Associate Director for Data Science

Description

Associate Director for Data Science

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the newly established and important position of Associate Director for Data Science (ADDS).  In response to the recommendations made by the Data and Informatics Working Group of the Advisory Committee to the Director (see http://acd.od.nih.gov/diwg.htm), the NIH leadership has established the ADDS as a senior position with NIH-wide responsibilities focused on data science.  The incumbent serves as the principal advisor to the NIH Director, and indirectly to all NIH leadership, about the broad area encompassed by data science (i.e., bioinformatics, computational biology, biomedical informatics, biostatistics, information science, quantitative biology, etc.).  The ADDS reports directly to the NIH Director, and is regarded as NIH’s overall programmatic leader in data science.  The incumbent provides a vision for the utilization and extraction of knowledge from the data generated by and relevant to NIH research, and advises experts throughout the agency on a variety of complex, unique, and/or sensitive situations and issues in data science to ensure continual achievement of NIH’s dynamic biomedical research mission.  The ADDS plays the leading role, on behalf of NIH, in coordinating and collaborating with appropriate government agencies, other funding agencies, and private organizations involved in scientific data generation, management, and analysis, including extensive interactions with stakeholders in the research community and experts in the private sector.

The ADDS also serves as Chair of the newly created trans-NIH Scientific Data Council (SDC), whose responsibilities include: (a) programmatic oversight of the NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) initiative; (b) trans-NIH programmatic leadership and coordination of data science activities; (c) coordination with data science activities beyond NIH; (d) significant involvement in the establishment and management of NIH data-sharing policies; and (d) NIH-wide, long-term strategic planning in data science.

Location

Bethesda, MD (NIH Main Campus)

Challenge

As the world's largest medical research facility, NIH consists of 27 Institutes/Centers, including the Clinical Center (an on-site research hospital), the Fogarty International Center, and the National Library of Medicine. NIH's national program of health research and research training is currently funded at more than $29 billion annually. NIH has over 18,000 employees.

The ADDS will focus on the urgent need and increased opportunities for capitalizing on the expanding collections of biomedical data to advance NIH’s mission. In doing so, the incumbent will provide programmatic NIH-wide leadership for areas of data science that relate to data emanating from many areas of study (e.g., genomics, imaging, and electronic heath records). This will require knowledge about multiple domains of study as well as familiarity with approaches for integrating data from these various domains.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must possess a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctorate degree in a field of health science plus senior-level scientific experience and knowledge of research programs in one or more areas related to the biomedical research enterprise. The individual should be known and respected, both nationally and internationally, within their profession as someone of scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and leadership credentials. It is preferable that the candidate is an active scientist who leads a highly productive group conducting cutting-edge research. The individual should also have demonstrated expertise in policy development as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications of the major issues relevant to data science as it pertains to biomedical research. They should have demonstrated leadership and broad visionary capabilities in the research arena, with demonstrated ability to engage others to create and execute an organization’s vision; to navigate successfully within and collaborate across the public sector to achieve research objectives; and to optimize organizational performance by developing strategic priorities, setting and communicating clearly defined expectations, promoting accountability for results, and resolving operational problems and issues. Candidates should have demonstrated management acumen, including identification and management of financial and human resource needs; proven ability to make complex and strategic decisions to optimize resource usage, mitigate risks, and achieve desired results; and, the ability to build, mentor, motivate, and maintain a culturally diverse staff.

Salary/Benefits

The ADDS will be appointed at a salary commensurate with his/her qualifications. Full Federal benefits will be provided, including leave, health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, retirement, and savings plan (401k equivalent).

How To Apply

Applicants must submit a current CV and bibliography electronically to Ms. Regina Reiter at SeniorRe@od.nih.gov (301- 402-1130).  In addition, applicants must also submit a supplemental narrative statement that addresses the qualifications requirements (not to exceed a total of two pages), a vision statement (not to exceed a total of two pages), and provide the names, titles, email addresses, and telephone numbers of 4-5 references.

Information about the National Institutes of Health is located at its website.

The NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles.  NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the NIH Ethics website .  We encourage you to review this information.  The position requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.

Reasonable Accommodation

NIH provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation during any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Applications will be reviewed starting May 13, 2013.
(Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.)

DHHS/NIH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER