Organizational Overview:
Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF’s leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer’s PET scan (Amyvid™) and blood test (PrecivityAD™) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded nearly $250 million to fund over 720 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 19 countries.
The path to approved Alzheimer's treatments starts with a better way to diagnose patients. Bill Gates and ADDF Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder partnered to adopt a new approach that brings together philanthropic capital with a venture mindset to advance bold ideas for easier, more accurate, and earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Launched in July 2018, the Diagnostics Accelerator has mobilized commitments totaling $100 million from Bill Gates, Leonard A. Lauder, Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Eli Lilly & Company, Biogen, the Shanahan Family Foundation, the Dolby family, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, and others. The Diagnostics Accelerator focuses on translating the knowledge we have gained about the causes of Alzheimer's disease into biomarkers and diagnostics to enable precision medicine. Research funded to date focuses on various methods and targets including blood tests in various stages of development, as well as eye scans and digital tools.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/
Position Description:
The Head of Diagnostics Accelerator will lead a team of scientists with expertise in biomarkers and diagnostics and will work closely with ADDF leadership and philanthropic partners. This role will assume leadership for accelerating, delivering, and managing the diagnostics portfolio. This will include identifying, evaluating, shaping, executing, and managing innovative investment opportunities for ADDF’s diagnostics pipeline. The Diagnostics Accelerator team, in collaboration with our philanthropic partners, interacts with diagnostic companies, academic institutions, venture firms, and other stakeholders from the life sciences industry ecosystem, for evaluation and management of investment opportunities.
This position requires equal parts operational team leadership, cross-functional strategic planning, alliance management and disciplined portfolio management.
Placement:
This position reports to the Executive Director, Drug Development. This is a full-time exempt position. Candidates from out of state are welcome to apply. Salary range $220k-$270k.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead a team of scientists responsible for proactive sourcing, identification, critical evaluation and shaping of potential investment opportunities that are aligned with the Diagnostics Accelerator development strategy.
- Develop methods to systematically identify and track innovative biomarker and diagnostic opportunities.
- Partner with the Mission Related Investments (MRI) team to identify the optimal contract structure and then progress the contract through to closure for scientifically approved programs.
- Maximize the probability of technical and commercial success of the Diagnostics Accelerator portfolio by actively managing and driving strategic decision making for the portfolio of peripheral, optical, and digital diagnostic programs.
- Oversee ADDF’s Request for Proposals related to peripheral and digital biomarker programs as well as the biobank sharing program.
- Develop deep understanding of innovation and scientific landscape in key areas related to ADDF’s diagnostics strategy.
- With the support from the Diagnostics Accelerator team, conduct landscape and in-depth analyses on select biomarker/diagnostic areas, mechanism-of-action, and modalities.
- Connect with and build long lasting structured relationships with strategic innovation networks and funding partners.
- Other duties as necessary.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of work experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech or diagnostic/device industry, with solid scientific qualifications in biomarker/diagnostic discovery and development
- Advanced graduate degree (PhD, MD, PharmD) in a health-related or scientific field required
- Degree, certification or practical experience in portfolio and project management required (e.g., MBA, Master’s in Project Management or PMP-Project management certifications)
- Practical experience in Search & Evaluation, Business Development, venture capital, technology transfer, or other partnering-focused professional experience
- Demonstrated project management/leadership skills to lead/manage teams in evaluating investment opportunities and producing high-quality assessments
- Demonstrated ability to drive projects to deliver timely results and follow through on internal and external commitments
- Excellent communication skills to articulate findings concisely through verbal and written communications
- Strong people leadership and interpersonal skills and demonstrated negotiation and influencing skills with diverse groups of stakeholders
- Strong existing network and networking skills to reach out to a broad range of decision makers to keep abreast of emerging opportunities
- Strong business acumen and ability to drive well-informed, fact-based decision making
- Highest degree of integrity and honesty
- Ability to collaborate and be creative with a professional and positive approach
To Apply:
Please apply here
ADDF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people. We welcome and encourage applicants for all positions respecting the full spectrum of education, experience, age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, veteran status or other military status, or citizenship status, genetic carrier status, genetic information, AIDS or AIDS-related complex or HIV status, being a victim of domestic violence, protected activity (i.e., filing a charge of discrimination, participating in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposing prohibited discrimination), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.