Senior Director, Genetic Surgery Center

The mission of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is to propel the understanding and treatment of disease. We apply deep biological expertise and powerful technologies to accelerate the pace at which the world conquers disease. Through our partnerships with MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, we've become a global hub of cutting-edge biomedical science.

The Broad Institute seeks an accomplished scientific and organizational leader to spearhead the launch and growth of a new initiative, The Center for Genetic Surgeries (CGS). This Center will serve as a national hub for developing, standardizing, and translating genetic medicines designed for individual patients with rare genetic diseases. The founding director will define the Center's vision, structure, and operational model in close partnership with Broad leadership, faculty, and external collaborators. In this position, you will report to David R. Liu (Director, CBTS) with the possibility of evolving reporting structure as the new Center integrates within the larger Broad Institute ecosystem.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set and execute strategy: Lead development of the Center's vision, structure, and operating model, including scientific strategy, staffing plans, and fundraising, in close partnership with Broad leadership, faculty, and staff
• Chart the roadmap for personalized genomic medicine: Leverage extensive biotech experience to define near- and long-term goals that advance the Center's mission
• Provide scientific leadership: Stay current on genomics R&D by attending conferences and program meetings and digesting the scientific literature, and contribute intellectually across Center's programs
• Drive program execution: Organize and lead cross-functional meetings, translate decisions into clear follow-ups, track milestones, risks, and interdependencies across a multi-stage portfolio
• Advise program leads: Guide non-clinical program leads on strategy, resourcing, development plans, and go/no-go criteria
• Build rigorous therapeutic pipelines: Establish best-practice, end-to-end frameworks for individualized genetic therapies (design, manufacturing, nonclinical/clinical translation, and regulatory engagement)
• Set data & translational standards: Define standards and governance that ensure reproducibility, transparency, and effective interaction with clinical and regulatory stakeholders
• Forge external partnerships: Build strategic collaborations with academic medical centers, biotech/pharma, patient advocacy organizations, and Broad platforms to accelerate development
• Develop talent: Cultivate and mentor the next generation of "interventional geneticists," positioning Broad as a national training ground for this emerging discipline
• Integrate external perspectives: Incorporate clinical, regulatory, and industry input to inform translational strategy and de-risk development pathways
• Advance development & fundraising: Identify and cultivate relationships with philanthropic donors, government agencies, and industry partners to support Center priorities
• Represent the Center: Serve as a visible spokesperson internally and externally, articulate vision, impact, and scientific strategy to leadership, partners, and the broader community
• Portfolio management: Oversee portfolio planning and governance to ensure timely progress, risk mitigation, and strategic alignment across programs
• Public leadership: Represent the Center and Broad in high-level scientific, policy, and public forums, advocating for responsible and equitable advancement of individualized genetic therapies

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. in genetics, molecular biology, bioengineering, computational biology, biomedical engineering, or a related biomedical discipline. Non-Ph.D. candidates with substantial directly relevant experience will be considered.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in an academic, non-profit, biotech, or research environment (with a record of increasing responsibility)
• Proven leadership experience in translational research, therapeutic development, and/or academic-industry consortia, including building and guiding multidisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated strategic planning and execution skills; experience leading both wet-lab and informatics product/program development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scientific writing and the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse stakeholders
• Strong organizational and people skills; ability to drive consensus, manage multiple priorities, and handle confidential information with discretion
• Proficiency with standard productivity tools (Microsoft Office and Google Workspace) and an aptitude for learning new applications quickly
• Strong work ethic and ownership mindset across a wide range of responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical laboratory leadership experience, board certification in clinical genetics or a related field is a plus
• Deep understanding of various genetic therapies (base editing, editing, ASOs, etc) with experience in preclinical or clinical translation
• Expertise in NGS data analysis, population genomics, data science, and computational biology
• Track record of securing extramural funding (e.g., federal agencies, philanthropy, or industry partnerships)
• Familiarity with regulatory science, ethical considerations, and data standards for personalized or rare-disease therapeutics
• Substantial scientific writing experience (peer-reviewed publications, grants, contracts, etc)
• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with scientific, clinical, regulatory, and patient communities Visionary mindset to advance individualized therapies and to mentor the next generation of leaders in the field