ICFO KTT Innovation Manager – Health Portfolio

Position Overview

ICFO is seeking an Innovation Manager for its Health Portfolio within the KTT team. This role focuses on biomedical and health technologies, including bio-photonics and advanced imaging. The successful candidate will organize, manage, and promote ICFO’s portfolio of technologies in the health sector, develop strategic partnerships —particularly with hospitals and biomedical centers— and help translate research outcomes into impactful clinical and commercial applications.

This call is issued under the framework of the approved ICFO Public Employment Offer (OPO 2026), as approved by the ICFO Board of Trustees in January 19th 2026 and in accordance with Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation, Law 9/2022 on the Catalan Science System, the Basic Statute of Public Employees (Royal Legislative Decree 5/2015 – EBEP), and Law 19/2014 on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good Governance.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Health Portfolio team, including junior innovation managers and project managers, as resources and projects allow, reporting directly to the Head of KTT.

Collaborate closely with Group Leaders to accelerate the commercialization, clinical validation, and industrial impact of ICFO technologies.

Conduct market analysis, technology scouting, and benchmarking to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive positioning in bio-photonics, advanced imaging, and health technologies.

Manage ICFO’s patent portfolio in the Health sector, promoting inventions, exploring licensing opportunities, and facilitating technology transfer.

Evaluate the commercial potential of new inventions, research initiatives, and discoveries, providing recommendations for strategic development.

Draft, negotiate, and manage contracts, agreements, and partnerships with industrial partners, hospitals, and biomedical institutions.

Identify and secure public and private funding opportunities, supporting proposal development and providing strategic briefings to management.

Oversee LaunchPad incubation projects within the Health Portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and timely execution.

Manage and coordinate the Barcelona Medical Photonics Network (BMPN), fostering collaboration among hospitals, biomedical centers, and ICFO researchers, and strengthening ICFO’s role as a key innovation hub in medical photonics.

Build and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, investors, research institutions, and other strategic stakeholders within the health and medtech ecosystem.

Represent ICFO at networking events, conferences, clinical–industrial forums, and industry meetings to promote the Health Portfolio and strengthen strategic alliances.

Why Join Us?

At ICFO you will have the opportunity to work at the intersection of science, healthcare, and innovation, making a direct impact on the world through the commercialization and clinical translation of ground breaking research around photonics science and technology. We offer a collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment where your contributions will be valued and your career growth supported. Join us in shaping the future of health technologies and transforming scientific ideas into solutions.

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Qualifications and Experience Required

Qualifications

Master’s or PhD degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field, with professional experience in industry, healthcare innovation or technology transfer.

Experience Required

The ideal candidate will have:

Proven experience in IP management, licensing, project management, or business development in research-driven or biomedical environments.

Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills (written and oral), particularly in multi-stakeholder settings involving clinicians and researchers.

Solid understanding of contractual, legal, and commercial implications of partnerships.

High attention to detail, responsibility, creativity, and an eagerness to learn.

Motivation, initiative, and a results-oriented mindset.

Flexibility to work outside standard hours for events and activities

Other competences that the candidate should have:

Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Strong organizational skills with proactive follow-up on assignments.

Fluency in English; knowledge of Catalan and Spanish is a plus.

Passion for innovation, healthcare impact, personal growth, and professional development.

CONDITIONS

This is a full-time position.

The contract offered will be a permanent contract (contracte indefinit) linked to the approved Public Employment Offer (Oferta Pública d’Ocupació – OPO) of ICFO and governed by the applicable public-sector labor framework.

A probationary period of 6 months will apply, in accordance with ICFO’s internal labor regulations and the applicable public-sector labor framework.

A salary according to ICFO’s approved salary scales will be offered, commensurate with the level of the position and the candidate’s experience.

The selected candidate will join ICFO under a permanent contract and will benefit from ICFO’s attractive working conditions, including a hybrid work model, flexible working hours, and access to professional development opportunities.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

To apply, please submit:

your resume

a cover letter outlining your experience and vision for technology transfer in the health sector

contact information for at least three professional references

Selection will include a pre-screening of applicants based on eligibility and experience, followed by an interview with a short list of candidates.

The selection process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) principles. It will consist of:

1. Eligibility check of applications. 2. Assessment of merits (education, experience, and language) 3. Interview with shortlisted candidates

The Evaluation Committee will include at least three members and ensure gender balance and impartiality.

Each phase will be documented, and candidates will be notified of the outcome within 15 days of the interview.

DATA PROTECTION

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.

Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).

DPO: [email protected]

Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.

Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.

Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat

All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public-sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).

Reference: 1079
Application deadline: February 27, 2026

27th of February, 2026