Executive Director- Product Development Team Leader

Position Description

Job Title:             Executive Director- Product Development Team Leader
Location:            New York, NY (preferred); US-Remote (considered); Nairobi Kenya, Cape-Town South Africa, Amsterdam Netherlands
Reporting to:     Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Position Summary:

Are you an experienced Product Development Leader experienced in vaccines and emerging infectious diseases, eager to make an impact in a mission-driven organization?

IAVI is seeking an Executive Director, Product Development Team Leader who will lead development strategy for key products within a critical impact area – HIV, TB, & other emerging infectious diseases (EID). The Executive Director will lead a matrix and cross-functional team, working closely with an assigned Project Manager to develop & execute an integrated Product Development Plan (iPDP). The ED Will effectively integrate the development process through late-stage clinical trials, key milestones, and licensure related to product registration, global access, and vaccine introduction. The ED will shepherd the program team through the iPDP within parameters set by IAVI & our funders.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Strategy and Decision-Making

• Oversee development of an integrated Product Development Plan (iPDP) to define the end-to-end product development strategy, and establish the Target Product Profile (TPP), key milestones, and deliverables for cross-functional execution through registration and global access.
• In alignment with the iPDP and the Impact Area portfolio strategy, lead strategic decision making that enables milestone-driven execution and drives alignment across functional areas; ensure budget and timelines are met; and assess program risks, and adopt risk mitigation approaches.
• Resolve scientific, clinical, technical, and regulatory issues that emerge throughout development in collaboration with team members and functional area leaders, direct corrective actions when needed; and escalate significant or unresolved issues to Impact Area Leader or IAVI Executive Leadership.
• Guide the Product Development Team (PDT) through stage gate reviews and other internal decision-making processes to secure approval through each stage of development; partner with the PM on preparation of key materials using standardized tools, and templates for internal decision making.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the unmet public health needs, latest scientific data, and external landscape (including status of competitive products) for assigned Impact Area.

Leadership of the cross-functional product development team

• Lead the internal cross-functional product team, in collaboration with the PM, with representatives from key areas (e.g., Pre-Clinical, Clinical, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Global Access, etc.) to work effectively and efficiently; inspire, coach and mentor team members; and resolve issues that emerge within the team in collaboration with relevant managers. Ensure that other support functions provide dedicated support and invites them to meetings as appropriate (i.e., Legal, FA, HR, BD, etc.)
• Chair PDT meetings and work with the PM to establish agendas, scorecards, dashboards, and other Project Management tools and templates to monitor execution against goals and milestones.

Funding, Partnerships and External Engagement

• Ensure effectiveness of funding, through external sources and/or internal investment, to sustain product development; identify funding gaps; review and approve development program budgets; build strong relationships with potential funders; and support funding proposal preparation and negotiations.
• With Impact Area Leader and Business Development, identify strategic needs, and opportunities for partnership; explore potential partnership approaches, and forge partnerships and alliances to achieve product development objectives.
• Foster strong relationships with scientific leaders and organizations, donors, government agencies, academia, investigator networks, and other external stakeholders that align with the needs and objectives of the Impact Area.
• Communicate and champion IAVI’s mission, network, and value as a partner internally and externally.

Education and Work Experience:

• MS, MD or PhD Advanced degree in a Science related field is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in product development is required.
• Experience with late-stage development of vaccines, HIV/AIDS, TB, and/or emerging infectious diseases is highly desirable.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Track record of success as someone who can quickly develop clear and concise decisions.
• Demonstrated high degree of leadership to build relationships, motivate teams, and influence all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational and communications skills with proven experience in fostering and establishing external partnerships and collaborations.
• Established track record of managing teams and projects, supervising staff, and ensuring that key activities are completed within deadlines and budgets.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills and experience, and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, countries, and cultures.
• Proven track record of delivering results and meeting targets is required.
• Ability to travel – up to 20% of time is required.
• In-depth knowledge/experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industries with vaccine development desirable.
• Experience with clinical development and registration in LMICs is desirable.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products. 

IAVI CORE VALUES:

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions
• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up 
• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect 
• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. 

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee. 

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.

Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates:  

Annual base salary for this position is: $220,000.00 - 260,000.00 

Compensation And Benefits Information for NON-US Based Candidates: 

Salary is paid in local currency, and is commensurate and competitive with the local labor market   

Please note, there may be some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, a generous retirement savings plan, three health insurance plans to choose from, and other benefits.