Career Center

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as the Chief, Data Ecosystems Branch (DEB), Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology (CBIIT).  The NCI is the principal agency of the Federal Government for cancer research and for carrying out the National Cancer Program.  CBIIT accelerates cancer research by empowering scientists and clinicians with the data and informatics tools they need to drive their research and ensures research data are optimally managed and the right technologies are available when needed.  DEB oversees the strategic vision, development, and operation of data and analytic infrastructure resources supporting integration and secondary use of data from intramural and extramural NCI programs.  For more information about CBIIT, go to https://datascience.cancer.gov/about.

The Chief, (DEB), manages the activities of the DEB, in support of the informatics and data science needs of the Intramural and Extramural Divisions of NCI to include complex data science and biomedical informatics development and implementation solutions to ensure findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of cancer research data. A flagship program within the Data Ecosystems Branch is the Cancer Research Data Commons (CRDC). In addition, the Branch Chief has the following responsibilities:

• Serve as an authoritative expert on data science and data ecosystems and function as a key resource for national and international researchers who use NCI’s data ecosystem, products, and services.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, and consultation to the Associate Director for Informatics and Data Science, the CBIIT Director, the NCI Director, and other NCI senior management officials and scientists regarding data science and informatics programs, projects, initiatives, and policy.
• Oversee nine Federal Staff as well as contractors assigned to support the Branch with an annual adjusted budget of greater than $31M.
• Represent the DEB, CBIIT, and NCI on scientific planning and priority-setting committees, trans-NIH and interagency committees, panels, advisory groups, and public/private sector work/task forces and committees with the authority to concur or non-concur on decisions, plans and matters regarding CBIIT’s scientific program and policy issues.

The successful candidate will be an innovative leader on a broad range of evolving data and analytic infrastructure resources and related emerging data ecosystems technologies as applied to cancer research.  

 Position Qualifications:

• Candidate must possess a doctoral level degree in biomedicine or a biological related field, or a medical degree, or a doctoral or master’s level degree in engineering, bioinformatics, or a related or emerging field.
• Candidate must meet U.S. Office of Personnel Management educational and qualification standards for the scientific discipline directly related to their position and must furnish proof that they meet all educational (i.e., official transcripts) and other (e.g. licensure, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(ECFMG)).
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the application of concepts, practices, requirements, and policies of biomedical informatics, data and analytic infrastructure, and related emerging technologies for cancer research.
• Experience leading and overseeing the development of data infrastructure, platforms, and knowledge-based solutions; recommending digital solutions using predictive modeling and analytics; coordinating biomedical informatics and emerging technology programs; and designing databases to manage data from emerging biomedical technologies.
• Leadership experience in supervising staff, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and overseeing complex biomedical informatics contracts.
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary groups in developing biomedical informatics and data ecosystems strategies and initiatives.
• Experience in establishing successful partnerships with a broad range of agencies and non-federal organizations.
• Experience in establishing and implementing guiding principles and policies for data aggregation, federation, integration, and harmonization.
• Leadership experience in managing a highly visible national data ecosystems research programs is highly desirable.

 Salary/Benefits: The successful candidate will be appointed under the Senior Biomedical Research and Biomedical Product Assessment Service (SBRBPAS), a Title 42 authority, at a salary commensurate with experience. A full package of benefits is available, including retirement, health and life insurance, long term care insurance, annual and sick leave, and a Thrift Savings Plan (401K equivalent). A recruitment or relocation bonus may be available, and relocation expenses may be paid. The successful candidate may be subject to a background investigation and public financial disclosure requirements.

Location of position will be as advertised but may be negotiable with certain participating program areas after selection and an onboarding period. If a remote opportunity is negotiated, the selected individual may work anywhere in the United States, including onsite at NCI's campus in Rockville, MD and the salary will be based upon the locality pay of your work site as determined by law. Work sites outside of the U.S. are prohibited. Remote employees must adhere to all regulations and policies regarding remote work at NIH and in the federal government, including the signing of a remote work agreement.

Vaccination Mandate:  As a condition of employment, all federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. During the onboarding process, if selected, you must provide proof of vaccination. An official job offer and continued employment is contingent on this requirement. For more information on this requirement, visit the Safer Federal Workforce page on vaccines. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit Vaccines.gov.

How to Apply: Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae, bibliography, and full contact details for three references. In addition, applicants must prepare a cover letter of interest that outlines your qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for emerging data ecosystems technologies in cancer research. Submit your application at https://service.cancer.gov/nci-scss.do#/  This position is open from December 9, 2021 to February 14, 2022.

You may contact Kelly Barch at kelly.barch@nih.gov for more information about this vacancy.

HHS, NIH and NCI are Equal Opportunity Employers