and development

• Stimulating, diverse and highly international research environment

• Flexible work arrangements e.g. start / finish times

• 18 weeks paid parental leave for both parents including paid superannuation

• A range of additional leave types to meet your personal needs including cultural leave, conference leave, community service and study leave

• Discounted Health Insurance

• Lifestyle discounts with our community partners

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The key responsibilities include:

• Drive structured evaluation of internal research assets to inform prioritisation, go/no-go decisions, and allocation of translational resources, integrating scientific rationale with commercial potential and development feasibility.

• Assess target indications, patient populations, and unmet clinical need to support early Target Product Profile (TPP) development and guide asset positioning from the outset.

• Develop and maintain deep competitive intelligence across relevant therapeutic areas, including mapping active biotech and pharmaceutical pipelines, identifying differentiation, white space opportunities, and potential risks, and engaging Key Opinion Leaders to inform and validate these assessments.

• Translate complex scientific, clinical, and market data into clear, decision-driving insights that inform portfolio strategy and leadership alignment.

• Develop and refine commercial hypotheses for emerging assets, including potential pathways to translation such as licensing, partnership, co-development, or venture formation.

• Support development of robust business cases for priority assets, working closely with Finance and internal stakeholders to define key assumptions, value drivers, and inflection points.

• Prepare high-quality asset briefs, strategic summaries, and materials to support both internal decision-making and external engagement.

• Support early market validation efforts by preparing materials for targeted industry engagement and synthesising feedback into actionable recommendations for asset positioning and development strategy.

• Work closely with the CTO, Translational Project Manager, Legal, and scientific teams to ensure alignment between scientific progress, commercial opportunity, and IP/regulatory considerations.

• Contribute to the development of a structured, repeatable framework for evaluating and advancing assets across the portfolio.

ABOUT YOU

The key skills and experience include:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related field.

• 4–7+ years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, consulting, venture, or a related analytical role with exposure to therapeutic development and/or commercialisation.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate scientific programs through a commercial lens, including understanding of clinical development pathways, competitive dynamics, and market considerations.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to synthesise complex and incomplete information into clear, structured insights.

• Experience conducting competitive landscape analyses and translating findings into strategic recommendations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex concepts into concise, compelling narratives.

• Comfort operating in a dynamic, early-stage environment with evolving priorities and a high degree of autonomy.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please submit your application with a CV and cover letter as one document, stating why you are interested in this role. We are reviewing applications as they are received. If you think you’re the right person for this role, we’d love to hear how your capabilities, achievements and experience set you apart. Only applicants with full working rights in Australia are eligible to apply for this role.