Director for Biosecurity Mission Innovation

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$271,320 - $345,840 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We have an opening for an accomplished and visionary leader to develop and execute the Laboratory’s strategy to build public-private partnerships that drive commercial success and maximize national biosecurity impact. You will be responsible for developing collaborations and executing high-impact partnerships with cutting-edge AI and technology-driven bio sector companies that leverage LLNL’s expertise and resources to accelerate technology transition and create measurable value for the nation, particularly the Department of Defense (DOD), LLNL, and private sector partners.

You will have a proven track record of forging and managing successful strategic initiatives between relevant stakeholders in the public and private sectors. You will have direct experience working with and/or within relevant U.S. Government national security organizations as well as leading-edge AI and/or biotech organizations. This position will be in the Computational Engineering Division (CED), within the Engineering Directorate.

In this role you will

• Engage and interface with relevant stakeholders to shape and articulate the strategic mission needs of U.S. Government agency partners by serving as the Laboratory’s interface to senior executives in private capital and start-ups in the biosecurity sector to cultivate relationships that drive shared success and measurable impact.
• Champion cross-sector innovation initiatives that bring together LLNL scientists, government stakeholders, and private sector innovators to co-develop, pilot, and scale transformative solutions in biosecurity and related fields, which are informed by extensive stakeholder engagement
• Pursue, develop, influence, negotiate, and manage strategic alliances with advanced AI and biotechnology companies to accelerate the commercialization of LLNL-developed technologies and solutions, with a focus on dual-use applications that benefit both national security and the private sector.
• Promote and drive commercial and National Security impact by translating LLNL’s biosecurity and AI research into deployable products and services, ensuring alignment with federal priorities (especially DOD) and commercial market needs.
• Utilize broad latitude and independent judgment to set mission area objectives and guide multidisciplinary teams and partnership portfolios, ensuring programmatic excellence, compliance, and risk management while fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q/SCI-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, virology, bioengineering, computer science, or related technical field or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Extensive senior-level leadership experience in national biosecurity policy, start-up or corporate operations, program management, with a strong record of partnership-building between relevant public and private sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working with, advising, or leading cutting-edge biotechnology companies, with a focus on biosecurity related missions, and established track record of strategic planning and operational expertise, technology development, commercialization, funding, and growth.
• Expert problem solving, analytical, technical, organizational, and management skills necessary to independently advise, recommend appropriate actions, and implement solutions.
• Proven ability to deliver commercial and national security outcomes through public-private partnerships, including launching or scaling ventures or high-impact collaborations.
• Demonstrated success