Chief Scientific Officer

The Batten Group, a national executive search and consulting firm specializing in nonprofit, health and mission-based philanthropy, has been retained by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association to conduct a national search to identify professionals to join the organization as Chief Scientific Officer. 

Position Summary

The Chief Scientific Officer will work closely with the CEO and STAR Advisory Board Chairs to manage existing research and mission programs while also providing the insight and support necessary to develop new care, support, and research programs. The Chief Scientific Officer provides program support for all scientific, translational and clinical projects and corresponding relationships with patients, families, industry, academic institutions, government agencies, and research donors to further the mission of the organization; manages the existing network of scientists in basic, translational and clinical science to enable them to advance new treatments; and works with the Centers of Excellence (COE) to develop and maximize impact of care for individuals with CMT. The Chief Scientific Officer will work from a home-based office.

The Chief Scientific Officer position is critical to the success of both the mission and strategic plan goals that include:

• Strengthening and building research partnerships with industry, academia, and government agencies
• Ensuring a robust pipeline of new CMTA researchers
• Expanding CMTA’s research portfolio
• Fueling clinical research by ensuring active enrollment in clinical studies
• Striving to improve the standards for clinical care and disease management
• Expanding the Center of Excellence program

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Scientific

• Manage research agreements.
• Support the implementation of the CMTA’s STAR Research Program, including the request for proposal (RFP) process, grant review summaries, oversight of process reports and related administrative functions.
• Develop and maintain library of relevant clinical and scientific articles.
• Monitor science landscape and support ongoing evaluation of research impact.
• Contribute regular scientific updates to CMTA website and publications for research donors that integrates information from published literature, scientific meetings, and CMTA specific meetings summarizing current state of knowledge in the field.
• Develop and track metrics and KPIs for STAR program.
• Identify areas of synergy with other research foundations.

Translational

• Support CMTA’s STAR biotech partners, including work study plans, patient programs, and liaising with key opinion leaders and the CMT community
• Attend and coordinate participation in scientific and industry meetings to keep up to date on latest research, present CMTA’s STAR program, and recruit potential partners.
• Grow CMTA’s STAR biotech partnerships as well as STAR’s unique offerings to industry partners
• Act as liaison with National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA), with targeted outreach on initiatives that would further Strategy to Accelerate Research (STAR) research priorities and support the efforts of STAR biotech partners.

Clinical

• Build and execute strategies to continue the development of the Center of Excellence program.
• Support clinical research participation in the CMTA community through direct management of programs.
• Attend Inherited Neuropathy Consortium (INC) monthly meetings and serve as liaison to INC.
• Participate in Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) meetings and committees.
• Oversee and train network of volunteers and speak at Branch meetings as needed.

Budgeting and Reporting

• Oversee research budget, track research commitments and expenditures.
• Create updates on research projects and research budget for CMTA board meetings.

Mission Programs

• Assist in the drafting of grant proposals and cooperative agreements to support the CMTA mission programs and participate in additional funding initiatives as assigned.
• Coordinate with STAR Chairs and oversee management of STAR Advisory Board meetings, including recruitment of new STAR advisors.
• Identify and recruit new researchers to submit targeted projects that support CMTA’s strategy.
• Oversee COE review and approval processes, including measuring impact of care at COEs.
• Manage COE Annual Meeting.

Other

• Assist in the development and fulfillment of educational materials to local volunteers and clinics.
• Contribute to enhancing diversity in advisory boards, branch participation, outreach and patient recruitment.
• Organize researcher and clinician articles for newsletter and website.
• Maintain extensive awareness of CMTA constituencies, programs, features, and benefits.
• Meet and speak with donors about CMTA STAR and Center of Excellence programs.
• Draft biannual donor update for CMTA constituencies.

Candidate Qualifications

• Passion for CMTA’s mission and demonstrated commitment to the nonprofit sector and patient population.
• An advanced degree (MS, Ph.D., or PharmD) is in neurology, neuroscience, neurobiology, public health, healthcare administration or related field is desired.
• 7+ years of experience in managing the awarding of medical/scientific research grants.
• Knowledge of CMT disease and/or other neurodegenerative disorders preferred.
• Experience translating and communicating complex scientific and medical information in understandable language to lay constituencies.
• Strong leader and energetic team player who will fit seamlessly into a small organization that is driven to accomplish its mission.
• Ability to function as a dependable leader and work cross-functionally as a collaborator and team player in a virtual environment.
• Superb oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and a collaborative style.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and visioning experience in a nonprofit environment, including significant financial experience and aptitude.
• Ability to evaluate national impact, programmatic effectiveness, analyze trends, and integrate evaluation results into future planning.
• Must demonstrate a positive outlook, enthusiasm, high energy, and be self-motivated.
• Strong collaboration skills and innovate research programming, with a high degree of creativity and initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a liaison to the greater research community.
• Strong ethics and capacity to carry out responsibilities in an ethical, professional, and objective manner.
• High proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, E-technologies, web analytics, and grant software experience.

POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITMENT

The Batten Group and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association are equal opportunity employers committed to the principles of non-discrimination in the workplace. Candidates will not be discriminated on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status or any other basis that is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.