As in any field, research and development drives progress but it also necessitates the need for development, adoption, and harmonization of global standards. The interest in standards in the life science community has been an ongoing concern among scientists and policy-makers for decades. Key issues such as food and water safety and increasing the effectiveness of drug discovery and development against major diseases, have made this concern more critical. It is in response to this ever increasing concern that the Global Biological Standards Institute (GBSI) was conceived. GBSI is dedicated to advancing life science standards through policy initiatives, thought leadership, and education.

This non-profit Institute is in the initial stages of development, with a small board of directors and a substantive investment in the startup phase. The Institute will provide a rich forum for stakeholders to advance policies in support of standards development and adoption, as well as offer related educational training.

The Institute will be located in Washington D.C. and is putting the proper legal and governance structure in place to allow the new President to begin in the fall of 2012. The official public launch of GBSI is slated for January 2013.


POSITION AND PRIORITIES

The President will report to the Chairman of the Board of the BioNexus Foundation, a subsidiary of ATCC Global. After the public launch, the President of the GBSI will report to the GBSI Board of Governors.

In the startup stage the President, in concert with the Chairman of the Board, will provide the vision, strategy and overall leadership to launch the Institute. By coming on board in the formative stage of GBSI, the President plays an essential role in shaping the organization from ground zero, and in determining the milestones that will define its success in the next few years.

A key to success for this individual is to understand the nature of startups and be able to work collaboratively with the various stakeholders, particularly the Board Chair, to bring the institute on line.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship with the Board

The President reports to the GBSI Board of Governors and maintains a close working relationship at all times with the incumbent Chair. The President apprises the Board of issues and concerns that may affect the interests of GBSI.

The President provides support to the Board of Governors to include:

• Providing the fundamental interaction and communication with the Board of Governors;
• Providing progress and financial reports as requested;
• Raising issues and questions for Board deliberations;
• Providing information to facilitate Board discussions and decisions;
• Planning meetings, setting agendas and preparing and distributing meeting materials;
• Collaborating with the Board Chair in defining the metrics by which he/she will be reviewed and measured.

Program Initiatives

The President develops the programs and processes to ensure GBSI will provide a rich forum for stakeholders interested in standards, and therefore:

• Develops thought leadership programs to enhance the reputation and impact of GBSI;
• Establishes an Institute that links thought leaders with advocates of life science research to discuss and advance biological standards policy and associated processes;
• Builds and strengthens relationships with the life science research community, government agencies, NGOs, advocates and stakeholders;
• Facilitates the engagement of subject matter experts to serve on advisory councils and address issues relevant to advancing biological standards policy;
• Develops educational programs, conferences, publications, web features and other communications to drive awareness of the need for standards and to educate and solicit expertise from stakeholders and advocates regarding policy issues.

Administration

The President has primary responsibility for providing direction and supervision of all of the operational functions of GBSI to include:

• Developing and implementing a sustainable revenue base that will enable GBSI to expand its mission. Strategies may include establishing a membership program, securing grants and obtaining corporate and private donations;
• Cultivating, maintaining, and tracking contacts with funding entities, corporations and individuals;
• Participating in the annual planning process, preparing the GBSI budget and managing the human capital and fiscal resources allocated to support the goals and objectives;
• Hiring management team and providing leadership, direction and motivation to program staff member(s);
• Ensuring that supervisory responsibilities are carried out in accordance with established policies and applicable external regulations.


EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

An advanced degree in a life science discipline and a minimum of ten years of senior level experience to include strategic and organizational development, policy development related to the importance of standards to the research process is required. It is essential that the incumbent be highly motivated, a self-starter and have demonstrated ability to plan and execute a major initiative. Experience in a public policy setting and forming advocacy groups across multiple constituencies is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent networking, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to interact across scientific disciplines and interest groups and understand their inter-relationships and dependencies;
• Highly organized, able to handle multiple priorities;
• Proven leader, entrepreneur and consensus-builder;
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and use sound judgment.

Core Competencies:

• Business acumen, proven executive management skills;
• Able to engage industry stakeholders, advocates and government officials; demonstrated fiscal, strategic planning and business development skills;
• Understands policy and the means to shape it;
• Understands formulation and promulgation of legislation and regulation.


PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• An individual with a naturally consultative and participative management style who also can act decisively;
• A strong leader who is secure and self-confident, a person of impeccable integrity who engenders trust and confidence in all the constituencies with which he/she will deal;
• Able to strategically manage a complex institution with a hands-on approach to day-to-day operations. A visionary: creative, inspirational and charismatic with the ability to collaborate with, and encourage, the best from others;
• A diplomatic and skillful negotiator with an open-minded, patient and consultative manner, a leader who listens well, bends when appropriate and, yet, is firm and decisive when necessary;
• Emotionally mature, with a sense of humor and the sensitivity to work with diverse personalities.

Please send application, including cover letter and résumé, or nominations to Susan Meade at GBSI@phillipsoppenheim.com.