Close Date: Open until filled

Start Date: Negotiable

Position Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the critically important position of Director, Office of Strategic Coordination. This is an exciting opportunity to provide leadership for and coordinate scientific research within NIH and provide advice to the NIH Director and the Director of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI).

The Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC) is located within DPCPSI in the NIH Office of the Director. The OSC plans, manages, and oversees activities funded by the NIH Common Fund (CF), with a FY23 budget of $735 million that supports strategic scientific programs of high priority for the NIH Director. The primary objectives of OSC are to integrate information and develop recommendations to inform the agency's priority-setting and decision-making processes with respect to NIH-wide strategic initiatives. These initiatives will address exceptional scientific opportunities and emerging public health needs. OSC provides the NIH Director with the information needed to allocate resources effectively for NIH-wide efforts and identify Common Fund initiatives for consideration and evaluation by both outside advisors and NIH leadership.

The NIH Common Fund is a component of the NIH budget which is managed by OSC. Common Fund programs address emerging scientific opportunities and pressing challenges in biomedical research that no single NIH Institute or Center (IC) can address on its own but are of high priority for the NIH as an agency. The Common Fund is a unique resource at NIH where high-risk, innovative endeavors with the potential for extraordinary impact can be supported. Common Fund programs are short-term, goal-driven strategic investments, with deliverables intended to catalyze research across multiple biomedical research disciplines.

This Title 42 position offers a unique and exciting opportunity for a scientific leader, as OSC Director, to (1) direct, oversee, and coordinate the development of recommendations to inform priority-setting and decision-making processes with respect to strategic initiatives supported by the Common Fund; (2) address exceptional scientific opportunities and emerging public health needs; (3) provide the NIH Director with the information needed to allocate resources effectively for Common Fund efforts; (4) identify Common Fund initiatives for consideration and evaluation by both outside advisors and NIH leadership; (5) provide management and executive direction of OSC; and (6) serve as the principal advisor to the DPCPSI Director on issues involving OSC and CF planning, analysis, policy formulation, and implementation activities. Successful candidates will have outstanding communication, strong program management, executive leadership, and relationship building skills which are essential to the formulation of initiatives, resources, and policies that promote innovative research. Candidates must have an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent and be highly respected experts in the national biomedical research community with extensive knowledge of biomedical research programs. Clinical, translational, and implementation science research are critical for this position. Candidates with a range of experience are welcome, including from the private and public sectors.

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please see the detailed vacancy announcement at https://hr.nih.gov/jobs/search/executive/job-75896. Review of applications will begin on August 18, 2023; applications will be accepted until the position is filled.