Senior Director - Scientific Officer

Summary:

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) seeks an academic scientist with expertise in immunology and cancer biology interested in an outstanding professional opportunity to serve as a Senior Director - Scientific Officer at HHMI. This role would be perfect for a tenure-track or tenured academic lab head who has experience running an academic lab and is looking for an opportunity to broaden their impact in science. This position is eligible for remote work, and if applicable, you can continue running a small laboratory with HHMI support. Senior Directors - Scientific Officers are members of the HHMI Science Department and play a key role in HHMI's efforts to advance science and intentionally reshape the scientific ecosystem to make it more inclusive and supportive for mentees.

This role focuses on the following areas:

• Participate in the Evaluation of Current and Future HHMI Scientists including HHMI Investigators, Freeman Hrabowski Scholars, and Hanna Gray Fellows. This includes working with the Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer to design and implement competitions and reviews to ensure that they align with HHMI's overarching mission, values, internal policies, and inclusion goals.

• Liaise with HHMI Investigators at universities and research centers across the U.S. regarding scientific and administrative matters.

• Coordinate Programmatic and Operational Initiatives by developing policies for the Science Department that focus on promoting the best possible institutional framework for groundbreaking science that focuses on people, not projects. Senior Directors - Scientific Officers also interact with HHMI leadership across departments to coordinate institute operations.

• Serve as an Impactful Leader by brainstorming and vetting ideas in collaborative sessions with the Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer and other senior leaders at HHMI. These sessions lead to decision making and implementation of actions designed to transform the scientific ecosystem.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about advancing science, committed to advancing inclusion, and eager to collaborate with a team of highly competent professionals. This role will allow you to expand your impact from your current home institution to the broader scientific ecosystem in the United States. Academic scientists with experience running their own laboratory and working in basic biology with specific expertise in immunology and cancer biology are encouraged to apply (click here for a list of current Scientific Officers).

This is a full-time position that is eligible for remote work. This role will require someone to work on-site at HHMI's headquarters for up to 24 weeks throughout the year.

Relocation to the Washington DC area is welcomed but not required. For those who choose to relocate, HHMI currently has a hybrid model at the Institute's administrative headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Active scientists may continue to run a small lab at their institution for a proportion of their effort, with direct research support from HHMI, and paid travel to and from HHMI headquarters for up to 24 weeks a year.

What we provide:

• The opportunity to use your scientific expertise and broaden impact across the scientific landscape through this uniquely positioned role

• The chance to work with and support outstanding scientists at all career stages at HHMI

• Opportunities to use and develop your talents toward the critical work of advancing inclusion while being an integral member of a dedicated team

• Generous salary and the opportunity to serve in this role as a remote or hybrid employee

• If applicable, direct HHMI research support to run a small laboratory at your home institution

What you bring:

Education

• M.D. and/or Ph.D. plus significant experience overseeing research in basic biological and biomedical sciences required, with a focus on immunology and cancer biology

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of professional research experience in immunology and cancer biology (following first appointment as tenure-track assistant professor or equivalent).

• Experience as a Principal Investigator with current or past funding from nationally competitive grants or contracts from NIH, NSF, and/or other federal agencies or private funders.

• At least 5 years of administrative experience leading major academic programs or an academic department or with similar duties at a major research institute and/or administrative duties related to professional societies and conferences and/or editorial services to a scientific journal.

• Substantial experience with programs designed to foster greater inclusion in the scientific community

• Experience in offering effective and inclusive mentoring to scientists at all career stages

Skills

• Broad scientific interests with deep expertise in immunology and cancer biology and excellent scientific judgment

• Demonstrated leadership ability and management skills

• Effective decision-making, negotiation, communication, and mediation skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to be collegial and work with a team

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously

• Ability to mentor and/or advise HHMI scientists and support staff at all career stages

• Strength in scientific, programmatic, and policy writing

• Interest in administrative work to support the work of HHMI scientists, including collaboration with legal, finance, communications, and human resources teams at HHMI

• Available to travel to host institutions as needed, including overnight stays during the work week

• If a remote employee, available to travel to HHMI for onsite work up to 24 weeks a year

• Available to participate in evening activities associated with Science Department and other HHMI events including workshops, retreats, conferences, and program orientations

Application Instructions:

When applying, please attach:

• A letter of interest that includes a high-level summary of the breadth of your scientific interests, your experience in science administration, and description of how you have supported open science and inclusive mentoring in science. Please also comment on how in your view HHMI can advance these priorities through our Investigator, Freeman Hrabowski Scholar, and Hanna H. Gray Fellows programs (2-page maximum).

• A full-length curriculum vitae (CV)