Director, Vaccine Research Center

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Director, Vaccine Research Center

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader for the position of Director of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC). NIAID supports and conducts basic, applied, and clinical research to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. The VRC conducts vaccine and biomedical research that leads to fundamental advances in knowledge regarding protective medical countermeasures and field-shifting biomedical technologies. The VRC’s mission is to discover and develop novel vaccines and biologics targeting infectious diseases of global public health importance. More information about the VRC and its scope of research activities can be found here.

NIAID seeks candidates who have a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to serve as the director.

The VRC Director reports to the NIAID Director and provides overall executive direction and scientific leadership for VRC’s basic, clinical, and translational research activities. The position also serves as a principal advisor to the NIAID Director on vaccines and related biomedical research affairs. In addition, the incumbent serves as an expert consultant and advisor both nationally and internationally on the development of novel vaccine and biologics strategies targeting HIV and other biodefense and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as influenza, Ebola/Marburg, West Nile virus, coronavirus-associated disease (such as SARS-CoV-2, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), malaria, tuberculosis, alphavirus-associated disease such as Chikungunya, and the Western/Eastern/Venezuelan class of encephalitides.

Key responsibilities of the position include prioritizing VRC mission goals and objectives to shape the strategic development process; promoting and ensuring conduct of collaborative research and advancing the scientific exchange of information within the VRC and beyond; developing, directing, and coordinating VRC’s basic research laboratories as well as its translational and clinical research programs, which are modeled as the NIH equivalent of a fully self-contained biotechnology organization, and encompass preclinical testing in animal models (Translational Research Program); process development and cGMP manufacture of controlled quality materials for human clinical studies (Vaccine Production Program); clinical trial protocol development, design, and analysis (Clinical Trials Program); pharmacovigilance, clinical monitoring, and regulatory compliance (Regulatory Science and Strategy Program); and basic and translational B cell immunobiology research, and development/deployment of novel high throughput automated immunoassays (Vaccine Immunology Program). The VRC Director determines current VRC research effectiveness and recommends developing new or revised programs to meet national public health needs and serves in a lead role in overarching NIAID/NIH/United States Government pandemic preparedness and response activities. The position oversees program operations, including technology transfer and licensing, program planning and evaluation, and financial and administrative management.

Along with the primary responsibility of leading the team of VRC investigators, the successful candidate is also expected to establish their own cutting-edge independent research program for which resources will be available.

Qualifications

The VRC is currently home to a highly productive and interactive team of internationally recognized basic, translational, and clinical researchers. Applicants must be both highly capable and enthusiastic about being a leader and member of such a dynamic team. Applicants must have an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree, be a U.S. citizen, and exhibit exceptional demonstrated leadership ability managing complex basic, translational, and clinical research programs encompassing cutting edge frontiers of virology, immunology, genetic bioengineering, structural and molecular biology, pathogenesis, and laboratory animal medicine. The successful candidate will possess the training and experience to lead complex, multidisciplinary, and collaborative activities and help advance the NIH “discovery to health” pathway accelerating potential availability of effective vaccines and biologics. Candidates must have a detailed understanding of vaccinology, immunology, virology, and pathogenesis as related to HIV and other infectious diseases; and of the strategies and principles involved in the development of novel medical countermeasure platform technologies.

If you are ready for an exciting leadership opportunity, please see the detailed job announcement at Executive Careers at NIH for more information about the position and how to apply. Review of applications will begin on July 21, 2022 and applications will continue to be accepted and considered until the position is filled.

HHS, NIH, and NIAID are equal opportunity employers.