Job Title: Chief Scientific Officer
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Date: July, 2018

Background:

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS)  is the largest non-profit organization in the U.S. dedicated to the brain tumor community. We are fiercely committed to our mission of finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for brain tumors. Since our founding in 1989, our scientific initiatives and strategic grantmaking have catalyzed some of the most important advances in brain tumor research.

NBTS is a leading policy advocacy and research organization as well as a convener of brain tumor research leaders including industry, regulators, funders, clinician researchers and patient advocates. The organization also delivers timely information and support to patients and families.  Through collaborative leadership with partners, our results include increased federal funding for brain tumor research, improved clinical trials, the enactment of the most comprehensive childhood cancer law in decades, and improved clinical trial education.

While we have seen significant progress in terms of scientific understanding of brain tumor biology, we are unsatisfied with the status quo of today’s treatment options. Now is the time for investment in new ideas and research poised to incent the development and realization of treatments that dramatically increase survival and quality of life for patients.

This is an exciting time to join our organization and be part of driving innovation, research and leadership efforts necessary to fulfill our mission.  

Summary:

We are looking for a CSO to join a passionate group, dedicated to putting patients first and leading initiatives that deliver best-in-class science.  The right candidate is a results-driven leader who will work collaboratively within the NBTS and with external collaborators to make unprecedented progress toward conquering and curing brain tumors-once and for all.

The CSO will lead the development of our strategic plan to identify and bring forth research capable of turning into viable drug development efforts.  They will also align research with partners who have the ability to advance research into clinical evaluation. The CSO will serve as our external facing representative to the research community and will enable NBTS to continue to serve as an educator to the brain tumor community about emerging research relevant to patients and care partners.

Education & Experience:

The ideal candidate will be a highly accomplished scientific leader (10 years experience minimum) with a passion for neurological, oncological, and/or neuro-oncological research and treatment development who can identify compelling and impactful science that helps drive our brain tumor-related research initiatives forward.  Ph.D. and/or MD required. Industry R&D management and biopharma experience is highly desired. This position could be full or part-time depending on the candidate.

The key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead the development of NBTS next stage research work, building off a strong platform of programs that is aligned with our strategic direction and intent to identify research and bring it forward to those entities that develop new treatments
• Work as a great team member with the CEO, staff, Board, and external scientific advisory committees to establish and implement research initiatives
• Manage NBTS Research team and workflows
• Represent NBTS to external audiences including scientific expert and patient/care partners
• Facilitate research focused initiatives by engaging trusted neuro-oncology clinician scientists
• Provide expert scientific input into projects taking into account business objectives
• Ensure a scientifically and independent rigorous review of projects at initiation and throughout their course and ongoing improvement and refinement of processes for the scientific evaluation of projects
• Assist in educating and informing academic researchers in the process of developing research aimed at regulatory approval, commercialization, and delivery to patients
• Present the company’s projects to potential donors
• Act as a spokesperson to communicate a deeper understanding of the disease area’s global research/therapeutics landscape, NBTS scientific programs/initiatives, and the critical need for more funding to change the trajectory of the disease
• Assist with scientific content for new funding opportunities as required

The successful candidate will have:

• Hands-on experience, ideally with expertise in clinical treatment development, moving clinical candidates from pre-clinical translational research through to clinical research and development by biotech/biopharmas
• Proven track record of delivery of key milestones from inception to clinical studies and the ability to contribute at a technical level to multiple programs simultaneously
• Strong record of scientific accomplishment
• Demonstrated experience in strategic and business planning, development of customized programs and analysis
• Extensive experience in presenting scientific and commercial information for a range of audiences
• Ability to work with a variety of industries: research, government, academic, biotech, and medical communities.
• Established professional network with access to scientific experts in a variety of disciplines.

Finally we seek a positive, responsible, team-focused leader who will bring joy and determination to work each day.