Program Director, Michelson Prize & Grants

Company Mission:
 
The Found Animals Foundation (FAF) is a cutting edge non-profit organization managed by savvy business and science professionals focused on social entrepreneurship. We are a well-funded start-up organization that takes pride in bringing together great minds from diverse backgrounds in our mission to reduce shelter euthanasia in Los Angeles. Our culture and work environment set us apart from traditional non-profit start-ups and inspire our talented team to create innovative ideas and solutions to complex programs and initiatives.  Our animal-friendly, creative office suites are located on the west side of Los Angeles.
 
In 2008, the Foundation announced the Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology (MPG) Program, consisting of a $25 million prize and $50 million in competitive research funding in pursuit of a single dose, safe and permanent non-surgical sterilant for cats and dogs.  The prize winning product will be taken through regulatory approval and commercialization by the Foundation and distributed to US shelters and international NGO’s. 
 
Job Purpose:

The Director of the MPG Program is responsible for the development, implementation and ongoing management of the Michelson  Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology toward discovery of a single dose non-surgical sterilant in dogs and cats.  This person establishes outreach plans to biomedical research scientists, coordinates activities of the MPG Scientific Advisory Board in reviewing Letters of Intent and Proposals, and monitors research progress of grantees.  The Director of the MPG Program will oversee compliance with procedures for awarding the Michelson Prize, and will coordinate Foundation activities with federal regulation, commercialization and distribution of the successful product.  The person in this position reports to the Executive Director of the Foundation, has two staff members reporting to her/him, and works in close collaboration with the MPG Director of Scientific Research, the MPG Scientific Advisory Board, attorneys in the office of the General Counsel, and other staff members of the Foundation.
 
 
 Duties:

• Manage the Michelson Prize & Grants program’s $3 million+ annual budget;  coordinate annual strategic planning, weekly and quarterly reporting, and metrics monitoring for the program.
• Oversee development of marketing materials and website content for the MPG program.
• Conduct program outreach at national and international scientific meetings; track effectiveness, analyze strategies, and provide recommendations for maximizing the impact of targeted program marketing campaigns to research scientists.
• Communicate program goals and processes to applicants as they progress through submission, review, and award stages for research funding.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Scientific Research and members of the MPG Scientific Advisory Board to achieve rigorous and consistent Letter of Intent and proposal review, grant oversight, and program infrastructure development.
• Provide assistance, as requested, to the Foundation’s Office of General Counsel in grant contract negotiations.
• Monitor grantee compliance with project aims, Foundation Policy for Animals Involved in Research, budget expenditures and appropriate progress reporting for funded grants (20-25 in 2013).
• Coordinate and participate in site visits to (national or international) laboratories of funded scientists (5-6 in 2013) to verify compliance with project aims, Foundation Policy for Animals Involved in Research, budgetary expenditures and previous progress reports for funded grants.
• Oversee Michelson Prize application and review processes, including MPG oversight of Foundation-funded verification of research findings as required for Data Package 2 of the Prize application.  (No Prize applications have been received as of the first quarter of 2013.)
• Coordinate (future) regulatory and commercialization processes for the successful non-surgical sterilant product on behalf of the Foundation, with assistance from appropriate members of the Scientific Advisory Board and Foundation staff.
• Supervise program staff (MPG Program Coordinator, MPG Program Assistant, and volunteers), ensuring efficient and timely completion of duties
• Benchmark and develop best practices as a model grant program.

 
Skills/Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal communications skills with diverse constituents and demonstrated ability to interact with the academic and/or scientific community.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and analytical skills, including report writing.
• Experience and demonstrated expertise in project coordination and management.
• Creativity and a detail-oriented work ethic with demonstrated excellent follow through.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, organized, and to function effectively under stress.
• Ability to travel (national and international) as needed to promote the MPG program at scientific meetings, to conduct site visits at laboratories of grantee scientists, and to travel as necessary for the Prize regulatory and commercialization processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft software applications with emphasis on MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Excel

 
Essential Functions:

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 lbs.
• Rarely lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 
Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or related area required.
• Four years experience in a related field required.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Master of Science Degree, and/or PhD in reproductive biology or a related field preferred.
• Experience preferred in areas such as animal reproduction, endocrinology, pharmacology, research quality assurance, toxicology, federal drug regulatory processes, and/or drug commercialization.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and salary history to: employment@foundanimals.org

In your cover letter, please highlight aspects of your experience that are relevant for this job and why you are interested in working with this organization. 

Applications accepted by Mail:

Human Resources
PO Box 66370
Los Angeles, CA  90066