Associate Director, Research (Diabetes Devices & Psychosocial Health)

Company Description

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in chapters across the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter @JDRF.

As a JDRF team member, you can look forward to interesting and challenging work, building strong relationships with fellow staff and our network of volunteers, and having a meaningful impact on the lives of everyone affected by this devastating disease. JDRF supports a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Description

JDRF is hiring an Associate Director (AD) to work in the Improving Lives (IL) program and help us achieve our vision of a world where people with T1D live healthy and burden-free lives. (See the IL program’s scientific strategy here: https://grantcenter.jdrf.org/research-strategy/). The new IL program AD will be part of a highly interconnected and fast-moving team that is responsible for setting and driving the global research agenda for T1D.

The AD will focus primarily on JDRF’s efforts in diabetes devices (e.g. artificial pancreas [AP] systems, insulin pumps, CGMs) and psychosocial/behavioral health. Key responsibilities will include building and actively managing a research portfolio of grants and partnerships. Building the portfolio requires developing and adhering to JDRF strategic priorities, performing careful scientific diligence on proposals, identifying new research partners, and as appropriate, collaborating with grant applicants on the design of their studies; in some cases, the AD will be responsible for initially conceiving of the study topic. Managing the portfolio involves staying in regular contact with funded investigators to monitor progress and provide intellectual input to ongoing projects. While no longer in the lab, ADs and other scientists in the JDRF office nonetheless employ creativity and scientific rigor in equal parts to advance the field, working with diverse partners including academia, industry, government, and others in the United States and abroad. 

The AD will report to the lead of the IL program and will participate in all aspects of the JDRF research program, including providing scientific input to accelerate the progress of therapeutic areas, contributing to future research strategies aligned with JDRF’s mission, and leveraging opportunities and optimizing relationships within the US and international diabetes research communities. The AD will primarily focus on diabetes devices and psychosocial/behavioral health, with opportunities to contribute to other areas as well. Applicants should have professional experience involving diabetes devices; see examples of relevant experience in the Qualifications and Skills section below. Expertise in psychosocial/behavioral health is a plus and an enthusiasm to grow in this field is essential.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning
•    Contribute expertise to strategic planning efforts 
•    Analyze scientific and commercial landscapes to determine how JDRF can maximize our impact
•    Contribute to the regular assessment, review, and presentation of the status of the research portfolio to the Board of Directors and external scientific advisors 
•    Engage with stakeholders in the diabetes sector, including researchers, clinicians and executives

Grant Development and Management
•    Develop new research opportunities with internal and external stakeholders (academic scientists, industry partners, etc.)
•    Collaborate with other JDRF scientists and non-scientific staff (program administrators, clinical trial managers, business development colleagues, regulatory and health policy experts) in development and management of funding opportunities
•    Perform internal review and manage external peer review of funding opportunities
•    Actively manage ongoing grants
•    Participate in scouting, securing, and managing research partnerships with companies, other non-profits, governmental agencies, etc.
•    Work closely with program administrator