Senior Director, Scientific Partnerships and Alliances

Senior Director, Scientific Partnerships and Alliances

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The Brain Health Accelerator (BHA) is building a new model for collaborative brain disease research, by bringing together human-centered discovery, advanced technologies and computational approaches, open science, and translational development across neurodegenerative diseases. BHA is designed as collaborative ecosystem with the hub centered at the Allen Institute, spanning discovery science, technology development, patient and disease communities, with the aim of accelerating progress forwards therapeutic translation for neurodegenerative disorders. Achieving these goals will require partnerships that extend far beyond the walls of the Allen Institute and new models for working together across disciplines, diseases and constituencies.

The Senior Director, Scientific Alliances & Partnerships will be a senior member of the BHA leadership team and play a critical role in translating this vision into a strategy for external collaboration and partnership to support our mission of connecting discovery to translation and impact for patients. Working closely with BHA’s senior leadership team, the broader BHA scientific team and partners across the Allen Institute, this role with shape partnership strategy; build and steward relationships with researchers, consortia, disease and patient communities, funders, technology organizations and industry and be a bridge between the BHA scientific team and partners in the scientific community.

The role combines scientific strategy, relationship building, program development and organizational leadership. This is a senior level role that will not only manage an existing portfolio but partner to build BHA’s partnership strategy and alliance management functions from the ground up and actively shape both how BHA partners and what it becomes as it grows into a global collaborative initiative and ecosystem.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Roles and Responsibilities

1/ Shape BHA’s partnership strategy and external ecosystem
Develop and execute an external partnership strategy aligned with BHA’s scientific and strategic priorities; identify critical external capabilities, opportunities, and potential partners; and build relationships across academia, disease and patient communities, philanthropy, industry, and other sectors important to BHA’s mission.

2/ Cultivate and build partnerships and steward strategic scientific alliances
Lead the formation and ongoing stewardship of complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships; develop governance and collaboration models aligned with BHA’s goals and principles; maintain strategic alignment across partners as programs evolve; and represent BHA with external stakeholders and the broader scientific community.

3/ Develop new collaborative programs and funding strategies
Partner with BHA scientific leadership to translate emerging priorities into collaborative programs and strategic partnerships; develop and execute creative strategies for external funding and support, including grants, philanthropic gifts, sponsorships, and other partnership models; cultivate relationships with funders and other potential partners; help shape compelling proposals and funding opportunities in collaboration with scientific leadership and partners across the Allen Institute.

4/ Build partnerships and pathways from discovery to translation
Work with BHA scientific leadership to identify partnership opportunities for therapeutic translation emerging from BHA’s discovery program; develop partnership models and strategies that connect BHAs open science discovery engine with therapeutic development, including developing relationships with industry, translational scientists, funders and other partners.

5/ Build the organizational capabilities for BHA to partner well
You will help define, build and lead BHA’s approach to alliance management, establishing the practices, structures, and cross-functional relationships needed to support a growing and complex portfolio of collaborative programs and partnerships; serve as a bridge across BHA, the broader Allen Institute, and the external organizations required to advance these efforts.

*Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. *

Required Education and Experience

• PhD or equivalent scientific experience
• Significant leadership experience in complex biomedical research environments, which could be academic, industry or not-for-profit science relevant organizations
• Success developing and leading multi-institutional scientific partnerships
• Experience building relationships, systems and practices from the ground up, with judgement and perspective
• Scientific fluency in disciplines relevant to BHA (neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease, molecular/genomic approaches)
• Experience with engaging credibly with a range of external stakeholders, including scientists, funders and organizational leaders
• Demonstrated ability to work and partner effectively across a complex organization. You will be working in a highly matrixed environment, with a range of internal partners, including program management, scientific operations, business development, finance, legal, sponsored research
• Proven advanced communication skills and ability to translate science and strategy to range of stakeholders and partners
• Experience with navigating ambiguity and influence across organizational boundaries and within a highly matrixed environment; manage diverse constituencies and navigate challenges and disagreements

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience with large scale-collaborative science, therapeutic development, public-private partnerships or research consortia management
• Experience developing funding strategies and cultivating funder relationships around ambitious scientific programs, partnerships, or initiatives
• Ideally experience across more than one sector (industry, academia, not-for-profit organization)
• Experience building and leading a high-performance team while working effectively through a very collaborative, highly matrixed organization

Physical Demands

• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Travel

• Occasional attendance and participation in national and international conferences required [note that travel may not be required to attend]

Additional Comments

• Please include a cover letter with your application
• **Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance**
• **Please note, this opportunity does not sponsor work visas**

Annualized Salary Range

$227,550 - $298,650 *

* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities