Director, Scientific Operations & Partnerships

About the role

The mission of the Allen Institute is to understand the principles that govern life, and to advance health. Our creative and multi-dimensional teams focus on answering some of the biggest questions in bioscience. We accelerate foundational research, catalyze bold ideas, develop tools and models, and openly share our science to make a broad, transformational impact on the world.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational coordination and integration across CellScapes scientific programs and initiatives
• Oversee and partner closely with Operational Specialist, Senior supporting operational functions and excellence at the interface of CellScapes with Allen Institute administrative and scientific teams
• Partner closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to help scale organizational effectiveness, alignment, and execution
• Identify and remove organizational and operational bottlenecks that limit scientific progress, collaboration, or decision-making
• Oversee scientific program management team and workflows supporting CellScapes initiatives
• Establish and maintain effective mechanisms for prioritization, communication, accountability, and cross-functional coordination
• Help ensure scientific initiatives move forward efficiently while maintaining a collaborative, mission-driven culture
• Partner with scientific and operational leaders to support strategic planning, implementation, and organizational adaptability
• Facilitate leadership coordination and follow-through across major organizational priorities
• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships across academia, industry, foundations, and the broader scientific community
• Help position CellScapes as a collaborative hub through partnerships, workshops, scientific convenings, and community-building initiatives
• Identify opportunities to expand the reach, accessibility, and impact of CellScapes science, tools, platforms, and collaborative efforts
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific engagement
• Partner with leadership to support dissemination and external visibility efforts aligned with the CellScapes mission
• Cultivate a culture grounded in scientific excellence, openness, respect, accountability, and shared purpose
• Foster an environment where teams feel empowered to move quickly, experiment thoughtfully, collaborate effectively, and take ownership
• Support clear communication, organizational cohesion, and alignment across teams and leadership groups
• Serve as a trusted partner and integrator across scientific, operational, and external-facing functions
• Create organizational structures and processes that enable long-term scalability and sustainability

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent combination of scientific training and leadership experience
• 5-7 years demonstrated experience leading complex scientific, operational, or interdisciplinary initiatives
• Strong operational leadership and organizational management experience
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-moving, evolving, and highly collaborative environments
• Strong systems-thinking, problem-solving, and organizational integration skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution and follow-through
• Demonstrated experience building trust and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders

Qualifications

• PhD and postdoc in biology or related life science field
• Experience working within interdisciplinary or team science environments to achieve time bound milestones
• Experience managing scientific operations, program management, or cross-functional research initiatives
• Experience developing scientific collaborations, partnerships, or community initiatives
• Familiarity with open science and collaborative research models
• Experience supporting organizational growth, transformation, or scaling efforts

Skills

• Operational leadership and organizational management
• Interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Systems-thinking, problem-solving, and organizational integration
• Strategic thinking and operational execution
• Building trust and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Allen Institutes 401k plan
• Paid time off as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide

Pay

$198,850 - $256,950 annually *

* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Schedule

This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Travel

• Occasional travel to partner sites for compliance oversight required
• Occasional local travel to alternate locations such as warehouses or data centers.
• Attendance and participation in national and international conferences

Additional Comments

Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance

Please note, this opportunity offers work visa sponsorship