Senior Director, Head, Global Clinical Immunology

As an organization whose mission is to translate science into global public health impact, working on vaccines and therapeutics, IAVI has a vaccine policy which states that subject to applicable law, we require all U.S. and Puerto Rico based employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption or accommodation. We are committed to supporting our employees during this process as we work to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Position Description

Title: Senior Director, Head, Global Clinical Immunology
Location: New York, NY Preferred; US-Remote considered
Reports to: Vice President, Head of Translational medicine

Position Summary:

IAVI is seeking a dynamic and internationally reputable scientist to serve as Senior Director, Head of Global Clinical Immunology. The Senior Director will work closely with discovery, preclinical and clinical development teams, in support of the project portfolio which includes vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against HIV, Lassa, Ebola, Marburg, Covid-19, and tuberculosis. The Senior Director leads IAVI Clinical Immunology activities, serving as the primary liaison with relevant external clinical testing laboratories and IAVI laboratory teams who develop preClinical Immunology assays. The Senior Director has responsibility for IAVI biorepository specimens currently located in a variety of sites.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strong scientific leadership in applied Clinical Immunology to support discovery, preclinical and clinical product development teams across the project portfolio.
• Provide strategic and scientific input into the development of preclinical/clinical assays at IAVI’s Design and Development laboratory (DDL) and other locations that will be transitioned to external laboratories and CROs.
• Oversight of CRO laboratory(ies) in the U.S. and partnered immunology laboratories in Africa (includes interface, technology transfer, data reporting, etc.).
• Oversight and strategic management of existing biorepository holdings, including further development of IAVI biorepository strategies.
• Collaborate with IAVI’s and external partners’ laboratories worldwide as well as collaborative clinical research centers in Africa and India.
• Direct involvement in relevant project team activities, including coordination with Africa-based team members, to assure timely consideration and development of clinical assay requirements for clinical development plans.
• Provide strategic and scientific support to immune-bridging strategies.
• Line management responsibility for senior managers and technical staff focused on building a highly motivated team, promoting career development and proactive with respect to diversity and inclusion.
• Develop, lead, and support funding applications to support translational Clinical Immunology
• Maintain a strong publication record and contribute to sustainability.
• Manage external meetings with funders, IAVI’s matrixed teams and partners, including those in Africa and India.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of reports to funders and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the supervision, mentorship, and support of team members.

Education and Experience:

• PhD in immunology, virology, vaccinology, systems immunology, or a relevant field or equivalent research qualification is required.
• Minimum 10 years of industrial experience post primary graduate qualification is required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge and experience with the value chain of vaccine development from discovery science through preclinical and clinical testing, to product licensure is required.
• Experience with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) and the regulatory environment is required.
• Experience with external laboratories (contract research laboratories) is highly preferred.
• Experience in developing and conducting clinical assays using Good Clinical Laboratory practices (GCLP) in alignment with international regulatory standards for product registration is required.
• Experience working with international teams globally, including in low- and middle-income countries is highly preferred.
• Strong international scientific credibility and track-record with knowledge of state-of-the-art human immunology that has a bearing on vaccine development is required.
• Excellent people and process management skills, including an ability to motivate others to create and nurture a culture that is supportive of career development and proactive on diversity and inclusion at all staffing levels.
• Ability to focus on delivering scientific objectives amid multiple competing demands and the capacity to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced matrixed environment is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage diverse audiences including scientists, senior executives and managers, funders and stakeholders.
• Understanding of the critical need for alignment with advocacy, funding, and research partners and appreciation of how to frame strategy in this context is desirable.
• Experience in acquiring substantial independent grant funding is required.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.

IAVI CORE VALUES:

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions.
• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up
• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect
• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.

Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates:

The annual base salary for this position is targeted at $180,000.00 - 220,000.00 with some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, generous retirement savings plan, three health insurance plans to choose from, and other benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)