Director, Safer Chemicals Research Hub

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Overview

The Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale seeks a Director to oversee a multi-institution project funded through a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation focused on developing the underlying data and models to advance the design of molecules that maximize functional performance while minimizing harm to human health and the environment. 

The project, de novo Design for Functional and Safer Chemicals Framework supported by Actionable Intelligence Flows, presents a unique opportunity to integrate knowledge across a wide range of fields (e.g., toxicology, green chemistry, exposomics, high-throughput and high-content data generation, synthetic chemistry, molecular design, quantum chemistry, AI/machine learning) to produce a centralized platform for iterative, safer functional chemical design. 

Working closely with Center leadership and with principal investigators at other grantee institutions, the Director will maintain accountability of research priorities, productivity, and progress, ensuring interoperability of diverse workstreams, and aligning multiple project aims held across multiple institutions to meet the milestone and deliverables schedule. 

This role goes beyond program management to include an intellectual contribution to research direction. The position requires in-depth experience in one or more fields related to the design of safer chemicals, with the ideal candidate having worked at the intersection of several of these fields. 

By aligning the efforts of the diverse disciplines participating in this project and leveraging the expertise of participating teams, this person will help ensure that the project produces not only new knowledge and tools but also a durable, adoptable model for functional and safer chemical innovation that can be scaled and sustained. Some travel is required for this position. 

The Director will work closely with Center leadership as well as with principal investigators at other grantee institutions to maintain accountability of research priorities, productivity, and progress, ensuring interoperability of diverse workstreams, and aligning multiple project aims held across multiple institutions to meet the milestone and deliverables schedule.   

In collaboration with Center leadership and researchers at collaborating institutions, the Director will develop and hold accountable priorities, benchmarks, and shared meanings to align effort across the project. This process will require engagement with technical experts across fields such as toxicology, green chemistry, exposomics, high-throughput and high-content data generation, synthetic chemistry, molecular design, quantum chemistry, and AI/machine learning, and will include the development of infrastructure to ensure technical knowledge interoperability and preservation. 

The Director will act not only as a program manager but also ensure research direction alignment and effectiveness of this collaborative multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary effort.  As such, the position requires in-depth experience in one or more fields related to the design of safer chemicals, with the ideal person having worked at the intersection of several of them. The Director will also be responsible for integrating information from several sub-aims, led by Center leadership and grantee institution PIs, to develop and iterate on a computational pipeline that enables de novo safer chemical design. This may include establishing data schemas and standards and coordinating the interconnection of sub-programs. The process will be iterative and require deliberate versioning and improvement cycles, with the final product including public-facing software tools and documentation. 

The Director will lead efforts to provide education, training, and workforce development across the grantee institutions, including arranging dedicated training or seminars for PhD students, postdocs, and early-career scientists. The role will also support the creation of cross-institutional exchanges to support early-career staff and disseminate knowledge.  This role will also coordinate and maintain effective cross-institution collaboration including coordinating inter-institution PI meetings, working groups, and an annual in-person meeting.   

Finally, the Director will lead the consolidation of progress and status information to communicate project status. This includes creating stewardship reports for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation on specified metrics as well as facilitating public-facing communication about the project.

Program Management and Strategy 

• Lead day-to-day project operations, including work planning, timelines, deliverables, dependencies, accountability, and risk management. 
• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of the project, ensuring that milestones are completed on time, within scope, and within budget. 
• Create and implement timelines and workplans for program research goals. 
• Drive research innovation across the aims of the program with a focus on integrating disciplines of green chemistry, informatics, computational toxicology, and exposure science. 
• Keep up to date with the cutting edge of scientific research related to all aspects of the program. 
• Supervise directions of program research areas and help to prioritize research tasks across institutions.  
• Communicate progress internally and with external partners and stakeholders. 
• Develop priorities, benchmarks, and shared meanings to align effort across the project. 
• Prepare and submit progress reports to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. 
• Facilitate public-facing communication about the project. 
• Travel as needed to support the project (some travel is required). 

Integration of the Program Hub 

• Work with co-PIs and a leadership committee to ensure successful integration, iteration, and capacity building.  
• Coordinate education, training, and workforce development programs including meetings, workshops, seminars, etc. 
• Set up and maintain shared platforms to integrate research areas across the program goals and initiatives. 
• Communicate regular progress within the internal team and maintain consistent documentation. 
• Facilitate regularly scheduled meetings to advance research progress across all program institutions. 
• Engage with External Advisory Board(s) and external stakeholders; prepare materials and synthesize feedback into actionable updates. 
• Coordinate development of training programs and educational materials aligned with the project’s scientific and translational goals. 
• Integrate information from sub-aims led by Center leadership and grantee institution PIs to develop and iterate on a computational pipeline for de novo safer chemical design.  
• Support cross-institutional exchanges that benefit early-career staff and disseminate knowledge across the grantee institutions. 

The anticipated salary range for this position is $140,000 - $165,000.

This is a 2 year fixed duration position with the possibility for extension.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Strategic planning and prioritization, project and program management.

2. High degree of autonomy, initiative, and accountability. 

3. Grant management and funder reporting. 

4. Clear, persuasive, and confident written and verbal communication.

5. Independent decision-making and sound judgment 

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. PhD degree in a related field (e.g. green chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental health sciences, data science, public health).

2. 8+ years of experience in program management, strategy development, and operations.

3. An integrated vision working with multiple external stakeholders; Experience in the field of Green Chemistry and its community; different combinations of work experience and education would be considered. 

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs one or more functional areas within an administrative department of the University and ensure compliance with University policies and procedures. 2. Directs analytic and research support for educational policies and planning and develops and approves administrative policies affecting assigned functional areas of the University. 3. Directs and establishes parameters for major projects for the department and University. 4. Interprets federal policies and regulations and educates staff and administration about regulations, restrictions, and the legal responsibilities of the University. 5. Directs and implements policy and program modifications and develops standards to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. 6. Develops and administers an operating budget for the assigned department consistent with University policies and procedures. 7. Develops cost savings objectives and goals; authorizes major purchases and negotiates contracts that range from routine to complex in nature. 8. Establishes and implements long- and short-range goals for the functional area consistent with University goals and objectives. 9. Directs the development of related automated systems to support the function; determines office policies and procedures for use of automated systems. 10. Directs the evaluation and selection of vendors and negotiates contract details including work steps and pricing with the vendors on behalf of the assigned functional area. 11. Works with internal and external contacts to solve problems that range from routine to complex in nature. 12. Represents the University in discussions and negotiations with various governmental agencies. 13. Directs a staff of exempt and nonexempt employees. 14. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s Degree in related field. Six years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date

11/12/2026

Job Category

Manager

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Leader (27)

Salary Range

$105,000.00 - $174,000.00

Benefits

A general description of the benefits to be offered with this Managerial & Professional position is available at:

Yale Benefits

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

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