Job Posting: Scientific Leadership Opportunities - Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application

Summary

POSITIONS:

• Deputy Director, ORIVA
• Director, Division for Accelerating Innovation in Biomedical Research (DAIBR), ORIVA
• Director, Division of the National Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Test Methods (DNICEATM), ORIVA

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director (OD), is seeking exceptional, visionary scientific leaders for three senior positions within the newly established Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA) in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI). ORIVA is composed of the ORIVA Office of the Director and two divisions: Division for Accelerating Innovation in Biomedical Research (DAIBR) and the Division of the National Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Test Methods (DNICEATM). ORIVA’s functions are to: (1) promote, support, and coordinate research efforts to develop, validate, and apply nonanimal approaches and other innovative technologies to advance human-centered research across NIH; (2) conduct, promote, and coordinate research efforts to systematically identify opportunities to apply 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) to animal models, improving animal welfare, enhancing scientific rigor, and strengthening reproducibility in biomedical and behavioral research; (3) advise the NIH Director, DPCPSI Director, and key officials on matters relating to alternatives to animal models and advancing innovative technologies that model human biology; (4) support the HHS Secretary and the agencies of the Public Health Service on research and regulatory issues related to advancing alternatives to animal models, human-centered research, and their application in protecting and promoting public health; (5) work with Institutes and Centers (ICs) to leverage resources and develop initiatives to support human-biology based science in their strategic planning, intramural research, and grant-making; (6) establish metrics, collect, compile, and report the results of scientific research and spending annually across institutes and centers, to measure progress toward increasing human-biology based approaches and reducing animal use in NIH-funded research; (7) serve as a hub for interagency coordination to advance the evaluation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs); (8) facilitate collaboration between government, industry, NGOs educational institutions and other key stakeholders in nonanimal approaches, innovative technologies, training, and awareness of their translational value; and (9) expand funding opportunities and infrastructure for non-animal approaches.

These positions represent a unique opportunity to shape the future of biomedical research by advancing innovative technologies that model human biology, strengthening reproducibility and rigor, and coordinating NIH-wide and interagency efforts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

Duties

Deputy Director, ORIVA

This position will be located in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Deputy Director, ORIVA serves as the senior scientific and operational leader supporting the ORIVA Director and plays a central role in the planning, coordination, and oversight of ORIVA’s NIH-wide scientific portfolio. The Deputy Director works across ORIVA’s two divisions and with senior leadership throughout NIH to advance innovative human-centered research approaches, reduce reliance on animal models, and strengthen scientific rigor, reproducibility, and translational relevance. The incumbent serves as second-in-command to the ORIVA Director and may represent the Director in high-level internal and external engagements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic scientific leadership for ORIVA programs focused on the development, validation, and application of nonanimal approaches, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and other innovative technologies that model human biology.
• Leading the development of ORIVA research priorities, strategic plans, policies, initiatives, metrics, and reporting mechanisms to expand NIH support for human-centered research and assess progress in reducing reliance on animal models.
• Coordinating scientific activities across DAIBR and DNICEATM and working closely with NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices to develop cross-cutting initiatives and strengthen NIH research investments in NAMs.
• Advising the ORIVA Director and other NIH senior leaders on complex scientific, programmatic, and policy issues and helping prepare special studies, reports, Congressional materials, and scientific policy positions.
• Representing ORIVA and NIH in engagements with HHS, other Federal agencies, academia, scientific and professional organizations, foundations, private industry, advocacy organizations, and international research organizations.
• Providing day-to-day operational leadership for ORIVA, including oversight of scientific, programmatic, administrative, and technical activities; supervision and mentoring of professional and support staff; and management of financial and human resources.
• Working with the ORIVA Director to develop new scientific initiatives, foster extramural and interagency collaborations, engage the scientific community, and strengthen training and career-development opportunities in human-centered and nonanimal research.

The successful candidate will be a highly accomplished scientific leader with broad experience in biomedical research, research administration, scientific policy, and organizational leadership, including prior research or administrative experience related to NAMs. The position requires demonstrated ability to navigate complex scientific and policy issues, build coalitions, lead multidisciplinary programs, and engage effectively with senior scientific and policy leaders nationally and internationally.

Director, DAIBR, ORIVA

This position will be located in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Director, DAIBR serves as ORIVA’s senior scientific leader for innovation-focused biomedical research and is responsible for advancing and accelerating human-centered research across the NIH extramural research enterprise. The Director provides strategic scientific direction for programs focused on the development, validation, and application of innovative technologies that model human biology and identifies emerging scientific opportunities with the potential to transform biomedical and behavioral research.

DAIBR supports extramural research aimed at developing alternatives to animal models and advancing human-centered approaches, including research and training designed to bridge innovative basic science and human medicine. The Division also collaborates with the NIH Office of Strategic Coordination on relevant NIH Common Fund initiatives and works with NIH institutes, centers, and offices and other Federal agencies to advance innovative technologies and research approaches.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing scientific and executive leadership for research programs supporting the development, validation, and application of NAMs and other innovative technologies that model human biology.
• Conducting scientific landscape analyses, identifying emerging research opportunities, and establishing priority areas for NIH investment in transformative biomedical technologies.
• Collaborating with the Office of Strategic Coordination in the design, implementation, and evaluation of NIH Common Fund initiatives focused on advanced nonanimal approaches and human-centered research.
• Developing and implementing scientific and programmatic policies for DAIBR and advising ORIVA, DPCPSI, and NIH leadership on biomedical innovation, emerging technologies, and research strategies.
• Serving as a primary NIH liaison for interagency initiatives involving innovative technologies that model human biology and representing NIH in national and international scientific forums and stakeholder engagements.
• Building collaborations with NIH intramural and extramural scientists, other Federal agencies, academia, professional societies, industry, and other partners to accelerate scientific progress and strengthen coordination across the biomedical research enterprise.
• Identifying research training and workforce-development needs and creating opportunities to expand the community of scientists developing and applying nonanimal and human-centered research approaches.
• Establishing funding priorities and overseeing scientific portfolio and budget management for DAIBR, including extramural co-funding and Research Management and Support resources.
• Providing executive and supervisory leadership for DAIBR scientific and administrative staff.

The successful candidate will have substantial scientific stature and demonstrated expertise at the interface of biomedical innovation, technology development, translational science, and cross-agency collaboration. The position requires the ability to lead large, interdisciplinary research programs; establish scientific investment priorities; influence cross-cutting NIH initiatives; and build effective partnerships across government, academia, industry, and the international scientific community.

Director, DNICEATM, ORIVA

This position will be located in Durham, North Carolina.

The Director, DNICEATM serves as ORIVA’s senior scientific leader for the development, evaluation, validation, and regulatory application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The Director leads NIH activities involving interagency and international coordination of NAMs and provides scientific leadership at the intersection of toxicology, computational science, method validation, regulatory science, and human-centered biomedical research.

DNICEATM provides administrative and scientific support to the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) and its associated workgroups. Additionally, the Division serves as the coordinating body for activities involving the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other national and international organizations involved in regulatory science and test-method evaluation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing scientific leadership and strategic guidance to interagency and international teams developing, evaluating, validating, and promoting the uptake of NAMs.
• Serving as a subject-matter expert in alternative methods toxicology, including in vitro, in silico, computational, and related approaches used to evaluate human health and regulatory questions.
• Leading scientific evaluations of new, revised, and alternative test methods and developing data platforms, computational workflows, and other resources that support their application in chemical and product safety assessment.
• Directing the development and application of computational methods, adverse outcome pathways, systems biology models, data-analysis approaches, and fit-for-purpose assay platforms relevant to human health risk assessment.
• Representing NIH in international validation activities, expert consultations, test-method evaluation working groups, and activities associated with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international regulatory and validation organizations.
• Working across NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, Federal agencies, regulatory organizations, industry, academia, and international partners to ensure that NAMs are scientifically robust and responsive to the needs of U.S. regulators and the biomedical research community.
• Providing scientific program management and executive direction for DNICEATM, including development of scientific priorities, management policies, funding criteria, and operating procedures.
• Directing the preparation of scientific and technical products, including peer-reviewed publications, Federal Register notices, workshop and expert-panel reports, and other scientific communications.
• Providing executive and supervisory leadership for a multidisciplinary workforce with expertise spanning toxicology, computational chemistry, regulatory science, and related disciplines.

The successful candidate will have substantial expertise in toxicology, biomedical science, computational modeling, method development, and validation of regulatory test methods, along with demonstrated experience leading complex scientific programs, multi-institutional collaborations, and international consortia. The position requires exceptional scientific judgment, communication and diplomatic skills, and the ability to work effectively with U.S. and international regulatory and validation organizations.

Who Can Apply

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

NIH seeks candidates with strong communication skills who have a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic organization. Applicants must possess an M.D. and/or Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in biomedical science or a directly related scientific field as well as research experience, management experience, interpersonal skills, and the ability to engage stakeholders. In addition to the qualifications above, candidates should demonstrate scientific expertise and leadership experience relevant to the position for which they are applying. For the Deputy Director, this may include NIH-wide or enterprise-level scientific planning, biomedical research administration, scientific policy, NAMs, program and organizational management, and cross-sector coordination. For the DAIBR Director, relevant expertise may include biomedical innovation, human-centered research, translational science, emerging technologies, extramural research programs, and development and management of large-scale scientific initiatives. For the DNICEATM Director, relevant expertise may include toxicology, regulatory science, NAMs development and validation, computational biology or modeling, in vitro and in silico methods, and national or international test-method evaluation and regulatory activities.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate should be known and respected within their profession, both nationally and internationally, as individuals of outstanding scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and leadership credentials. Applicants must also have demonstrated experience in setting, planning, implementing, and analyzing program objectives and priorities including management of financial and human resources. Ideal candidates will have experience advising senior leadership and shaping scientific policy, managing scientific portfolios and strategic priorities, leading multidisciplinary teams and fostering workforce development, and engaging with academia, industry, regulatory bodies, and global partners. This position will be filled under a Title 42(f) excepted service appointment.

Benefits

Each position will be appointed at a salary commensurate with the selectee’s qualifications and experience, and NIH salary guidelines. Full Federal benefits will be provided, including retirement, health and life insurance, leave, and a savings plan (401(k) equivalent). A recruitment or relocation incentive may be available, and relocation expenses may be paid.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

NIH inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described on the NIH Ethics Program website. We encourage you to review this information. The position is subject to a background investigation and requires the selectee to complete a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Foreign Education

Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is equivalent to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. We will only accept the completed foreign

education evaluation. For more information on Foreign Education verification, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Verification must be received prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Reasonable Accommodation

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit 1) current curriculum vitae, 2) bibliography, 3) copy of degree, 4) full contact information, and 5) full contact details for (3) references. In addition, applicants should provide a three-page statement which includes: your vision for advancing human-centered, non-animal biomedical research; your interest in the position; and your leadership experience and approach to managing complex scientific programs.

Three letters of professional reference may be required at a later date as the recruitment process progresses.

Applications will be accepted from U.S. citizens and non-citizens as allowed by appropriations and statute.

All information provided by applicants will remain confidential and will be reviewed only by officials authorized by NIH.

Email your complete application package and include the position you are applying for in the email subject line, to Betina Orezzoli at [email protected] by the closing date below. Questions about the application process and position may also be directed to Betina Orezzoli at [email protected].

DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR BIRTH DATE OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) ON APPLICATION MATERIALS

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 P.M. ET ON NOVEMBER 7, 2026

DHHS AND NIH ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS