Senior Director, BioInteractive

Howard Hughes Medical Institute•Headquarters, KY

20d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director of BioInteractive provides strategic leadership for HHMI’s nationally recognized science education program, which reaches thousands of classrooms nationwide. Through BioInteractive, HHMI advances the mission of the Science Education Department to transform how high school and introductory college students experience science. In this role, the Senior Director leads the development, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative educational media and resources that make science engaging, accessible, and relevant for students of all backgrounds, experiences, interests, and career aspirations. The position also guides efforts to strengthen professional learning for educators who use BioInteractive materials. The Senior Director is responsible for staffing, budget, and resource planning, and for cultivating a collaborative environment that supports creativity, excellence, and professional growth. This role reports to the Head of Science Education and follows a hybrid schedule of three days in person at our Headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Requirements

PhD in biology or a related field.
At least 15 years of experience in science education, including teaching and curriculum development.
At least 5 years of experience leading project teams.
Experience leading and managing in-house staff and external consultants with diverse skill sets across multiple projects with overlapping timelines.
Knowledge of major science education standards for high school and undergraduate biology.
Understanding of the processes involved in developing multimedia educational resources and professional development.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions in a leadership role.
Experience using online metrics and analytics tools to assess impact and inform planning.
Proficiency with a variety of office tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Professional), Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Survey design tools (Google Forms and SurveyMonkey)

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral or equivalent advanced experience in biomedical research preferred.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Direction: Define and implement a cohesive vision and strategic priorities for BioInteractive that align with HHMI’s Science Education mission.
Collaborate with senior leaders across Science Education to establish shared goals and effective processes.
Lead the development and evaluation of educational resources, projects, and initiatives that support BioInteractive’s role in science education.
Set annual goals and metrics to assess the impact of content production, educator engagement, and website performance.
Serve as executive editor, ensuring that BioInteractive content and communications meet HHMI standards for scientific rigor and educational quality.
Monitor and incorporate emerging technologies and pedagogical approaches relevant to science education, including AI where appropriate.
Program Management: Develop and manage BioInteractive’s annual budget and staffing plan.
Supervise a multidisciplinary team of approximately 28 staff, including four director-level reports.
Support collaboration, accountability, and professional growth within the team.
Other Duties: Collaborate with HHMI Communications to support BioInteractive visibility and outreach.
Explore opportunities to extend BioInteractive offerings through Tangled Bank Studio productions and other HHMI media initiatives.
Represent BioInteractive within HHMI and at conferences, symposia, and panels related to science and science education.
Serve as a liaison to HHMI departments and external partners.