Director, Life Sciences

BACKGROUND

The John Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. The Foundation is working to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love. The Life Sciences funding area supports basic scientific and interdisciplinary research on the nature and origins of life, as well as applied work in genetics. The role of Life Sciences within the Foundation’s broader portfolio is to promote ongoing discovery of how living systems evolve and develop capacities such as intelligence, self direction, and agency.

POSITION

The Director, Life Sciences is responsible for creating and maintaining strategic grant programs that advance basic and applied scientific understandings of how living systems originate, propagate, and evolve. The Director works closely with colleagues across the organization to lead an important subset of the Foundation’s core grantmaking activities. Responsibilities include leading and managing a team of two tasked with implementing strategic priorities and developing high impact projects and programs, with special emphasis on basic research, applied genetics, and cross-disciplinary investigations. Responsibilities also include collaborative interactions with colleagues in other departments, both to enhance creativity in the development of programs, and to facilitate administrative excellence and efficiency in grantmaking processes. The Director will also work closely with Foundation leadership and the Board to develop direction for the portfolio and will be responsible for reporting on progress to them. The Director will oversee a portfolio of active grants of about $60M, including ongoing multi-year grants, and about 40 grantees. JTF as a whole granted $134.4 million in 2024 and is composed of close to 60 colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute strategic plans for grant programs for basic research on the nature and origins of life, as well as grant programs for applied research in genetics, in order to advance the frontiers of science and foster new opportunities for inquiry.
• Actively engage with and have a high-level view of the broader field, including identifying trends, emerging ideas, and new areas of opportunity for funding that can address key questions.
• Develop grant projects aligned with the strategic plans and priorities of the Life Sciences funding area.
• Participate in all aspects of the open submission proposal review process, including engaging external reviewers.
• Oversee management of active grants and evaluation of closed grants in the portfolio.
• Meet due dates and deadlines for proposal development, grant monitoring responsibilities, and grant closing processes.
• Carefully manage and monitor grant making dashboards to ensure that the team’s responsibilities are being carried out appropriately.
• Report regularly to the president and to the Board on grantmaking activities.
• Cultivate and expand networks within related fields that attract a wide range of researchers, from promising, early-career to more established.
• Communicate the mission of the Foundation and the goals of the Life Sciences portfolio both internally and externally, especially to researchers, academic institutions, members of the media, as well as to other audiences interested in the Foundation’s mission.
• Manage two other members of the Life Sciences team (Program Officer and Program Associate).
• Create and manage annual department budgets.
• Establish relationships with and cultivate co-funding from organizations with similar funding goals.
• Collaborate with the communications department on external communications concerning the Life Sciences department and its work.
• Organize conferences and symposia relevant to the Foundation’s mission and the department’s objectives.
• Lead and collaborate on foundation-wide initiatives and projects to further the overall mission.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience with grant-funded scientific research (preferably with both receiving and awarding funds)
• Minimum of five years of experience in topics related to the work of the Life Sciences program area
• Ph.D. in any area of biology, or in allied subfields of chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, or the humanities
• Experience managing a small team required; administrative experience at the level of department chair, director, or dean preferred
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and editing proposals, papers, presentations, etc.
• Experience working with a grants management system or relevant database preferred

Personal Attributes

• Humility and open-mindedness, with an interest in furthering the field and the work of others rather than narrowly focusing on specific research questions; an interest in acting as a facilitator rather than a driver
• Excellent communications and networking skills; the ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including non-scientists
• High level of organization; the ability to set and meet deadlines when multiple stakeholders are involved; the ability to ensure that grants are aligned with internal guiding documents and regulations in addition to the strategic direction of the portfolio
• Capable of developing and executing a clear program strategy while remaining flexible and responsive to feedback
• Strong personal interest in the Foundation’s mission and values
• Interest in developing research networks through funding initiatives

COMPENSATION

• Anticipated salary is around $200K, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching and additional discretionary contributions, unique employee donation program.

The Foundation requires employees to be physically present in its offices for a minimum of three days per week. This in-office requirement is essential to the organization for a number of key reasons, including that it allows for spontaneous interactions and face-to-face communication, facilitates effective and efficient teamwork and collaboration, and ensures regular access to the office’s various resources. It also helps maintain and strengthen the organization’s culture by allowing employees to regularly engage in a more active way in meetings and interactions and fosters a sense of belonging and community. In addition, regular in-office work is required for this position because of the role’s responsibility to manage department staff, as well as the high level of interaction and teamwork required to carry out other responsibilities, which include developing interdisciplinary initiatives and strategies within the Life Sciences funding area, achieving efficiency in the grantmaking processes, and attending key meetings in person.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, John Templeton Foundation encourages you to apply. John Templeton Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies., John Templeton Foundation will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

TO APPLY

Please send cover letter and resume as one PDF with title format “Last Name First Name – Letter Resume” to JTFDLS@pbrsearch.com, with “Life Sciences” in the subject line.