Healthy career moves

Biotech company seeks sales director for mainland expansion

Sitting at the cutting-edge of DNA-based technology, Hai Kang Life has its sights set on the mainland with goals to develop new biotechnology products and push for advancements in health detection systems.

Plans are under way for the company to set up a new research and development (R&D) facility in Beijing to further develop its Lab-on-a-Chip (LOAC) system - a system of scaling single or multiple lab processes to chip format.

'China's industrial biotechnology industry has been developing rapidly, indicated by the number of industrial products produced via biotechnology and production scales. A low-cost base and growing market for industrial products will make China an essential part of the company's global strategy,' said Terence Lau Lok-ting, chief operating officer of Hai Kang Life.

Hai Kang Life's R&D centre was set to be a flagship facility and a pioneering model worldwide. It expedited developments and enhanced the company's abilities in the mainland, he said.

According to a leading Chinese life scientist, the output of China's biotechnology industry will hit 2 trillion yuan - or 5 per cent of GDP - by 2020. And it has been listed as one of the key areas for China's science and technology development in the next 15 years. Nationally, the industry is being utilised to solve indigenous and national problems, including pollution and reduction in production costs.

Expansion into the mainland for Hai Kang Life signals the need for more staff.

'This new facility will house international and local talents for various projects,' said Dr Lau of the new laboratory in Beijing.

'Staff-wise, at the moment, we particularly require a sales director,' he added. 'We also need research scientists to cope with the opening of the new Beijing R&D centre.'

Dr Lau said there was a need for talented people from various disciplines, but the sales director position was of key importance in spearheading sales and marketing of proprietary products and services.

'We need people that are fully committed, with exceptional energy levels who are willing to grow with this new emerging industry,' he said. 'This requires the candidate [for the sales position] to have built-in leadership skills and a firm mindset of entrepreneurship.'

The sales director will need to manage not only Hong Kong, but also operations in China and overseas and will work under extreme pressure. 'A high degree of maturity and integrity are therefore needed, as well as exceptional communication and interpersonal skills,' Dr Lau said.

'At Hai Kang Life, we need dynamic and energetic people who are hard-working and self-assertive; people who can cope with stressful situations,' he said.

Speaking about the mainland, Dr Lau praised the company for its competitive edge in the China market.

'The people behind Hai Kang Life and the respective driving force of individuals ensure success in building and sustaining relationships within China.'

The R&D facility in Beijing is expected to serve as the clinical evaluation centre for the company's LOAC system in accordance with international standards and guidelines.

'Most important of all, the Beijing laboratory will advance the development of our proprietary LOAC system for clinical trial purposes in the near future,' he said. Over the years, Hai Kang Life has been successfully granted nine patents, with many others pending.

Its R&D ability is reflected by its scientific advisory board which includes two Nobel Laureates.

Hai Kang Life promises that a job with the company will translate to working with the best in the field.

'The company has attracted talent from China and various disciplines around the globe,' Dr Lau said. 'With a professional and energetic team, it has a publication record second to none in world prestige scientific journals and has attracted the attention of [media such as] CNN and the Far Eastern Economic Review for interviews and broadcasts.'

He said the company had established strong relationships with worldwide organisations, including the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Office and the World Trade Organisation's Office des Epizooties, and had been continuously collaborating with their reference laboratories for validations on some of its products.

Established in 1999, Hai Kang Life's major focus is on researching and developing the novel LOAC system for routine diagnostic applications.

Formerly known as Hong Kong DNA chips, the company offers three main streams of diagnostic testing products and services: veterinary, clinical diagnostic and food.

'Hai Kang Life's progress and advancement of LOAC is on the brink of delivering a total solution for routine molecular diagnosis,' said Dr Lau. 'The company strongly believes the realisation of this revolutionary technology will positively change the practice of conical medicine and laboratory-assisted diagnosis worldwide, as well as providing a practical prospect for individualised medicine.'

The new R&D centre

High-end instrumentation and technology laboratory will cover area of molecular biology, LOAC, DNA chip and cell culture laboratories

Laboratory research teams will largely consist of PhD holders

Laboratory will be located at the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area, China's largest scientific and technological research centre

Laboratory will be equipped with Bio Safety Level 2 that covers specific procedures in handling pathogenic agents