Scientific Director and Chief Executive Officer - New York Genome Center

Overview

The New York Genome Center (“the Center”) is an independent, nonprofit, academic research organization dedicated to advancing genomic research. Established by a consortium of leading research universities and medical research organizations in 2011 (the “Institutional Founding Members”), together with civic-minded philanthropists, the Center represents a new paradigm for multi-institutional scientific collaboration—one designed to bring together and leverage the scientific capabilities and resources of individual institutions to tackle the largest, most complex challenges in genomic science. Over the past decade, the Center and its Institutional Founding Members have worked together to achieve this goal, and, as partners, have developed a deep understanding of how to build large, innovative scientific programs and share a jointly appointed faculty.

Today, the Center provides a unique collaborative environment for a diverse, multidisciplinary faculty, professional and scientific staff, postdoctoral fellows and PhD students from the New York area and beyond. With a state-of-the-art genomic sequencing facility and leading-edge clinical genetics laboratory, the Center pursues the development of new computational tools, experimental genomic methods, and conducts disease-focused research to advance the understanding of the genetic basis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Financial and Operational Highlights

As one of the leading organizations in the nation dedicated exclusively to genomic research, the Center now has an annual operating budget of approximately $85 million, a staff of more than 200 full-time employees, and substantial numbers of graduate-level trainees and affiliated researchers. The Center has been highly competitive in obtaining federal grant funding and enjoys strong support from the philanthropic community. It is also actively engaged in transferring promising discoveries and technologies to the commercial sector.

The New York Genome Center’s headquarters are located at 101 Avenue of the Americas in New York, New York where the SoHo, TriBeCa, and Hudson Square neighborhoods meet, and include over 90,000 square feet of sequencing lab space, research labs with space to host a number of principal investigators and their teams, a dedicated open-plan bioinformatics floor to encourage discussion and collaboration, and a data storage annex (and data co-location facility) to safely store the immense amount of data produced by the Center’s research activities.

The Leadership Opportunity

The New York Genome Center seeks an exceptional and visionary leader for the position of Scientific Director & Chief Executive Officer (“Scientific Director”). Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Center’s next Scientific Director will oversee its scientific programs, genomic platforms, technology innovation, administration, operations, and organizational culture, with responsibility for advancing the Center’s scientific excellence and collaborative relationships, as well as its fiscal strength and resiliency. In addition to holding responsibility for establishing and implementing the Center’s scientific vision and strategy, the Scientific Director will hold a joint appointment at one of the Center’s Institutional Founding Member organizations and lead an independent research program and team that complements the Center’s established areas of strength.

Opportunities and Expectations

• Articulate and execute a compelling and innovative scientific vision for the future of the Center that drives growth and firmly establishes the Center as a world-leader in genomics research.
• Communicate the vision, purpose, and research conducted by the Center to internal and external audiences, including scientific organizations and committees, donors, funding agencies, health professionals, patient advocates, political decision-makers, and the public at large. Serve as an ambassador and the principal spokesperson for the Center.
• Continue to build, lead, and support an outstanding, innovative, and diverse faculty composed of investigators with international renown in genomic research.
• Oversee and actively engage in efforts to secure private philanthropy and public funding to grow the Center’s research enterprise and ensure its long-term financial health.
• Develop, foster, and enrich the vibrant scientific exchanges and collaborations with the Center’s institutional founding and associate members, as well as the broader research community by establishing successful, funded, high-impact collaborations, consortia, and studies to strengthen and broaden the depth and breadth of activities, scientific output, and impact of the Center.
• Create and maintain a nurturing research environment and thriving ecosystem that encourages innovation and collaboration among the Center’s research staff and faculty. Cultivate a culture of integrity, openness, and excellence; embrace and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Center.
• Recruit, lead, and mentor a high-performing management team, ensuring that scientific and administrative operations work effectively and collaboratively.

Ideal Experience

The ideal candidate will be a proven scientific and organizational leader in genomics research and innovation, with a clear strategic vision for the future of the field. Espousing and modeling integrity, fairness, inclusion, collaboration, and excellence, the Scientific Director will challenge conventions, drive change, build bridges, mobilize a complex and sizable research enterprise to achieve measurable and meaningful outcomes, and possess many of the following attributes and experiences:

• Broad recognition as a leader in genomics or a closely related field, with a PhD or MD/PhD and an outstanding record of individual research achievement, including a sustained record of peer-reviewed high-profile publications, private and public research funding, and demonstrated experience developing and managing large, collaborative research programs.
• Detailed understanding of the current research and innovation environment in genomic science, and a clear vision of future opportunities in the field.
• Ability to articulate and execute scientific strategies at an organization-wide level.
• Track record of successful administrative leadership within a complex academic research enterprise.
• Experience communicating and engaging with a wide range of internal and external audiences and stakeholder groups; prior experience working with a board of directors or advisory board is preferred.
• Prior experience leading and developing a high-performing professional staff.
• Financial and operational acumen, with the ability to plan and implement successful and financially sustainable models, budgets, and strategies.

Personal Characteristics

• Authentic, credible, and persuasive.
• Innovative and strategic thinker who provides practical leadership and mentorship.
• Ability to foster collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a consultative yet decisive leadership style.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences in the working environment.

Salary

The pay range for this position is anticipated to be $600,000 per year, with a range of $480,000-$735,000; the base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Equal Opportunity

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the Center’s core mission. The Center strives to create a workplace environment that is welcoming and fair to all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, or religion. The Center believes that when people of various backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives work together in an inclusive and equitable environment, new and valuable perspectives are gained that otherwise would have been missed. Valuing and supporting all the Center’s employees as individuals while helping them realize their full potential is critical to promoting greater collaboration, innovation, and discovery fostering a sense of belonging for the Center’s greatest strength, its people.

The New York Genome Center is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic predisposition or carrier status, protected veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, partnership status, caregiver status, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The Center takes affirmative action in support of its policy to hire and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. FLSA Status: Exempt. This position is eligible for visa sponsorship and relocation assistance.

The Search Process

The New York Genome Center is eager to receive input that will help it build a pool of talented individuals to consider for this important leadership opportunity. To that end, the Search Panel welcomes comments, inquiries, applications, and nominations, which may be submitted via the confidential search mailbox: NYGCCEO@SpencerStuart.com.