Fast Facts

Join the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) as the Vice President of Data, leading innovative data strategies to transform biomedical research through AI-driven insights and technologies.

Responsibilities: Define and execute a data strategy, manage a world-class data team, procure and oversee data generation, and establish governance and compliance protocols to support scientific research.

Skills: Extensive leadership in data management, knowledge of biological data types, computational biology, and strong communication skills are essential.

Qualifications: Experience in managing diverse data teams and implementing data governance, with a deep understanding of scientific assays and collaborative research settings preferred.

Location: This position is in Redwood City, California, United States.

Compensation: $363000 - $581000 / Annually

The Team

CZI supports the science and technology that will make it possible to help scientists cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of this century. Our vision is to build the future of science by leveraging advances in AI alongside biomedical research.

Achieving our mission will only be possible if scientists are able to better understand human biology. To that end, we have identified four grand challenges that will unlock the mysteries of the cell and how cells interact within systems — paving the way for new discoveries that will change medicine in the decades that follow:

• Building an AI-based virtual cell model to predict and understand cellular behavior
• Developing state-of-the-art imaging systems to observe living cells in action
• Instrumenting tissues to better understand inflammation, a key driver of many diseases
• Engineering and harnessing the immune system for early detection, prevention, and treatment of disease

CZI’s work in science includes grantmaking programs, open-source software development, and close collaboration with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network. The CZ Biohub Network includes the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York Biohubs as well as the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute. CZI also collaborates with institutional partners like the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural & Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University. Join us in accelerating science.

The Opportunity

CZI’s is hiring a seasoned results-driven leader who will define and execute a scientifically grounded, agile data strategy that fuels rapid cycles of research and discovery at the cutting edge of the AI-driven revolution in biomedical science. They will hire, mentor, and lead a world-class data team that sits at the forefront of data generation capabilities, as well as the translation of data into cohesive, interoperable and widely used resources directed at transforming our understanding of cell biology. 

The incoming leader will also be responsible for data procurement — whether through partnerships, generation, or curation of publicly available datasets — and for establishing scientific data policies, standards, and security protocols in service of our Grand Challenges. They will ensure alignment with CZI’s ethics, compliance, and privacy requirements while collaborating with engineering, product, and scientific teams to integrate data solutions that support ongoing innovation. Externally, they will represent CZI’s data vision in strategic alliances with research partners, philanthropic organizations, and the broader data community.

The Vice President of Data will join our Science Leadership team, reporting to our Head of Science. Their leadership will ensure that CZI remains a global leader in leveraging data to advance biomedical science and change medicine for generations to come. The leader will serve as the connective tissue between experimental data generation and computational modeling efforts, ensuring the initiative builds a data foundation that enables breakthrough biological insights. The Vice President of Data will be a collaborative, forward-looking leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment focused on delivering transformative science.

What You'll Do

Technical Leadership

• Develop a vision and strategy for data as a strategic advantage in CZI's AI leadership in the biological sciences.
• Establish strategy and implementation (i.e., architecture, standards) to ensure CZI's datasets are AI-ready and interoperable across our Grand Challenges.
• Develop and implement data governance frameworks that balance scientific flexibility with the consistency needed for machine learning applications.

Strategic Data Planning

• Establish and iterate on CZI’s data strategy in close collaboration with Grand Challenge leaders, ensuring alignment with scientific objectives and emerging research opportunities
• Identify critical data gaps and prioritize data generation efforts to maximize scientific value and model performance; develop roadmaps for data acquisition that align with both immediate project goals and long-term vision
• Actively procure, generate, and manage high-value datasets, forging partnerships and leveraging publicly available data to maximize research potential.

Quality Infrastructure and Integration

• Oversee the design and deployment of robust data infrastructure, architectures and pipelines that drive data interoperability in the CZI ecosystem and ensure security, scalability, and compliance with regulatory requirements
• Implement robust quality control mechanisms ensuring data reliability across distributed collection efforts; 
• Develop and promulgate metadata standards and integration frameworks that enable cross-species comparison of cell types and biological mechanisms to benefit internal and external scientific communities.

Team Leadership

• The data leader will build and direct a team of data scientists, engineers, and bioinformaticians who interface directly with experimental groups
• Foster a culture that values both scientific rigor and operational excellence in data management that spans molecular, morphological and temporal data such as emerging 4D imaging methods.

What You'll Bring

Technical Expertise

• Extensive leadership experience building and managing diverse data teams (e.g., funding, partnership, engineering, data science, AI/ML specialists) within large-scale, fast-paced, high performance organizations.
• Deep experience with biological data types across omics platforms and imaging modalities
• Strong background in computational biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning applications
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-modal biological datasets, production pipelines in the contexts of AI model development as well as the driving experimental research 

Leadership Experience

• Forward-looking mindset, with the ability to anticipate emerging technologies and translate them into innovative data strategies and products that propel biomedical research forward.
• Experience building and leading a world-class team of data scientists, engineers, and analysts. Ability to identify and mentor top talent in the field, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture that empowers teams to push the boundaries of data science and AI in biomedical research.
• Experience implementing data governance in collaborative research settings
• History of balancing immediate operational needs with strategic vision
• Ability to navigate and unify diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills to promote CZI's progress and discoveries internally and externally. 

Domain Knowledge

• Deep understanding of scientific assays and domain applications necessary to provide robust partnership and oversight to interdisciplinary teams.
• Understanding of comparative biology and cell type conservation across species
• Familiarity with model organism systems and translational research
• Knowledge of current limitations in biological data generation and analysis

Strategic Capabilities

• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, demonstrated by successful cross-functional and external stakeholder engagements, including partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and the broader research community.
• Proven track record of delivering high-impact scientific data products to both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring research teams can readily access, explore, and leverage data assets.
• Ability to make data-driven decisions under uncertainty while maintaining scientific integrity
• Skill in communicating complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
• Experience navigating build-buy-partner decisions for technical infrastructure

Compensation

The Redwood City, CA base pay range for this role is $363,000 - $581,000. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. 

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• CZI provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Annual benefit for employees that can be used most meaningfully for them and their families, such as housing, student loan repayment, childcare, commuter costs, or other life needs.
• CZI Life of Service Gifts are awarded to employees to “live the mission” and support the causes closest to them.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving to the Bay Area
• And more!

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

Explore our work modes, benefits, and interview process at www.chanzuckerberg.com/careers.

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