Director Strategic Initiatives

We are seeking a Director Strategic Initiatives for the Institute of Nanobiotechnology (INBT) at the Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. INBT is an exceptionally diverse, multidisciplinary team of faculty and students dedicated to discovering, designing, and delivering breakthroughs at the interface of nanoscience and living systems. For over 17 years, INBT has brought together experts from the Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Applied Physics Lab, and Krieger School of Arts and Sciences to do transformational, collaborative discovery.

The Director Strategic Initiatives supports the INBT Director and Associate Director (Directors) in directing and managing the short and long term critical priorities, initiatives and activities that relate to current research operation, development of interschool and interdepartmental research core/centers, education, and translation. The Director represents the INBT Directors and ensures effective communication, coordination, and integration across various initiatives and programs where appropriate.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Strategy/Annual Goals

•  Assist the Directors in developing and managing strategic initiatives and INBT goals including the overall review, consultation, and decision-making process desired by the Directors and key stakeholders.
• Track and follow up on progress of a wide range of programs, initiatives and activities related to the scientific and translational missions of the Institute.

Stand in

• Support and collaborate with the Directors in a variety of ways, e.g., establishing priorities and setting agendas, developing ideas, identifying and evaluating alternatives, establishing goals, developing action plans, promoting and driving change.
• Prepare the Directors in interactions with internal and external partners and stakeholders, as needed.
• Breadth of constituents/matters includes faculty, student, Institute, Whiting School, as well as external stakeholders.

Communications

• Draft/edit/oversee communications, briefings, remarks, and presentations for the Directors.
• Provide oversight to communications team on all marketing, branding, communications activities and goals.
• Work closely with the Directors on special projects with significant impact on the Institute’s priorities and initiatives.
• This includes development of goals and programming for events, retreats, annual symposium, one-off projects, collaborations, or partnerships with internal or external groups.

HR

• Provides guidance on critical needs and organizational culture including programs, policies, practices and processes associated with meeting the strategic and operational priorities.

Metrics and reporting

• Coordinate tracking and measuring of metrics and resources to effectively and accurately communicate reports for the Deans, and others on the work and impact of INBT and its various programs.
• Develops presentation and written materials in these efforts to demonstrate progress/effectiveness.
• Assist with content planning of the NanoBio Report and annual report to the WSE Dean’s Office.

Advisory Boards

• Prepares slides, evaluates strategy, and formalizes communication for the Advisory Board.

Decision Making

• On a regular and continuous basis, exercises judgment and assumes responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on people, costs, and/or quality of service within INBT and WSE.
• Responsible for budget setting, review of expenses and internal approval of the Strategic Initiatives budget.
• Acts independently on behalf of the INBT Directors in dealing with internal and external issues.

Required Skills

• Marketing and communication with an emphasis on messaging and corporate communications.
• Understanding of startup and technology development.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, judgment, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with C-level and dean/department head level stakeholders. Perceptive and politically savvy with a high degree of diplomacy, tact, discretion, integrity, and credibility.
• Be diligent in matters of follow up and anticipate needs based on future calendar meetings.
• Able to manage complex and/or highly confidential issues involving diverse constituents and stakeholders.
• Work in concert with groups around Johns Hopkins to better promote a One University commercial function.
• Highly developed collaborative, inter