Director of Scientific Affairs (Fully Remote)
Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance
Job Description
Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance is leading the charge to advocate for people with schizophrenia and psychosis disorders. We believe in a cure for schizophrenia. The quest for a cure may take decades, but it is the pinnacle of our research and clinical aspirations. Our mission is to advance systemic change and promote recovery through Research, Education & Care, and Advocacy & Public Policy.
Join us as we work to create a pathway to recovery filled with hope, purpose, and connection.
Role Summary:
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Director of Scientific Affairs to join our team. This role provides strategic leadership and oversight for research, scientific, and care-related functions at S&PAA. The Director of Scientific Affairs ensures that all organizational outputs, including the resource line, support groups, educational programming, communications, and transformative research initiatives, are grounded in the best available scientific evidence and aligned with emerging best practices in the treatment of schizophrenia, psychosis, and related conditions. In addition, the role leads periodically contributes to policy review and development to support system-level change.
This position is fully remote and will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
Principal Functional Responsibilities:
- Research & Data: Direct organizational efforts in collecting, synthesizing, interpreting, and where possible publishing data relevant to patient experience, unmet needs, and health outcomes. Use data and insights to guide prioritization of research program development. Direct implementation of evidence-based methodologies in service programs. Ensure scientific rigor and integrity in all research and evaluative activities.
- Best Practices Strategy: Develop and lead strategy related to diagnosis, treatment, education, and ongoing support for schizophrenia, psychosis, and related conditions. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current science, clinical research, and emerging treatment modalities (pharmaceutical and behavioral). Play a key role in the development and execution of the Center of Excellence, contributing strategic insight and leadership to ensure its successful launch and ongoing impact.
- Collaboration & External Engagement: Act as a subject matter expert, providing scientific expertise to internal colleagues and external audiences. Work closely with S&PAA leadership, medical professionals, patients, and community partners to advance awareness of treatment, resources, and education. Build and maintain relationships with medical professionals and subject-matter experts to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration. Represent the organization at relevant meetings, convenings, and professional forums.
- Care Integration: Provide strategic oversight and leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of care initiatives, serving as a subject matter expert to ensure alignment with evidence-based best practices and the highest standards of care.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Education: M.D. or PhD in psychology, psychiatry, public health, health-related implementation science, or related field preferred
- Experience: 10+ years of relevant work experience, preferably in a nonprofit setting. Clinical knowledge and research experience, mental health/general health related preferred.
Key skills, Knowledge and Personal Characteristics:
- High professional standards and integrity
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication
- Ability to prioritize assignments
- Ability to function effectively within a team environment that promotes collaboration
- Ability to work effectively with external constituents
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
- A sense of humor
- Passion about S&PAA's mission
Key Competencies:
- Communication: Builds and maintains open, transparent and effective lines of communication, within and outside the Organization, to better serve others in all interactions; appropriately tailor written and verbal messages to target audiences.
- Teamwork: Builds and maintains positive working relationships, within and across individual work groups, through open communication and collaboration; works with others to accomplish goals and objectives.
- Service Excellence: Maintains focus on service excellence in all relationships with colleagues, collaborators, and those S&PAA serves; views all interactions as a potential opportunity for demonstrating S&PAA's focus on serving those affected by schizophrenia.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/DE&I: Practices inclusion of those unique human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong; respects and values all people, nurtures open dialogue between those of differing perspectives; and empowers people to express themselves and show an appreciation of others. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at S&PAA includes in addition to the dimensions of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, it also includes socioeconomic status, physical attributes and abilities; political, cultural, and intellectual ideologies and practices.
- Civility: Civility at S&PAA involves treating people with dignity, respect, and courtesy which involves efforts to understand differences and a general awareness of the rights, wishes, concerns and feelings of others. It involves speaking in ways that are respectful, responsible, restrained and principled, and avoiding that which is offensive, rude, demeaning or threatening.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to utilize a phone, computer and screen and other office equipment. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk; or hear and occasionally stand, walk, reach, stoop, or kneel.
Must be able to utilize a phone, computer and screen and other office equipment. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk; or hear and occasionally stand, walk, reach, stoop, or kneel.
Schizophrenia And Psychosis Action Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, homelessness, or military status. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.