Chief Scientific Officer

Organisation/Company Human Frontier Science Program Organization Research Field All Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 30 Jan 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Other Type of Contract Extra Information Initial three-year fixed-term contract, renewable once for a maximum further period of three years Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

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Offer Description

The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) is seeking a Director of Awards/Chief Scientific Officer to coordinate its scientific strategy, international portfolio of research support and engagement with the international scientific community. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished life scientist, or a researcher working in a discipline at the interface with the life sciences, to strengthen the leadership for HFSPO’s scientific mission.

ABOUT US

HFSPO is a unique organization supporting frontier interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative basic research in the life sciences. It is supported by 17 Members, comprising 16 countries and the European Commission. Since 1990, more than 8,500 researchers from over 70 countries have been supported. Of these, 31 HFSP awardees have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.

HFSPO is implementing its Strategy 2024–2032, which sets a path for strategic and organic growth and development of the Organization. HFSPO aims to strengthen its core programs supporting frontier research, improve the integration of scientists from all Member countries, diversify its membership, deepen engagement with research communities worldwide and develop new opportunities for frontier science.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Secretary-General and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the incumbent leads and coordinates the implementation of HFSPO’s scientific strategy and the continued evolution of all HFSP Programs, ensures the excellence and integrity of peer review and award management processes, and oversees the assessment of scientific outcomes and impact.

The position also provides scientific and strategic support to the wider HFSP community, including engagement and outreach activities, representation of HFSPO at scientific meetings and support for the Secretary-General in developing the Organization’s profile across a diverse range of stakeholders. The role calls for a leader with many years of research experience in the life sciences, a clear strategic vision for HFSPO, expertise in research funding and outstanding leadership qualities.

Job Description:

Scientific Leadership, Strategy and Innovation

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• Coordinates and leads the implementation of the HFSPO Strategic Plan and ensures that funding programs and scientific activities evolve in line with its objectives.
  
• Conceives and develops new funding programs and scientific initiatives for HFSP.
  
• Develops and improves HFSP’s funding, peer review and scientific evaluation approaches to identify and support frontier, interdisciplinary research, ensuring rigorous assessment and selection.
  
• Leads horizon scanning to identify emerging developments in research funding and the wider scientific environment, including artificial intelligence, research integrity and security, and the growing influence of geopolitics on science, and assesses their implications for HFSPO.
  

Programs, Evaluation and Scientific Impact

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• Oversees all HFSP Programs, including Research Grants, Fellowships, Accelerator, S4S and any future programs.
  
• Provides oversight of the annual award cycles and ensures the scientific excellence, integrity and consistency of HFSPO’s peer review and selection processes.
  
• Advises on and resolves complex scientific or program-related cases that may have significant implications for HFSPO's reputation, policies or established practices.
  
• Commissions periodic external evaluations of HFSPO’s Programs and scientific activities, ensuring independent assessment of their relevance, design and effectiveness to identify improvements.
  
• Oversees the ongoing internal assessment of outputs, outcomes and impact from HFSP-funded research, ensuring that qualitative and quantitative evidence informs scientific strategy and program development.
  
• Supports the Secretary-General in providing clear, evidence-based scientific reporting to HFSPO’s governance bodies, Members and other relevant stakeholders.
  

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