Associate Director, Viral Vaccines Program

Associate Director, Viral Vaccines Program

The viral vaccine vectors program at IAVI was established to advance novel replication-competent viral vectors capable of inducing potent and durable protective immunity against authentic HIV immunogens. Vaccine research is conducted at IAVI’s Vaccine Design and Development Laboratories (DDL) located in Brooklyn New York. Activities at the laboratories span molecular cloning, virology, and immunology, and include applied research needed to support transition of promising vaccines to later stages of development and future clinical trials. Experience with HIV vaccine candidates also is being applied to development of vaccine vectors candidates against several emerging viral diseases.

The Associate Director/Program Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the viral vectors program and alignment with IAVI’s strategic plan.  Activities associated with this position provide a key interface between organizational strategy, program execution and operations, and donor and partner relations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facilitate research at the DDL by working with group leaders to promote cross-team collaboration, coordinate research efforts, distribute resources, and prioritize research activities ensuring that timelines, deliverables, and key milestones are met.
• Provide project management for viral vector programs, including compliance with funder’s reporting requirements, and communication with funders, partners, and IAVI senior management.
• Work directly with scientists at the DDL to design and plan activities in alignment with IAVI’s strategic objectives and commitments to funders.
• Participate in operations of the Brooklyn laboratory including assistance with budgets and purchasing and serving as a key point of contact that assists with integrating Brooklyn laboratory operations with IAVI’s organizational operations.
• In collaboration with IAVI’s resource mobilization and finance teams, participation in implementation an integrated fund-raising strategy to support new and existing research programs. This includes direct participation in composing grant applications and developing associated budgets.
• Assist senior leadership with development and implementation of a robust and sustainable strategic plan for the Brooklyn labs and participate in building alliances and partnerships with external researchers, organizations, and funders. 

Education and Work Experience:

• Strong scientific background and advanced degree in microbiology, virology, immunology or related field is required with 10 years or more of postgraduate job experience
• Experience with viral vaccine development, vaccine vectors, HIV, or emerging viral diseases is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in project management that includes responsibility for complex projects, budget projections, budget management, problem solving, team building, management of external partner relations, and ability to adapt to a dynamic environment. Experience managing and contributing to research grant applications is preferred.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with scientific and non-scientific stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to work collaboratively in teams and develop productive working relationships with team members and partners with a wide range of backgrounds and experience.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and project management software

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Mobility to perform the essential functions of the position
• Hearing and speech sufficient to verbally communicate in person and on the telephone constantly (66-100%)
• Typical office environment
• Occasional travel off-site for team meetings with collaborators, as needed (up to 20%)
• Ability to travel to IAVI offices in New York  

Other Duties:

• Perform other duties as assigned

Organizational Overview:

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a nonprofit scientific organization whose mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, accessible public health solutions to help the people who need them the most.  Since its founding in 1996, IAVI has provided scientific, research and development, and policy leadership to address the needs of communities and key populations at risk for HIV infection around the world. IAVI works with more than 100 academic, industry, government, civil society, clinical, and community partners in more than 25 countries. IAVI is committed to supporting the broad field of HIV vaccine research and to fostering collaborations that accelerate the development and availability of new prevention tools. In pursuit of our goals, we work to catalyze and support novel partnership models that engage partners from both the public and private sectors across the product development continuum.

IAVI’s global reach, including its clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed IAVI to make fundamental contributions to understanding of the epidemiology, transmission, natural history, virology, and immunology of HIV infection. This work played a key role in facilitating the structure-based design of promising HIV vaccine candidates as well as the discovery of “broadly neutralizing antibodies” that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. IAVI’s integrated capabilities in vaccine discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of biopharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of novel HIV vaccine candidates.

In addition to its core HIV vaccine effort, IAVI is working to amplify its global health impact by working with partners to address other urgent unmet public health needs – such as vaccines for other infectious diseases – where our existing technologies, assets, and experience can add unique value.

IAVI Core Values

Dedication to the Mission:  We are committed to the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world to achieve a world without AIDS

Innovative Evolution:  We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up

Integrity:  We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect

Collaboration:  We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Leadership and Communication

• Proactively ask questions to understand organizational strategy and performance objectives
• Come up with new and unique ideas to achieve objectives
• Take proactive steps to collaborate with members from other teams/departments
• Seek solutions to a system/process failure
• Positively handle criticisms, complaints, and special requests
• Directly communicate with manager, peers and team members

Disclaimer:  Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

All IAVI employees are expected to follow and abide by the legal, financial, regulatory, safety, and other general guidelines of IAVI, and to conduct their activities in a manner consistent with the highest personal and professional standards.

IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.