Careers

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Scientific Affairs (VPSA), the Director of Vision Science Programs (DVSP) is responsible for the scientific execution of the annual BrightFocus research pre- and post-award programs for Macular Degeneration Research (MDR) and National Glaucoma Research (NGR) programs, which include both the ‘core’ and ‘Bold Ideas Initiatives’ grants, as well as any other separate ‘lane’ of grants, partnerships, or other scientific granting medium. The primary responsibilities of the DVSP are to ensure a high level of scientific accountability within the BrightFocus award programs and to foster strong relationships with the scientific community. The DVSP is responsible for supporting communications and fundraising efforts by leveraging these relationships to meet program goals of the organization. In addition, the DVSP will work with internal stakeholders to pivot messaging and help further develop BrightFocus’ role as a thought leader and trusted resource. This includes informing senior leadership and management about opportunities and any potential issues. On occasion, the DVSP may be asked by the VPSA to participate in BrightFocus organization-wide/inter-departmental initiatives and activities.

Duties, Responsibility and Functions

The DVSP works closely with the Director of Neuroscience Programs (DNP) and the Scientific Program Grants Manager (SPGM), as overseen by the VPSA, to ensure the smooth operations of the grants process of all BrightFocus scientific programs, and to ensure that the experience by and delivery of support to applicants and reviewers are consistent.

Core Award Programs

Pre-award

• Implement research initiatives related to the foundation’s annual award program.
• Work with SPGM to coordinate proposal submissions, including assistance with plan, design and implementation of application templates, instructions, and online forms.
• Serve as point of contact for all applicants and applicant institutions with scientific questions regarding suitability of projects for BrightFocus funding mechanisms.
• Recruit and nominate new scientists to the MDR and NGR Scientific Review Committees (SRC), as required.

Review

• Communicate review cycle related information to internal stakeholders.
• Perform preliminary scientific review of proposals prior to formal merit peer-review.
• Manage the annual award program scientific peer-review process, with attention to identification of any conflicts of interest between applicants and reviewers.
• Ensure that required professional opinions are provided for all proposals. Work with SRC leadership to determine appropriate expertise required to review proposals.
• Represent BrightFocus during SRC in-person meetings.

Post-Review

• Negotiate contractual agreements between funded institutions and BrightFocus as it relates to approved MDR and NGR awards. Work in concert with SPGM, who will manage the award contract execution.
• Receive, evaluate, and report on progress of all projects during the award and following termination (i.e., publications, intellectual property, subsequent funding, grantee testimonials, etc.) and follow up with grantees for matters like milestones, impediments, and requests for readjustment of specific aims. Prepare impact assessment data of the programs.
• Ensure recommended projects are not duplicative of other funding support.
• Handle questions from applicants about the science of the reviewer critiques.
• Recommend appropriate administrative actions related to research outcomes.
• Conduct final approval for grantee requests for complex post-award changes regarding specific aims, changes in key personnel, and other requests.

Bold Ideas Initiatives, Partnerships and Other Scientific Granting Medium

• Work with the VPSA and President & CEO to develop scientific grants program Bold Ideas Initiatives, partnership opportunities, and other scientific granting medium that falls outside of the traditional core award program.
• Carry out pre-award, review, and post-review in a fashion like that carried out for the core award programs, recruiting and nominating new subject matter experts as required for purposes of project vetting.

Scientific Liaison Duties

• Serve as the primary contact for the portfolio of current and former MDR and NGR BrightFocus investigators, continuing the cultivating of those recipients as future volunteers of the organization.
• Develop and maintain relationships with grantees, academic research community, and other mission-related organizations.
• Develop and manage the relationships with the SRC Co-Chair volunteers to seek their guidance and support for the MDR and NGR programs.
• Travel to academic conferences or other venues to conduct research on BrightFocus MDR and NGR projects and build expertise in vision research areas.
• Obtain cross-training to become familiar with the current state of neuroscience research associated with ADR and related dementias.
• Serve as a scientific liaison to internal staff, keeping internal stakeholders apprised of developments in BrightFocus-sponsored awards, and review select documents, web pages, and other forms of external communication for scientific rigor as needed.
• Work with internal colleagues to leverage their knowledge of vision science to identify and recommend opportunities for BrightFocus’ communication and messaging about science and researchers.
• Occasionally serve as a spokesperson for the foundation as required.
• Represent Scientific Affairs on various committees, as designated by VPSA.

Other Duties

• Assist VPSA in reports to the Board of Directors regarding progress.
• Work closely with the VPSA to identify and recruit expert speakers for panels, conferences and meetings, and other BrightFocus organized and sponsored events.
• Conduct special projects or other duties, as directed by the VPSA.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required, preferably in a vision-related scientific field, with minimum 6 years related experience.
• Detailed knowledge of scientific research, as relates to BrightFocus programs.
• Ability to translate scientific research into value for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
• Ability to garner the respect and support of all levels in the organization, scientific, and academic communities.
• Successful experience in planning, prioritizing, organizing, and following through.
• Proven experience with public speaking on scientific topics.
• Experience with performing on collaborative projects.
• Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines, and ensuring successful implementation.
• Experience with volunteer/scientist management/coordination.
• Familiarity with computers and grants management database software and cloud-based systems.
• Non-profit grants management experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel (to conferences and meetings, <10% of the time).

Key Competencies

• Attention to detail.
• Initiative.
• Reliability.
• Thrives in a collaborative, customer service-based environment.
• Flexibility to interact and collaborate with employees in various positions within the organization, and with external stakeholders in the general scientific community.

How to Apply

To apply, upload resume and cover letter by clicking here. CBIZ’s Human Resources Services is supporting BrightFocus Foundation with recruiting for this position. If you have difficulties submitting your materials, please contact Samantha Sadiv at Samantha.sadiv@cbiz.com. Salary will be within the range of $120K-$125K. BrightFocus offers a generous benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holidays, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and a retirement plan. This will be a hybrid work environment with some travel required.

BrightFocus is at the forefront of brain and eye health by promoting awareness and driving innovative research worldwide to help eradicate diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. To learn more about BrightFocus, visit www.brightfocus.org.

BrightFocus is committed to the full utilization of all human resources and to a policy of equal opportunity. In accordance with applicable laws, it is our policy to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals, as well as administer any and all personnel actions, without regard to any legally-protected characteristic including, but not limited to, race, age, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.