Senior Director, Long-Range Research Initiative / Applied Science

Together We Talent•Washington, DC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Director of Applied Science and Research to lead a major long-range scientific research initiative focused on chemical safety, emerging scientific issues, and the application of research to regulatory and policy decision-making. This senior leadership position combines scientific strategy, research program management, regulatory science, stakeholder engagement, and international collaboration. The ideal candidate brings deep scientific expertise along with the ability to manage complex research portfolios, budgets, external researchers, and relationships across industry, academia, government, and the international scientific community. Position Overview The Senior Director will oversee all aspects of a long-range scientific research program, including research strategy, project selection, budgeting, contracts, external research partnerships, and the translation of scientific findings into actionable recommendations. The role also serves as a senior scientific resource to internal teams and external stakeholders, helping integrate research findings and data analysis into organizational and policy positions. The position reports directly to the Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs.

Requirements

Master's or Doctoral degree in a scientific or related technical discipline
10+ years of experience within the chemical industry, related industry, or government
Experience managing complex scientific programs or research portfolios
Demonstrated project management experience, including budgeting and resource allocation
Strong scientific data analysis and interpretation skills
Experience evaluating complex scientific studies related to chemical safety and policy
Experience contributing to scientific publications, technical reports, or policy briefs
Experience developing scientific strategies and implementation plans
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
Experience building relationships across scientific, academic, industry, and government communities

Nice To Haves

Doctoral-level scientific training
Background in toxicology, environmental science, public health, or a related discipline
Experience with chemical safety or regulatory science
Knowledge of chemical regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements
Experience with risk assessment methodologies
Experience working with international scientific or research organizations
Experience participating in multinational research initiatives
Experience developing or evaluating research proposals
Research grant or funding experience
Experience managing externally conducted research
Strong science communication skills, particularly translating complex scientific findings for policymakers and non-technical audiences

Responsibilities

Identify emerging scientific issues and research priorities
Develop long-term research strategies aligned with organizational objectives
Establish research goals, methodologies, and implementation plans
Collaborate with subject matter experts to translate scientific findings into actionable recommendations
Apply research findings to improve scientific methods, approaches, and decision-making
Manage the full research program portfolio
Oversee research contracts and consultant relationships
Manage program budgets, resource allocation, and expenditure tracking
Develop and implement approved requests for research and scientific proposals
Manage competitive processes for selecting research projects and external partners
Monitor multiple research initiatives, deliverables, deadlines, and outcomes
Manage a scientific topic committee composed of scientists and science leaders from member organizations, academia, and government
Develop meeting agendas and facilitate discussions around research priorities and emerging scientific issues
Build and maintain relationships with senior scientists and scientific organizations
Engage government agencies, academic institutions, industry scientists, and other external partners
Analyze and interpret complex scientific studies relevant to chemical safety and policy
Apply scientific data and research findings to regulatory and policy considerations
Support evidence-based regulatory decision-making
Translate scientific findings into useful recommendations for internal teams and external stakeholders
Contribute to scientific publications, reports, and policy briefs
Coordinate with international research organizations and scientific groups
Support alignment of research priorities across global initiatives
Develop relationships with international scientists and research organizations
Facilitate collaboration on multinational scientific priorities and research programs
Present scientific strategies, research findings, and recommendations to senior internal and external stakeholders
Communicate with executives and board-level audiences
Translate complex scientific information for technical and non-technical audiences
Provide scientific consultation to organizational leadership and member stakeholders