Chief Scientific Officer for The Brain Tumour Charity

Closing Date

13 Nov 2023

Salary

Subject to experience

About us

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. They fund pioneering scientific and clinical research, raise awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours, influence policy and provide support and information to those affected. The organisation’s aim is to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumours.

They are committed to saving and improving lives, by moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. They are on an ambitious trajectory to find new treatments, offer the highest level of support and to drive urgent change. The Brain Tumour Charity (BTC) wants to make a difference because they understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour – a cure really can't wait. SCi Partners is proud to be partnering with the Brain Tumour Charity as their chosen, and exclusive, search partner for the key role of the Chief Scientific Office

Their Goals

• Live Longer – Our goal is to double survival by 2030.

• Live Better – Our goal is to halve the harm that brain tumours have on quality of life by 2030.

Their core commitments

• BTC will drive best lifelong care.

• BTC will accelerate cures for all brain tumours.

• BTC will raise their global voices.

Overview of the position

Over the course of the last seven years, under the scientific leadership of David Jenkinson, The Brain Tumour Charity has established many programmes, collaborations and alliances both in the UK and the US, as part of the delivery of the previous and original five-year scientific strategy. Spend on research has grown from c.£3m in 2015/16, to over £6m in 2021/22, and the Research team has also doubled in size, from 3-4 people to 7-8 over the same period. Now two years into the current scientific strategy, David’s successor will steer a more mature operation, building on those relationships and projects, whilst also exploring in more depth the potential of the European research environment.

The Brain Tumour Charity is looking to recruit a new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), with the responsibility of delivering on the research strategy for 2022-2027, Accelerating a Cure, ensuring that the funded research will focus on the achievement of the strategic goals of doubling the survival rate of patients affected by a brain tumour; and halving the harm that brain tumours have on quality of life. To this end, research will be concentrated in three priority areas:

• Creation of new knowledge through investment in great research

• Accelerate new treatments to enable more research to progress to the clinic, by forming a Virtual Biotechnology

  platform to make treatment validation faster.

• Enhance quality of life by ensuring that evidence-based supportive care is embedded into standard care.

Reporting to the new CEO, Dr Michele Afif, the CSO will work with a strong research team to direct and implement research priorities, development policies, objectives, and initiatives with a smart, outcome-orientated, patient- focused approach, leading the strategic involvement in the wider charity and brain tumour research community, as well as guiding the research grant-making function of The Brain Tumour Charity.

In addition, the CSO will oversee the data team – harnessing the power of data to accelerate research, tackle inequality, inform change, empower the community, and maximise impact. It is acknowledged and recognised that identifying potential candidates with both the requisite scientific background in cancer research (the priority), together with substantial data-focused knowledge, will likely be challenging.

Key Responsibilities 

• MD/PhD in a closely related field of scientific or clinical research.

• Proven experience in the clinical research/biotech/pharma industry or allied third sector.

• Track record of taking early drug discovery/translational research projects forward towards the clinic.

• Experience and expertise in neuro-oncology or oncology research.

• Strong leadership skills, the ability to act as an internal champion and working success in leading a team and

  managing complexity to deliver high quality results within tight deadlines.

• Experience of managing financial budgets and an up-to-date knowledge in medical research grant-making.

• High level communication, public presentation, ambassadorial and networking skills with experience of

  international conferences and events.

• Be able to confidently partner and collaborate with external KOLs, thought leaders and experts in academia

  and industry: solid record of establishing, maintaining and developing successful working relationships with

  investigators in neuro-oncology and/or oncology.

• Working knowledge of best practice in the governance of scientific data, clinical research and patient

  information.

• Experience in managing groups of internal and external stakeholders and working in a collaborative

  environment and in a matrix team structure.

• Ability to multi-task and to handle multiple programmes, partners and portfolios - rigorous, autonomous,

  committed and flexible.

• Strong conceptual thinking and innovative skills with an ability to integrate input from diverse fields of

  research and neuro-oncology and oncology drug development.

• Deep empathy, understanding and the dedication to deliver on The Brain Tumour Charity’s mission and goals.

• A creative, open-minded, intellectually curious lateral thinker and energetic team player with a high level of

  enthusiasm and positivity.

• Fully IT literate and numerate with well-developed organisational and administrative skills.

Contact information

Please contact Jane Spillman or Tarquin Bennett-Coles for further information on this influential and important mission led opportunity.

jane.spillman@sci-partners.com

tarquinbc@sci-partners.com

https://scipartners.life/

Tel: +44 (0) 207 630 0200