Director, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior - National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Job Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB). NIDA's mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug misuse and addiction. This charge has two critical components. The first is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination of research results to improve practice and inform policy related to drug misuse and addiction. DNB’s mission is to discover, facilitate, and promote outstanding basic animal and human research on both behavioral and brain aspects of drug use and addiction, to identify the causes and consequences of drug use disorders and addiction across the lifespan, and to provide the scientific foundation for treatment and prevention strategies of drug addiction.

The incumbent of this position serves as the Director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB), which is one of the six Divisions/Centers comprising NIDA’s organizational structure. The DNB Director is one of the top five senior leadership positions that directly reports to and advises the NIDA Director. The incumbent provides scientific executive leadership, direction, and vision for NIDA’s basic neuroscience and behavioral extramural research program of national and international scope focused on (1) the neurobiological mechanisms of substance use and addiction and (2) the effects of illicit drugs on brain function through integrated research programs in genetics, systems neuroscience, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, chemistry, neuropharmacology, and HIV/AIDS-related neuroimmunology. To carry out these responsibilities, the DNB Director identifies emerging as well as underrepresented basic science research priorities; expands the scope and breath of the basic science portfolio; provides scientific merit review of a broad range of research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for the Institute; develops an interdisciplinary scientific portfolio by collaborating with other Divisions and experts across NIDA, NIH Institutes/Centers (ICs), government, and private organizations; and promotes NIDA’s basic neuroscience and behavioral research agenda by representing the Institute at national and international conferences.

The DNB Director provides managerial leadership and direction of four research branches, Genetics, Epigenetics, & Developmental Neuroscience Branch (GEDN), Integrative Neuroscience Branch (INB), Chemistry & Pharmacology Branch (CP), and Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Branch (BCN) with cross-cutting themes spanning across all branches including Data Science, HIV/AIDS, and Sex Differences. The Division Director has line authority of the Division Deputy Director, branch chiefs (4), program officers (3), and administrative support staff (1), provides administrative oversight of other program officials (15), analytical (3) and support staff (2), and oversees the Division’s annual budget totaling $325M. In addition to managing the Division's programs, initiatives, staff, and resource allocations, the Director actively participates in and represents NIDA on several internal and external activities including the NIDA Advisory Committee, NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term ® (HEAL) Initiative, federal committees, workgroups, internal review groups, and editorial boards (e.g., Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies ® (BRAIN) Initiative, NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, and Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research). As a recognized national leader and expert in the field of basic neuroscience and behavioral research, the Division Director must maintain scientific expertise over a wide spectrum of basic science related to drug use and addiction.

Required Qualifications

The National Institute on Drug Abuse seeks candidates who have a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic and diverse organization.  Applicants must possess an M.D., and/or Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a discipline relevant to neuroscience, substance use disorders, or other relevant health sciences.  The successful candidate must have highly developed management skills, exceptional communication skills, and strong multi-dimensional leadership skills and experience administering a large and diverse major research program to advance cutting-edge science in the areas of basic neuroscience and behavioral research having national and international collaborations, scope, and impact. The successful candidate must also be a nationally recognized expert in the neuroscience of drug misuse and addiction, providing leadership across interdisciplinary and broad research programs in basic science. These programs span the basic neurosciences, from genetics to behavioral and cognitive research. The incumbent’s ability to work across ICs and with different scientific agencies is an essential component of their work as a scientific executive.  Additionally, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position will be filled under a Title 42 (f) excepted service appointment.