Director, Research (Project Accelerate Cell Therapy)

As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We invest in the most promising research to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and devices. We work with government, regulatory officials, and insurance companies to address issues that impact the T1D community breaking through barriers that limit access to care worldwide. We provide resources and guidance that makes it easier to live and thrive with T1D. This is more than a moment we're empowering a movement for the T1D community. Share your support and help educate and empower individuals facing type 1 diabetes.

Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately, cure T1D and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose : As we drive towards curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it .

Breakthrough T1D is hiring to fill a director position within the Research Department to work in the Breakthrough T1D Cures portfolio and help us achieve our vision of a world without T1D through Project ACT , a newly created flagship initiative to accelerate cell replacement therapies for T1D. Project ACT will combine scientific, clinical, business, regulatory and health policy, and adoption components required for the successful development and implementation of therapies. (For more information on Project ACT visit our website : https : / / www.breakthrought1d.org / project-act / ).

The Director will report to the VP of Research (Head of Project ACT) and will participate in all aspects of the Breakthrough T1D research program, including leveraging opportunities and optimizing relationships within the U.S. and international research communities. The position requires the skills, vision, and desire to explore and implement new approaches to accelerate research and development leading to curative therapies for T1D. The new Director will be part of a highly interconnected and fast-moving multidisciplinary team responsible for setting and driving Breakthrough T1D 's research strategy for T1D.

The Director will be responsible for supporting a portfolio of cutting-edge research and development projects with a diverse range of partners, including world-leading scientists in academia, industry, other funding organizations both in the United States and across the globe.

In this role, the Director will have the opportunity to develop new research projects which are often built collaboratively with the scientific and clinical community. The Director must demonstrate creativity and scientific rigor to advance the field and the ability to think strategically. Due diligence and landscape analysis activities are a requisite part of this proactive portfolio management as the Director will serve as an expert and knowledge resource internal and external to the organization. Our mission is highly focused on developing curative therapies and improving the outcomes of people living with T1D, so the candidate should have a strong background in human diseases and understand the basic concepts of discovery, translational research, and clinical transplantation of pancreatic islets. Experience with product development and translational research is highly desired.

In this role, the Director will also be responsible for communicating Breakthrough T1D research strategy and progress with various stakeholders ranging from scientists, board members, senior management, Breakthrough T1D supporters and volunteers. Therefore, strong interpersonal and communication skills are key. Breakthrough T1D scientists develop and deliver presentations for lay audiences and contribute to various written documents about the research we support.

This is a hybrid position based out of the NYC office

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES :

Strategy and Planning

• Provides scientific leadership to the cell replacement therapy Project ACT initiative.
• Works closely with the Cell Replacement Therapy research team to align the Project ACT initiative to the overall Breakthrough T1D Cell Replacement Therapy.
• Contribute expertise to strategic planning efforts to advance the Islet Cell Replacement portfolio in immunology, cell / organ transplantation, allogenic rejection, autoimmunity, stem cell development, gene editing, xenotransplantation, engineering, biomaterial science, and others.
• Analyze scientific and commercial landscapes to determine how Breakthrough T1D can maximize our impact
• Contribute to the regular assessment, review, and presentation of the status of the progress and impact of the Project ACT initiative to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Support the comprehensive strategy for the Project ACT initiative which includes bringing teams together from various expertise, including Project Management, Regulatory and Health Policy, Preclinical and Clinical Development.
• Aligns Project ACT strategy with the Breakthrough T1D research portfolio and roadmap.
• Demonstrates field leadership to represent Breakthrough T1D to internal and external stakeholders
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, industry, and other stakeholders
• Oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of research projects, ensuring timelines, budgetary allocations, and quality standards are met
• Demonstrate experience in team leadership and managing direct reports
• Collaborate across Breakthrough T1D functional units : communications, marketing, fundraising, finance, and venture philanthropy

Communication

Qualifications

Stem cell biology

Target Salary - $160k - $180k

Essential Functions :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds, and infrequently up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Additional information :

Requests for medical, religious, and other exemptions will be considered on an individual basis. Breakthrough T1D will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

Breakthrough T1D supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Breakthrough T1D is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Salary : $160,000 - $180,000