Associate Director, Developmental Therapeutics Program Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

NCI is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as its Associate Director, Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP), Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DTCD). This position reports directly to the Deputy Director, DCTD. The DCTD takes prospective detection and treatment leads, facilitates their paths facilitates their paths to clinical application, and expedites the discovery, development and initial and subsequent large-scale testing of new agents, biomarkers, novel imaging technology, and other therapeutic interventions (radiation, surgery, immunotherapy) in patients. Within the DCTD, the DTP is responsible for the coordination of NCI’s national preclinical treatment development program. DTP includes eleven branches responsible for managing large grant portfolios, as well as contract-driven therapeutics development and internal laboratories related to anti-cancer agent (small molecules, natural products, and biologics) discovery and development.  Within the DCTD, DTP provides services and resources to the academic and private-sector research communities worldwide to facilitate the discovery and development of new cancer therapeutic agents including toxicology and pharmacology. This program manages a large grants portfolio, as well as contract-driven therapeutics development and internal laboratories related to drug discovery and development.  For more information on DTP, go to https://dtp.cancer.gov/

The Associate Director is responsible for providing senior program and policy leadership in a widely diverse and highly complex scientific arena that encompasses:  biopharmaceutical production under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); research and repositories of patient-derived models (PDMs), animal and human tumor cell lines, chemical agents, biologicals, and natural products; and grants management of multi-disciplinary technical specificities related to small synthetic compounds, natural products, biologics (cytokines, antibodies, oncolytic viruses and vectors), immune modulators and cell-based immunotherapy agents.  The Associate Director coordinates major translational research initiatives aimed at bringing cutting edge research discoveries for the laboratory to patients. The work accomplished under the specific responsibilities within these cross-functional, multidisciplinary components of this position directly contribute to the establishment of industry guidelines, resources and essential collaborations.  The Associate Director collaborates with the Division Director, in exercising responsibility to:

• Advise the Director, DCTD in new promising areas of preclinical and translational approaches to cancer treatment. Also advises the Director, DCTD and other high-level NCI officials on issues affecting extramural preclinical research supported by the Institute.

• Supervise 15 employees comprised of senior level Ph.D. scientists and other health care professionals. Oversees a $114 million dollar budget, including funding of grants and cooperative agreements for peer-reviewed independent investigators, national cooperative drug discovery groups, as well as contracts that support the infrastructure for bringing new treatments from the laboratory to the clinic.

• Develop policy and establishes long-range and short-term program plans, priorities, goals and objectives. Oversees integration of the efforts of the various DTP branches, the coordination of these treatment related activities with other parts of the NCI in accordance with Institute and national goals and the evaluation of program effectiveness.

• Determine the effect of unforeseen developments and difficulties on overall plans and programs and formulates policies to redirect program priorities when required or implement new ones as appropriate.

• Participate in symposia, workshops, and discussions with national and international leaders in the cancer field, chairs or serves as a member of Division, Institute, NIH, FDA or other workgroups to address polices, guidelines practices or other issues affecting cancer research and therapeutics. Presents and defends extramural preclinical research programs to the National Cancer Advisory Board as well as to other Division and NCI scientific advisory bodies.

Position Requirements:  Applicants must possess a doctoral level degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.) in an academic field related to the health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the DTP.   Must have extensive research experience in the field of cancer therapeutics and development, biologics, and scientific background supporting pre-clinical research focusing on discovery, development and evaluation of agents.  The candidate must have an understanding of regulatory requirements and issues in the development of investigational agents and the ability to establish and maintain working relationships with physicians and scientists, the Food and Drug Administration, other Federal agencies, academic and research institutions, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The Associate Director requires a scientist with experience and leadership skills in translation of cancer research through the interface to clinical development. Experience and knowledge of research programs related to the treatment of cancer are essential. The incumbent must have had extensive experience involving the development of investigational new anticancer agents. The candidate must have authored significant publications in the therapeutics field.

Salary/Benefits: This position will be filled under a Title 42 excepted service appointment.  Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with the experience of the candidate. A recruitment or relocation bonus may be available, and relocation expenses may be paid. A full package of federal Civil Service benefits is available, including; retirement, health and life insurance, long term care insurance, leave, and a Thrift Savings Plan (401K equivalent). The successful candidate may be subject to a background investigation and public financial disclosure requirements.

How to Apply: Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae and bibliography. In addition, applicants must prepare two statements: a vision statement and a statement that addresses the specific qualification requirements (please limit both statements to two pages each). Send the application package to Kelly Barch at Kelly.Barch@nih.gov.  NCI will begin accepting applications on March 22, 2021 and plans to have the position open for 30 days.

You may contact Kelly Barch for more information about this vacancy.

HHS, NIH and NCI are Equal Opportunity Employers