Careers

Job Title: Senior Director of Science
Location: New York City
Reports to: Executive Director

Organization

 The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise (the “Enterprise”) is an alliance of independent organizations from around the globe committed to accelerating the development of a preventive vaccine against HIV. Key stakeholders of the Enterprise include the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), the French National Agency for Research on AIDS (ANRS), the European Commission, the European Developing Country Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Government of Canada, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAID), UNAIDS, the Wellcome Trust, and others.

Position

The Enterprise seeks a Senior Director, Science to be a senior member of the Enterprise Secretariat and to collaborate with the Executive Director.  The Senior Director, Science will be the senior scientific face of the organization and will lead all science-related initiatives.  S/he will be a key spokesperson for the organization, particularly within the HIV vaccine scientific community.  As such, the successful hire must be an unbiased thought leader independent of any one particular research focus.  Reporting to the Executive Director, this executive will contribute broadly to the Enterprise’s science portfolio and to the scientific function of the organization.

Specific responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

Executive Leadership & Management

• Oversee the process for updating the Scientific Strategic Plan.
• Define areas where further scientific and capital resources are required to accelerate HIV vaccine development.
• Support the work of the Enterprise’s Science Committee, which monitors the field and determines topics for scientific workshops and meetings.
• Oversee the Enterprise Secretariat’s science team, which currently includes two Science Officers and potential interns.
• Liaise with peers in the scientific community and stakeholders.

 Scientific Development

• Drive the scientific agenda and initiate activities that focus on scientific questions related to the science portfolio and vaccine development.
• Lead the discussion with key stakeholders and thought-leaders both within and outside the field of HIV vaccine research on the continued iteration and implementation of the Plan.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on the presentation, development and dissemination of the Plan recommendations and other scientific messages.
• Work with the Executive Director and the Secretariat to oversee the development of measurable deliverables vis-à-vis the Plan and recommendations from the Science Committee.
• Encourage new Partners to support the Enterprise’s Plan.
• Provide strategic oversight to scientific content development for the annual AIDS Vaccine conferences.
• Play a seminal role in the team that will convene and follow up on recommendations coming out of the AIDS Vaccine conferences.
• Coordinate and make preparations for the scientific aspects of the release of results of vaccine trials. 
• Work with the Executive Director and Partners on how to support vaccine research and align it with the Plan.

• Promote greater coordination among HIV vaccine researchers worldwide by working with the scientific leaders of Enterprise stakeholder organizations to maximize their involvement and mutual engagement and to encourage data sharing.

• Engage new scientific stakeholders from the HIV vaccine field and other relevant fields to address the priority areas of the Plan and to collaborate with current stakeholders.

SHORT TERM GOALS

• Coordinate with relevant constituents to develop an implementation strategy for the Plan.
• Travel to meet and establish relationships with key stakeholders.
• Represent the Enterprise as a speaker and/or participant at scientific meetings.
• Mentor and manage the Science Officers.

 LONG TERM GOALS

• Develop a timeline for implementing and updating the Plan.
• Grow the population of scientific stakeholders globally.
• Continue mentoring the Science Officers and develop a Professional Development Plan for them.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A Ph.D. and/or MD with 10-15 years of leadership experience in international vaccine research at an international level.
• Highly respected scientist in the field of vaccine research (preferably HIV vaccine research) with both credibility in the scientific community and recognition among the Enterprise’s key stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of the HIV vaccine development process, including upstream research, preferably based on first-hand experience.
• Project management experience.
• A track record of achievement and publications that will add to the reputation of the Enterprise as an organization with a strong science base.
• Meaningful experience in industry and/or interfacing with industry and regulatory bodies such as the FDA, EMEA or other national regulatory authorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

• A builder of strong, productive personal and professional relationships and interconnected networks of people and organizations.
• Encourages open communication and participation with an emphasis on transparency and the sharing of information.
• Strong conceptual thinker who can drive quickly to a clear and concise synthesis of even the most complex issues and concepts.
• A visionary leader who exudes a passion for the mission of the Enterprise.
• Defines ambitious goals and establishes priorities, designing processes, and managing projects and resources that align to achieve those goals.
• Able to handle challenging situations, including complex tasks and interpersonal issues, with a calm, assured, unflagging approach that keeps all “eyes on the prize.”
• A champion of innovation who responds to complex problems and challenges by applying new perspectives and exploring a variety of relevant possible solutions.
• A team player who is willing to work with and patiently align diverse stakeholders who maintain their individual autonomy and decision-making.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Highly developed and effective interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written; able to communicate sensitively and compellingly with individuals as well as large groups across cultures and languages.
• Dynamic and energetic.
• A diplomat with strong persuasive capabilities.
• A bridge-builder.
• Values-driven with a high degree of integrity and moral authority.
• A resilient temperament.
• A consensus-builder who is able to listen to the views of multiple, diverse constituents while persistently working to achieve agreement.
• Experience in, appreciation for, and sensitivity to multiple global cultures.
• Insightful understanding of people, their agendas and motivations.
• Self-confident but acting with humility as a servant leader.

BENEFITS

• Excellent benefits, including a 403(b) savings plan, pre-tax transit benefit, medical, dental, vision, FSA,STD/LTD, paid vacation, holidays, floating days and sick days

Please send a cover letter, your resume and two writing samples of business correspondence to John D. Ruhmann at Levin & Company, Inc. with the title Senior Director, Science - Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise in the subject line: john@levinandcompany.com

The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise is an Equal Opportunity Employer.