SCIENCE OFFICER / SENIOR SCIENCE OFFICER, SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS

Background

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is the state’s Stem CellAgency. We were created by the voters of California when they approved Proposition 71 in 2004, and renewed when Proposition 14 was approved in 2020, providing $5.5 billion to invest in stem cell research in California. CIRM’s mission, to accelerate stem cell and regenerative medicine treatments to patients with unmet medical needs, is what drives us to succeed every day.

To meet this challenge, our team of highly trained and experienced professionals actively partners with both academia and industry in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment to fast-track the development of today’s most promising stem cell and regenerative medicine technologies.

CIRM is the world’s largest institution dedicated to helping people by bringing the promise of regenerative medicine closer to reality.

General Statement

The mission of the Scientific Programs team is to attract and advance the most promising basic and early-stage research in stem cells, genomics and other areas related to regenerative medicine.

Job Functions

In this position you will be accountable for:

Building the Portfolio

• Being up to date on trends and key developments in the stem cell and gene

therapy research field as well as data science.

• Working in a team environment to (1) identify and advance the most promising research to advance basic, foundational, mechanistic science that could be impactful to human health (2) to identify and advance the most promising candidate discovery research toward translation and (3) in accordance with the overall CIRM strategic plan, to advance collaboration and network activities to support CIRM’s scientific ecosystem.

• Staying current and open-minded to ensure only the most promising and well-constructed projects are considered for inclusion into the Scientific Programs portfolio by supporting a highly competitive, fair, and rigorous peer review process.

• Working with other departments in CIRM to identify scientific trends and potential areas of scientific direction that could be addressed by the Scientific Programs team and/or other teams within the organization.

• Working with CIRM colleagues to develop, administer and improve research training and workforce development programs towards supporting pipeline of technicians and leaders in stem cell science, gene therapy, regenerative medicine and related technologies that reflect the diversity of California.

Advancing the Portfolio

• Accelerating the development of promising projects by working in a collaborative and hands-on fashion with internal and external partners.

• Proactively identifying risks or deficiencies with active projects and leveraging internal and external resources to find solutions that provide the project with the greatest opportunity for success.

• Seeking new and innovative ways to improve on the conduct of science.

• Serving to connect scientists with potential collaborators, resources or programs that would advance an important scientific project or direction.

Managing the Portfolio

• Assessing the progress of projects through objective metrics and ensuring the complete and up-to-date reporting on all projects in your portfolio.

• Working with the project teams to facilitate success.

• Monitoring funding and other resources to ensure they are being used

appropriately and efficiently.

• Recommending appropriate action to suspend or discontinue projects when

warranted.

Communicating the Portfolio

• Representing CIRM at appropriate scientific, medical, governmental agency, and industry meetings and events.

• Providing clear and timely updates to CIRM leadership on the status of the

portfolio.

• Engaging with all stakeholders (scientific thought leaders, subject matter experts, patient advocacy groups) to build support for and advance projects.

Harmonizing with the CIRM Mission

• Demonstrating in your words and actions commitment to CIRM’s mission.

• Collaborating with others to generate efficiencies, enhance productivity, and

develop competencies.

• Committing to team decisions by supporting and working to achieve team

objectives.

Supervision Received

Vice President of Scientific Programs (currently called Discovery and Translation).