Executive Vice President, Co-Director of Allen Institute’s Neural Dynamics Accelerator

Job description

Executive Vice President, Co-Director of Allen Institute’s Neural Dynamics Accelerator

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The goal of the Neural Dynamics accelerator is to understand how the brain generates flexible behavior. We aim to uncover the algorithms—implemented by dynamics in brain-wide neural circuits—that allow animals to build internal models, process information, and choose actions.

Neural Dynamics is searching for a visionary scientific leader with a background in collaborative neuroscience, and strong competency in scientific administration and operations to serve as Executive Vice President and Co-Director. Reporting to the Allen Institute President and Chief Executive Officer, this role will co‑lead the scientific vision, act as a strategist and planner, manage diverse stakeholder input to execute a long‑range strategic plan and will be the single point of accountability for the people, administration, and operations.

As the successful candidate, you should bring proven leadership capabilities, capacity to keep Neural Dynamics at the cutting edge of the next era of science and innovation, skill in leading multidisciplinary research programs, and sound judgment of scientific ideas. You should be driven by a passionate curiosity about the world, desire to find new ways into hard, unsolved problems, ability to interact with a wide range of people to elicit their best ideas and foster a culture of psychological safety and belonging. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, team‑oriented, highly regarded scientifically, and focused on contributing to the long‑term success of the Institute’s major research endeavors.

Distinguishing Characteristics

You are a thoughtful and respected scientific leader with a compelling vision for neuroscience research

You bring deep expertise and scientific credibility in neurobiology and disorders of the brain

You are passionate about mentorship, collaboration, and the development of innovative scientific teams

You are energized by the opportunity to drive open science in service of broad scientific impact

You can constructively manage conflicts, facilitate dialogue, and negotiate win‑win solutions to resolve healthy disagreements and promote harmony within teams

You have a high level of emotional intelligence enabling effective communication, fostering trust, and inspiring employees - ultimately resulting in a positive organizational culture

You are an exemplar of ethical leadership demonstrating an unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity and values‑based decision making

You have the capacity to inspire, motivate, and guide team members toward achieving common goals, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment

You are results‑driven with a demonstrated ability to lead people toward formulating and meeting organizational vision, mission and goals

You are nimble and responsive to new opportunities and landscape changes

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly. We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

People Leadership and Talent Development

Foster a collaborative, high‑performing scientific culture that emphasizes rigor, innovation, and inclusion

Mentor and guide research staff, including group leads, postdocs, and early‑career scientists

Supervise the scientific and operational teams and foster their growth and development

Co‑lead the Program Management team with Operations Lead to establish, coordinate, and maintain cross‑team alignment towards achieving research priorities and scientific goals

Scientific and Technical Leadership

Co‑lead the strategic research agenda across core areas: Advance understanding of how large groups of cells connect into neural circuits, process information and generate cognition and behavior

Monitor and manipulate spikes with high specificity to open up new avenues for understanding the neural underpinnings of behavior

Combine cutting‑edge tools for recording electrical activity, such as Neuropixels probes, with reagents for identifying and perturbing specific neuronal cell types in living brains

Develop and advance technologies to support neuroscience research. This includes creating innovative tools and infrastructure to monitor and manipulate neural activity, as well as designing systems for data acquisition and analysis -their work is essential for advancing our understanding of how neural circuits function and how they can be influenced to study behavior and cognition

Map connectivity between defined cell type across the brain

Measure and control brain function using optical devices and light‑sensitive molecules

Develop mathematical and computational models to understand how neural circuits process information and generate behavior

Accelerate scientific discovery by creating a best‑in‑class open, reproducible, and scalable platform for scientific data storage, analysis, and sharing. This team manages data standardization, automated processing, analysis infrastructure, and sharing

Advise the scientific leadership team in the development of overall strategy and goals

Support the development and implementation of tools, data resources, and standards to accelerate discovery

Partner with other scientific leaders and teams across the Institute to drive cross‑disciplinary projects

Promote and support open science through data sharing, publications, and external engagement

Represent the Allen Institute at national and international forums and serve as a thought leader in neuroscience

Work with the scientific leadership team and Allen Institute executive leadership team to coordinate collaborative research, translation, and outreach efforts

Development of tools and infrastructure to make data accessible and useable to the broader scientific community

Pursue funding opportunities and collaboration across internal and external teams to accelerate discovery and impact

Administrative and Operational Oversight

Operationalize goals, milestones and timelines, through leadership of the accelerator’s scientific and operational teams with the support of an operations lead

Provide oversight of budget management and forecasting and achieving operational efficiency towards deliverables

Lead the annual goal setting process, working closely with the scientific Co‑Director, the Operations Lead and program managers to implement and monitor performance metrics

Proactively monitor and identify at‑risk deliverables, transparently communicate issues, and work with stakeholders to identify options and implement mitigation strategies

Collaborate with the Allen Institute Legal team in developing an Intellectual Property strategy

Secure external funding and collaborate with philanthropic, academic, and industry partners to amplify impact

Partner closely with the scientific leadership team and Allen Institute Communications team, in planning, preparing and successfully executing Scientific Advisory Board meetings, as well as completing Annual Reports and Annual Budget Reporting

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent in neuroscience, bioengineering, computer science, or a closely related field

12+ years of relevant post-PhD experience in scientific and/or technical leadership role(s)

15 years of research leadership with a strong track record of scientific achievement

7+ years of experience in leading operational efforts around research

7+ years of direct or indirect supervisory/management experience; building, leading and working across large research programs in nonprofit, academic, industrial or institutional settings

Direct experience and successful record undertaking and managing multi‑disciplinary and/or matrixed and integrated scientific programs of complexity and scale

Understanding of diverse research relationships, operational frameworks, and research networks

Expertise in two or more of the core focus areas

Demonstrated ability to lead large research initiatives and mentor diverse scientific teams

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage with varied audiences

Preferred Education and Experience

Strong external partner relationship management skills working across disciplinary, geographic and cultural boundaries

Understanding, appreciation for, and experience with, open science principles and practice

Thoughtful partnership and emotional intelligence abilities to productively influence thinking and decision making across diverse initiatives and stakeholders

Ability to work with abstract ideas and situations across various functional areas of the business/Institute operations

Bold leadership and ability to think strategically to advance programs and initiatives

Work Environment

May enter laboratory environment, including potential exposure to lasers, biohazards

Physical Demands

Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment; repetitive motion with lab equipment

Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or reach

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis. We are a Washington State employer; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Travel

The successful applicant may be invited to attend occasional national and international conferences

Additional Comments

**Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance**

**Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorship**

Annualized Salary Range

$349,950 - $519,750 *

* Final salary depends on required education for the role, experience, and level of skills relevant to the role, along with work location, where applicable.

Benefits

Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide:

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

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Worksite address

seattle, WA, 98127, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.