Director, Science Operations

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago (https://www.czbiohub.org/chi) is an independent nonprofit research institute that brings together three powerhouse universities - Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine. CZ Biohub itself supports some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers to make breakthroughs in medicine and develop new technologies, frequently in collaboration with our partner universities. We are guided by our values of scholarly excellence; disruptive innovation; hands-on engineering/hacking/building; partnership and collaboration; open communication and respect; inclusiveness; and opportunity for all.

Our Vision

• We pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
• We enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
• The technologies developed at CZ Biohub Chicago facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

Diversity of thought, ideas, and perspectives are at the heart of CZ Biohub Network and enable disruptive innovation and scholarly excellence. We are committed to cultivating an organization where all colleagues feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution.

The Opportunity

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and our network of Biohubs are dedicated to accelerating the pace of biomedical research to help cure, prevent, or manage all disease. We are launching a new scientific program to tackle some of the toughest challenges in modeling, predicting and engineering the human immune system.

This new, large-scale initiative will serve as an integrative engine across CZI Science and our Biohub Network in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, uniting their unique data generation capabilities with our strengths in AI and technology. We are seeking a Director of Science Operations to be an operational leader for this program, ensuring our groundbreaking science is matched by operational excellence.

This is not  traditional PMO role. You will be a strategic partner, embedded directly within the scientific mission, responsible for driving the execution and fostering the collaborative culture needed to achieve our ambitious goals. 

What You'll Do

• Drive Scientific Portfolio & Resource Strategy: Lead the data-driven process for resource planning, budget management, and strategic prioritization across the VIS portfolio. You will provide the critical analysis that enables leadership to make informed decisions, ensuring our investments in data generation, AI modeling, and technology are aligned for maximum scientific impact.
• Lead Network Integration: Serve as the primary operational leader connecting the Biohubs and CZI's core technology teams. You will proactively identify dependencies, clear roadblocks, and build the durable "connective tissue" required for a seamless, multi-site research collaboration.
• Foster a Culture of Execution and Collaboration: Champion a "positive but practical" culture that balances ambitious scientific discovery with the discipline of execution. You will mentor team members, facilitate transparent communication, and ensure that a spirit of open science and collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.
• Serve as a Strategic Partner to Leadership: Act as a key advisor and thought partner to the VIS scientific leadership team. You will represent the operational health and progress of the initiative in leadership forums and help shape its strategic direction.

You have 

Essential -

• A Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD (preferred) in a relevant scientific or engineering field (e.g., Biomedical Engineering, Immunology, Computational Biology) combined with 10+ years of demonstrated experience in strategy, operations, and team leadership within life sciences, biotech, or a complex research organization.
• A proven ability to create and lead operational systems from scratch. Deep experience leading cross-functional teams and complex programs, particularly those at the intersection of biology and computation/AI.
• Exceptional financial acumen and experience managing multi-million dollar R&D budgets and performing complex resource planning.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to gain credibil