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Executive Director

  • Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R)
  • Boston, MA

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION.

About PRIM&R

Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research through educational programming, membership services, professional certification, public policy initiatives, and community building. Founded in 1974, PRIM&R has established itself as the primary professional home and trusted thought leader for the human and animal research oversight communities. Today, PRIM&R’s vision is a world in which all who contribute to and benefit from research embrace ethics, welfare, inclusion, and trust, as central to science and medicine.

For more information on PRIM&R, please visit https://primr.org/

The Opportunity

PRIM&R seeks a visionary and forward-thinking Executive Director (ED) to serve as a thought leader to advance PRIM&R’s mission to provide critical research policy expertise, professional development, and education to its community of over 25,000 individuals committed to advancing ethics in science and medicine. As the senior ambassador of PRIM&R, the ED will build upon a legacy of excellence, while developing strategies and programs that will further elevate PRIM&R’s contributions to the field of research ethics and responsibility within the evolving context of the research landscape.

The ED will lead PRIM&R into its next phase of growth and expansion. The ED reports to and works in collaboration with the Board of Directors to set the organization’s strategic direction, manage PRIM&R's resources, monitor the organization's programs and services, and cultivate its relationships with its varied and distinct constituencies. The ED also oversees the operational activities of the organization and serves as its public face, communicating PRIM&R's mission, values, and programs to staff, members, educational program attendees, speakers, the media, and the public.

The ED currently leads a staff of 25 with a leadership team of six direct reports: Managing Director, Senior Director of Conferences and Membership, Director of Public Policy and Education Programs, Director of Marketing and Communications, Associate Director of Professional Development, and the Executive Coordinator, through whom they oversee the organization's financial, operational, marketing and communications, education, public policy, and development activities.

The Executive Director is expected to fulfill the following strategic and operational responsibilities:

Strategic

  • Play a leading role in creating partnerships that expand PRIM&R’s reach and impact, including but not limited to relationships with other leading national research ethics organizations, scientific societies, governmental agencies, industry, and investigator communities. The successful candidate will build partnership strategies and recommendations, rooted in both quantitative and qualitative assessment, that not only speak to the organization’s present goals and values, but also consider future needs. Partnerships and collaboration are key factors in PRIM&R’s reach and success. Therefore, the Executive Director will maintain and increase PRIM&R’s strategic partnerships to leverage synergies, increase resource efficiency, and increase the organization’s visibility and impact.
  • Expand PRIM&R's public presence, reach, and impact, positioning the organization as a source of trusted information about research ethics and oversight for the lay public, and potential future research participants. Serving as the face of the premier organization for research, ethics, and oversight, the Executive Director will extol the importance of ethical practices in research and advocate for the diverse array of professionals who comprise the research and research, ethics, and oversight communities In all they do, the Executive Director will bring a recognition that enhanced messaging on all aspects of PRIM&R will benefit the organization and its members. In relation to this, the next Executive Director will travel nationally and globally to participate in important discourse related to the world of research ethics, both directly and tangentially. They will seek out opportunities to be a thought leader and ambassador for PRIM&R’s mission and vision, including by writing, publishing, and speaking at meetings. The Executive Director will also develop and leverage relationships with the press to increase PRIM&R’s public visibility and in the service of enhancing trust in the research enterprise.

They also will work with a range of partners to support research oversight as a rewarding and important career path with a range of viable opportunities. PRIM&R and its Executive Director must provide a clear message that the organization plays a critical role in research and in society writ large. The Executive Director’s success in consistently communicating this message will be important for PRIM&R to transform from its role in a relatively closed ecosystem to a highly influential organization that is understood and respected by a highly diverse mix of audiences.   

  • Assess PRIM&R’s presence in the marketplace and look for creative and innovative opportunities to expand its outreach around issues pertaining to research ethics. The ED will recognize opportunities and challenges arising for research administrators and advocate on behalf of the discipline and its members to governmental bodies, agencies, and other organizations, both in the United States and abroad. This may take the form of individual actions by PRIM&R or coordinated actions with partner organizations.
  • Identify ways to assess and diversify revenue streams and establish new funding sources as needed to support initiatives, while not losing sight of PRIM&R's mission and values. The Executive Director will protect and ensure the organization’s financial stability for years to come by closely monitoring the financial planning and operations and seeking opportunities for new revenue generation and cost reduction. Moreover, the Executive Director will explore and initiate fundraising efforts. The successful candidate will continue to develop sustainable business models and revenue pipelines to support the organization’s goals and ambitions.

Operational

  • Provide comprehensive oversight and ensure operational efficiency of the organization, including in areas of fiscal management, administration, communications, human resources, and systems.
  • Oversee the staff in translating the organization’s strategic vision into clear, specific actionable objectives and plans.
  • Ensure effective systems to track and evaluate programs and progress toward strategic goals, measuring success in a way that can be effectively communicated to the Board, members, and other constituents, and be used for future planning.
  • Regularly assess the organization’s current operations and programs with an eye to efficiencies and opportunities for sustainable growth.
  • Lead the professional staff, creating structures and providing opportunities for all employees to succeed and grow professionally and thrive as individuals.  
  • Foster a workplace culture, and put in place organizational policies and practices, aligned with PRIM&R's mission, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field.
  • Act as a subject matter expert and advisor for the conference and educational programs, and use knowledge of, and contacts in, the field of research, ethics, and oversight to recruit and cultivate speakers.
  • Develop, engage, guide, and support a strong Board of Directors; seek and build board involvement with strategic organizational goals.
  • Communicate effectively with the Board and provide timely and accurate information necessary for the Board to function properly and make informed decisions.
  • Serve as the primary spokesperson and representative for the organization and its mission to internal and external audiences, as opportunities arise.

 Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $160,000-200,000 plus a bonus compensation structure. The compensation offered will depend on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the candidate. PRIM&R offers a full benefits package, including medical, dental, 401k, generous paid time off, flexible work schedule, summer hours, commuter and home office equipment support, and professional development support. PRIM&R’s office is in Boston’s Back Bay area. Many members of the PRIM&R team currently have flexible work arrangements - hybrid or remote. Work arrangements for the Executive Director are negotiable.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Beth Schaefer, Jim Sirianni, and Laura Bertonazzi of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile.