Senior Manager, Biomedical HIV Science Re-advertisement with updated job description

About the IAS:

IAS – the International AIDS Society – convenes, educates and advocates for a world in which HIV no longer presents a threat to public health and individual well-being. After the emergence of HIV and AIDS, concerned scientists created the IAS to bring together experts from across the world and disciplines to promote a concerted HIV response. Today, the IAS and its members unite scientists, policymakers and activists to galvanize the scientific response, build global solidarity and enhance human dignity for all those living with and affected by HIV. The IAS is also the steward of the world’s most prestigious HIV conferences: the International AIDS Conference, the IAS Conference on HIV Science, and the HIV Research for Prevention Conference.

More information on IAS can be found at www.iasociety.org.

Details of Employment:

The Senior Manager, Biomedical HIV Science will be based in Geneva, Switzerland and report to the Director, HIV Programmes and Advocacy. The position is open-ended and full-time to start as soon as possible.

Purpose of the Position:

The incumbent will lead one of the IAS’s flagship programmes, the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise (“Enterprise”). This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned HIV vaccine scientist ready to play a key role as global convener, facilitator and advocate to ensure efforts continue to bring a safe and effective HIV vaccine to the world.

Following the discontinuation of major Phase III HIV vaccine trials over the past years and in light of the impacts – positive and negative – of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV vaccine science, the Enterprise underwent a strategy review which confirmed the continued need for a neutral convener in the HIV vaccine space to bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, foster collaboration, enable solutions and expand support critical to accelerating discovery, development and future access to an HIV vaccine.

Taking responsibility for the implementation of the Enterprise strategy, the incumbent will provide direction and technical expertise to ensure that the Enterprise attains its stated impacts, namely that the HIV vaccine field is:

• Aligned on a diverse portfolio of innovative vaccine concepts and is positioned to rapidly advance HIV vaccine R&D
• Re-invigorated by a diverse and engaged community of researchers, funders and community advocates from around the world
• Positioned to apply new knowledge, innovations and collaborations from within and beyond the HIV field to advance HIV vaccine R&D.

To do so, the successful candidate will closely monitor the HIV vaccine field and proactively engage with key actors and networks to develop and implement a work plan of convenings, policy development and advocacy actions, with a particular focus on:

• Strengthening links between scientists, and research funders, in North America, Europe and elsewhere
• Bringing the community together to discuss options for advancing or integrating novel scientific findings and paradigms into HIV vaccine R&D efforts
• Engaging with industry, in particular biotechnology innovators working on novel vaccine approaches
• Attracting and retaining diverse talent for HIV vaccine R&D, with a focus on building capacity in the regions most affected by HIV.

The incumbent will be supported by a small team of project managers and support staff and a pool of senior consultants.

Additionally, as a science advisor for the IAS, the incumbent will oversee and provide scientific guidance to strengthen other scientific programmes such as the IAS Towards an HIV Cure Initiative and the IAS Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER), and serve as a science advisor for IAS communications, public affairs, industry and partner engagement, conferences and other events convened by the IAS.

Main Responsibilities:

Line-managing 4-6 direct reports, and matrix managing and mentoring others, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Lead, the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise

• Lead the development and implementation of the Enterprise work plan and associated budgets, providing guidance and mentoring to the Enterprise team to ensure timely and quality delivery against objectives.
• Monitor the HIV vaccine field and engage with key research and development consortia leads, including scientific leads represented in the Collaborative HIV Immunogen Project (CHIP), the leads of African and European HIV vaccine research and development initiatives, and the leads of industry HIV vaccine programs to facilitate information flow among HIV vaccine scientists in different geographies and across various scientific approaches.
• Engage at conferences and scientific meetings to proactively identify the most important needs and challenges in HIV vaccine science, trial design, and product development.
• Conceptualize and convene meetings – in-person and virtual – tailored to different audiences (established and emerging scientists, policy makers, funders, advocates, community, etc.) on latest HIV vaccine science and remaining knowledge gaps, trial design, relevant technologies and infrastructures, etc.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of a communications and advocacy plan, including development of publications and other collateral, to expand awareness of the latest HIV vaccine science and advocate for enhanced investment in HIV vaccine research and innovation, in collaboration with the IAS Communications and Public Affairs team.
• Contribute to concept notes, proposals, outreach and reporting to support resource mobilization and donor relations for the Enterprise, in collaboration with the IAS Development and Partnerships team.

Science Advisor

• Nurture synergistic connections between the IAS’s flagship scientific programmes, providing direct oversight of select initiatives and contributing to the strategic direction of others.
• Provide technical expertise across the IAS, in particular an understanding of product development priorities, practices and principles to help foster field-wide efforts for the conduct of research and innovation, including clinical trials, in an evolving prevention landscape.
• Provide technical input into and strategic guidance on IAS conference programme content, in collaboration with the IAS Conference team.
• Guide scientific engagement with multiple stakeholders on relevant priority issues, involving the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries as well as academic institutions, donor agencies and international organizations, in collaboration with the IAS Development and Partnerships team.

Perform any additional tasks requested by the Director, HIV Programmes and Advocacy.

Academic Qualifications:

• MD or PhD in microbiology, immunology, life sciences, or other related field.

Work Experience:

• A scientific track record in HIV vaccine or prevention research (e.g. immunology, virology, epidemiology etc.)
• At least 10 years’ experience in global health, including in the HIV vaccine field and prevention research
• At least 5 years’ experience in a similar management position
• Experience in building and managing successful relationships with a diversity of stakeholders, including scientists and research networks, members of governments, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, funder, and multilateral organizations
• Experience in project management: including grant writing, budgets and work plans, management of grants and donor relations, and coordination of consortiums
• Although not essential for this position, the IAS acknowledges the value of the experience of living with HIV and will consider this when evaluating applications.

Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of the different aspects of HIV prevention and vaccine research, preferably in an international context
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage individuals in senior leadership positions; this includes the ability to handle complex issues and navigate competing stakeholder priorities with sophistication, confidence, and flexibility
• Strong understanding of product development priorities, practices and principles
• A track record of leadership and an active network of established collaborators
• Strong team management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized, systematic and with strong analytical skills
• Creative and out of the box thinker, with demonstrated track record of problem‐solving and seeking solutions to challenges
• Sense of diplomacy, excellent cross-cultural interpersonal skills
• Ability to self-motivate, propose and implement strategic initiatives in evolving environments
• Ability to travel internationally.

Languages:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with full professional fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.