Director, Research - Center for Discovery and Innovation - Hackensack Meridian Health

The Director, Research - Center for Discovery and Innovation  (CDI) will serve as the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the HMH Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) as a senior management position reporting directly to the CSO and Chief Operating Officer of the CDI. This role will promote excellence in scholarship and research, assume adherence to the highest ethical standards of research, and facilitate clinical translation of research efforts. This role will work to operationalize the research infrastructure necessary to advance the mission and, in concert with the Chief Scientific Officer, represents the CDI internally at HMH and externally to funders, donors and stakeholders. In addition, this role shall perform such duties/objectives as requested by the Chief Scientific Officer of the CDI for the conduct of basic scientific and/or translational research.

The Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), was established by Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) as an academic basic and translational research enterprise to rapidly translate science innovation to the clinic to improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and other acute and chronic diseases.  The CDI has grown rapidly since its origins in 2019, and now has 27 labs, 180 scientists and support personnel. Areas of expertise include genomics, epigenetics, drug resistance, stem cell biology, drug discovery, diagnostics and biomarker development, and pharmacology.

A day in the life of a Director, Research - Center for Discovery and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Works to develop and implement both short and long-range goals, objectives, and policies for basic, translational and clinical research activities.
• Serves as surrogate to CSO to represent the CDI internally at HMH and externally to funders, donors and stakeholders.
• Develops revised guidelines for the conduct of research.
• Promotes the development of infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology for research.
• Promotes a collaborative and academic environment for research development.
• Provides guidance to faculty in obtaining clinical investigations -
• Develops core facilities, services, and programs to support research.
• Mentors and assists faculty researchers in applying for research funds.
• Promotes and facilitates collaborative efforts of faculty across multiple disciplines.
• Initiates programs to promote research and technology transfer.
• Provides direction over the research laboratories and ensures that they operate in compliance with Federal and State regulations and guidelines.
• Participates on strategic committees and prepares reports as requested.
• Collaborates with partner institutions and entities in enhancing the research agenda.
• Uses critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills in addressing complex issues in an innovative and creative manner.
• Effectively communicates the needs of all constituents in a timely manner while maintaining the highest levels of personal integrity and ethics.
• Helps lead scientific and planning discussions related to the development of CDI.
• Supports the effort to form relationships with domestic and international academic centers and the pharmaceutical industry.
• Manages scientific recruitment efforts.
• Assist in planning and management of scientific conferences, symposia, workshops, and retreats.
• Oversees internal and external seminar series.
• Liaison to Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, HMH School of Medicine and HMH Research Institute.
• Expected to cover at least 50% of their salary as direct costs on research grants and expected to use reasonable professional effort to acquire grant funding and philanthropic support to cover as much as possible of the operating expenses and salaries of support personnel for their research laboratory at the HMH CDI.
• Recommends, creates, and develops policies, practices, procedures and strategic goals.
• Recommends personnel decisions such as hiring, terminating, and disciplinary actions.
• Supports the day-to-day operations regarding faculty matters.
• Maximum allotted time for professional activities away from the Hackensack University Medical Center of 60 days.
• Professional activities include; scientific consulting, editorial work, seminar participation, scientific training, service on NIH study sections and review panels and attendance at national and international science meetings.
• Plans and oversees the operation of the lab processes and lab staff.
• Establishes, maintains, and administers the financial longevity of the lab.
• Develops and works within the budget of the lab.
• Establishes and develops strategic goals of the lab.
• Creates, develops, and implements policies, practices, and procedures of the lab.
• Designs quality and productivity standards of the lab.
• Responsible for approving personnel decisions such as hiring, terminating, and disciplinary actions.
• Responsible for guiding, mentoring, and evaluating the performance of the appropriate lab staff.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.
• Secondary Role: Attending Physician
• Provides professional services to patients in the outpatient and inpatient settings as needed.
• Develops a collaborative relationship with the medical staff members
• Participates in the continual development and maintenance of a system of patient care evaluation and quality improvement.
• Supervises patient care provided by residents.
• Properly documents in the electronic medical record all relevant clinical information for all patients under the Physician's care.
• Complies with all electronic billing practices.
• Participates in performance improvement activities as requested by the Chairperson and Division Chief, or his/her designee.
• Teachs and evaluates medical students and residents in the Department of Medicine, including, but not limited to providing lectures, didactic conferences, participation in faculty assessment of trainees, and regular attendance at department grand round conferences.
• This list is non-exhaustive and may be supplemented as needed.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• M.D. or Ph.D. from an accredited medical school or graduate program.
• Has an NIH funded research program and track-record of sustained funding.
• Eligible for faculty appointment at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
• Demonstrates strong administrative involvement in research program development, performance improvement, and research activities.
• Minimum of 10 or more years of experience in senior management of research and program building.
• Extensive experience/independent NIH and/or foundation funding.
• Professional peer-review experience as an ad hoc manuscript or grant reviewer or on either Editorial Boards of Journals or Grant Review Committees.
• Minimum publication of 50 articles in scientific journals or book chapters while in rank as an Associate Scientist, Associate Professor or equivalent rank. The candidate must be first or last author on a majority of these publications.
• Must possess leadership skills including but not limited to the ability to persuade, inspire, engage, execute, think strategically, work through others, manage conflict, build a trusting environment, and to be decisive.
• Must also possess the leadership characteristics of integrity, honesty, emotional maturity, ethics, and passion.
• Ability to interface effectively with professional personnel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

•  Board certified.
• Medical license in the state of New Jersey.

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!