Job Title:

Sarah Lawrence College, Director, Genomics Institute

Job Description:

The mission of the Sarah Lawrence College genomics institute (name TBD) is to build a world in which all people have access to the benefits of genetic and genomic science. The institute is an inclusive educational community of individuals committed to the ethical, equitable and effective integration of genomic technologies into society, built on the belief that we can achieve a world where all people have access to tailored, person-centered healthcare. The institute enables this future by building a diverse, compassionate, thriving workforce, creating professional development opportunities, promoting thought leadership, and fostering community among genetics and genomics professionals. Expanding on Sarah Lawrence College’s long history of educating genetic counselors, the institute serves as a center of thought leadership in genomics that trains professionals through a portfolio of continuing education, certificates, and degrees geared towards learners across many stages of their professional journeys. The institute works hand-in-hand with industry and community partners to build cutting-edge academic programs that target workforce-related bottlenecks in the delivery of precision medicine at all stages of the human life cycle. Recognizing the rapid pace of technological change in genomics, the institute also maintains a commitment to lifelong engagement and nurturing of a learning and evolving community, facilitated by continuous engagement with external partners who will advise on the continued evolution of the institute’s educational programming. Most importantly, the institute is deeply devoted to building the diverse workforce capacity needed to improve access to care, reduce health disparities in the delivery of genetic and genomic information, and realize the promise of genomic innovation for all people who stand to benefit from it. The institute will serve as:

• A center committed to thought leadership
• An administrative home for a portfolio of new graduate/professional and non-degree academic programs
• A committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in all programs
• A home for the continuing education of genetic counselors and other genetic and genomic professionals

An academic partner to industry and non-profit organizations across the genomics landscape

Essential Duties Summary:

THE DIRECTOR ROLE Apply your expertise to leading the genomics institute at Sarah Lawrence College with vision, passion, and meaningful outcomes. As Director, you will be the first hire in the institute. It will be your role to develop the proper planning, strategy and team to ensure that the institute meets its launch, partnership and programming goals on the established timelines. You will be building the institute from the ground up and will be expected to create a strategic plan for the long-term success of the institute, communicate that plan to College leadership, and implement that plan. You will have significant autonomy to shape the function of your role as Director and the future of the institute itself, but it will be expected that:

Your short-term (six months) goals will include:

• Formulate a plan to establish the institute as a center of thought leadership
• Participate in a highly public launch in your capacity as the primary public-facing champion for the overall mission of the institute, as well as the efficacy and value of its thought leadership in genomics applications, workforce development and service to the communities of people who stand to benefit from genomic innovations
• Articulate realistic, meaningful, measurable goals for the institute’s diversity, equity, and inclusion work as it relates to larger societal issues in genetics and genomics
• Create a strategy and roadmap for the institute’s initial areas of academic exploration and begin planning first program’s launch
• Identify and establish an initial set of industry relationships and partnerships
• Plan and execute a hiring strategy to build a small team of key institute personnel with a breadth of experience primed to build an innovative center of thought leadership
• Propose an initial plan towards medium-term financial sustainability for the institute
• Identify grant and philanthropy opportunities that will enable to the institute to grow and thrive
• Partner with other areas of the College, including:
  
  • The SLC Genetic Counseling program to build and foster an engaged alumni community to support the growing institute
  • The Strategic Initiatives Office to assess new academic opportunities for new degree and certificate programs
  • Health Sciences and Society Cluster Directors to build academic collaborations
  • The Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to advise on best practices for fulling DEI goals within the institute

Your long-term (one year) goals will include:

• Create a long-term business plan for the institute that allows it to operate sustainably into the future
• Create a plan to scale the numbers of learners who will engage with the institute in different capacities
• Identify and communicate the overall effect the institute will aim to make on society in its first five years of operation

In order to accomplish these goals, as Director you will benefit from:

• Full support from College leadership and the Board of Trustees
• Significant startup funding
• Significant decision-making autonomy in a nimble administrative environment
• The College’s strong brand in genetics and large network of genetic counseling alumni
• An extensive network of well-connected and highly committed external advisors already engaged by the College

Required Qualifications:

WHAT LEADS TO SUCCESS

• Domain expertise. Someone with deep roots in both the applied genomics/genetic counseling space and with experience in higher education
• Comfort with ambiguity. You have a proven track record of success building new programs, breaking from the status quo and building towards a future that is different from today.
• Effective change agent. You build rapport and great working relationships with senior leaders, peers, and external partners and use the relationships you’ve built to drive the institute forward. You are a powerful spokesperson for the institute and its vision and mission.
• People Management. You have the skills to lead a cohesive team with diverse perspectives to effectively launch and manage the program.
• Executes well. You are biased to action and get things done. You account for unknowns and recover from setbacks well.
• Person-centered. You’re personally motivated to drive more ethical, equitable and effective integration of genomic technologies into clinical care. You are naturally empathetic, and desire to understand problems and help people solve them.
• Networked. You have strong connections with companies in the genetics, genomics, life sciences, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, and/or other related spaces, or you possess the ability to build such a network and to create academic-industry partnerships

In launching this institute, we recognize a history of inequality in healthcare. We are committed to challenging the status quo and to leveraging the community of the institute to create a culture of inclusion both within the institute and for all who stand to benefit from genomic technologies. We embrace and celebrate a diversity of perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in genetic counseling, human genetics, or a related healthcare/science field
2. Experience in a genetic/genomic industry role and/or in building strong partnerships with industry
3. Leadership and management experience
4. Intimate understanding of the real-world application and delivery of genetics and genomics

Requirements for Employment:

Effective October 15, 2021, all employees of Sarah Lawrence College must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Exceptions to this requirement will only be considered for documented medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs. Any offers of employment will be contingent on successful completion of a background check and submission of proof of vaccination.

Position Type:

Full Time

Posting Number:

S00252P

Open Until Filled:

Yes