Director, Science Philanthropy Community Lead

Salary Range:
$125,000.00 To $160,000.00 Annually

About the Position

The Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy Pillar is looking for a talented community builder and science professional to lead year-round engagement of our Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) Philanthropy Leadership Collective (PLC), an active, biomedical research funder community.

The Science Philanthropy Community Lead will be responsible for cultivating a vibrant community of private science funders who are dedicated to advancing science and health around the world. You will partner with SPARC leadership and the Milken Institute business development team to build an engaged funder community where members exchange ideas, learn from one another, and co-fund initiatives. You will have the opportunity to help science funders define and elevate their role within the broader philanthropic and research ecosystems, while also strengthening relationships and promoting shared goals over time. We envision a leader capable of aligning people, mission, vision, and resources to foster meaningful philanthropic impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement efforts to deepen and maintain relationships and foster a collaborative learning environment with our SPARC funders, ecosystem stakeholders and prospective SPARC PLC members
• Support activities related to all MI events, including support of the SPARC PLC sessions and developing executive-level materials for members
• Assist with stewardship efforts during SPARC events that involve potential or current funders and funding initiatives, as well as help with creating any necessary executive-level materials
• Co-develop strategies for engagement with SPARC leadership to support unique member experiences and foster relationships within the PLC and with the SPARC team
• Support effective external and internal communication strategies to share news about various health-related projects in our portfolio with our SPARC funders and larger network, including newly published work and events
• Work with the SPARC team on any new initiatives to plan for programming, outreach and engagement
• Represent the Milken Institute and SPARC within the broader scientific and health communities at various industry-specific events
• Contribute to communications efforts to build awareness of key funding opportunities and philanthropy resources for the philanthropic and nonprofit communities
• Occasional travel to relevant events, meetings, and conferences; up to 10%
  Duties as assigned

Requirements

• Masters or Ph.D. in a field of biomedical science with an additional 10+ years of professional experience in community engagement and/or program management
• Proven success in cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and other organizations
• Proven success with development and leadership of community programming and events that foster meaningful connections and participation
• Experience with funding mechanisms and nonprofit structures;
• Engaging and compelling writer with experience communicating scientific concepts for both technical and lay audiences
• Experience in creating and executing a communication strategy for topic-specific member engagement throughout the year
• High intellectual capacity with a curiosity for learning new areas of science, technology, and related fields
• Experience in navigating scientific literature, scientific conferences, and other biomedical research resources
• Personal attitude that includes being outgoing, entrepreneurial, action-oriented, flexible, with a willingness to adapt to changing situations and having a good sense of humor

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Washington, DC office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.

This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. International along with domestic travel is possible. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan – 403b (5% match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Fertility Support
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Pet Insurance Discount
• Training & Development:
• LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
• Annual Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
• Employee Assistance Program
• CALM app membership