Executive Director

• Virtual organization based in Newark, California, USA
• Manages TAIR, a highly used plant biology database
• Provides sustainable funding solutions for academic databases and tools

Phoenix Bioinformatics is seeking a new Executive Director to lead this innovative nonprofit dedicated to sustainability of online research resources and tools.

About Phoenix Bioinformatics

Phoenix is a U.S. nonprofit, registered in California, with a mission to support the sustainability of digital resources for science, such as curated databases and software systems. Phoenix maintains its own digital resources, including The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR), and works with partners on funding models to ensure that valuable curated data, software, and services remain accessible to the scientific community. Phoenix reduces the reliance of such critical infrastructure on the vicissitudes of short-term grants. Phoenix is committed to finding solutions that balance the community’s need for open access to data and software with the need to provide incentives for community financial support. 

The organization’s strategic goals include (1) maintaining the high quality of TAIR and other Phoenix digital resources, (2) developing a portfolio of sustainable business models to support and sustain research resources, (3) assisting research resources with their transition to sustainable financial support, and (4) disseminating our leading experience with sustainable funding across the research ecosystem.

Job description

The Executive Director is the general manager and chief executive officer of the organization. The ED will be a thought leader in pioneering financial sustainability models for digital science resources while ensuring that the organization is well managed and delivers a high-value service to its partners and to the research and scholarly community. The ED reports to the Chair of the Board of Directors and works with the entire Board to establish Phoenix’s strategic vision. The ED has responsibility for implementation of organizational strategy as well as communicating that vision to the variety of stakeholders. The ED will present the work of Phoenix to external audiences frequently, and some travel is expected. The ED also organizes and participates in board meetings as a voting member.

Skills and Qualifications

Required

• At least 5 years budget and personnel management experience in the information technology or research sectors.
• At least 5 years experience working in at least one sector of the scientific research ecosystem (e.g., as a researcher, funder, research institution administrator, or publisher).
• Excellent written communication and public speaking skills in English.
• Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States.



Preferred

• An advanced degree in science, business administration or other relevant area.
• Prior experience managing a virtual and/or globally distributed team.
• Experience in recruiting, managing and developing senior staff in either the nonprofit or technology startup space.
• Demonstrated skills in inspiring, coaching and growing staff.
• Demonstrated skills in planning and managing resource allocation and product quality in a customer-facing service organization.
• At least 2 years experience in the management of an online database or software resource.
• Demonstrated success in grant-writing and/or fundraising
• Proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Compensation

Salary is competitive with nonprofit science and technology executives in organizations of comparable size and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Benefits include family-friendly policies with flexible hours and ability to work from home as needed, ten paid holidays, 18-25 vacation days and nine days of sick leave per year, retirement plan (401K) with matching contribution up to 8% of salary, and an excellent health insurance plan.

To apply

For full consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter (required) at https://my.hirehive.io/phoenix-bioinformatics by August 15, 2021. Additional information on the position can be found here and here. No references are required at the initial stage. The position will remain open until filled.  For questions about the position please contact jobs@phxbio.org.

Phoenix Bioinformatics is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.