Director, Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC)

NIH is the center of medical and behavioral research for the Nation

----making essential medical discoveries that improve health and save lives.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director, Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC). OSPC provides leadership in planning, coordinating, analyzing, and evaluating NIDA’s scientific research and research training programs; monitors and analyzes scientific, legislative, regulatory, and judicial activities related to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders; reviews and analyzes national and international policy issues and research findings; and, stimulates interaction and cooperative relations with government agencies (including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that has oversight authority over the NIDA budget), the scientific community, professional associations, the media and a wide variety of stakeholder groups, including those representing patients and their families. OSPC also directs the Institute’s strategic and scientific planning process and coordinates the articulation of federal policy related to research on drug use and addiction.

The OSPC Director leads NIDA's strategic efforts to inform public health policy and practice by ensuring the Institute is the trusted source for scientific information on drug use and addiction. The incumbent serves as the Institute’s lead advisor on strategic planning, national drug policy and legislation, regulations and policy issues affecting NIDA programs; external relations with various NIDA constituencies; and, communication of scientific information on NIDA-supported research. The OSPC Director manages a total annual budget of $6.7M, mostly in the form of contracts, to support the various OSPC responsibilities. To carry out this work, the OSPC Director oversees a professional team of approximately 40 full-time equivalent scientific, administrative, and contract staff.

To learn more about the position, benefits, and application process, please see the full vacancy announcement at https://hr.nih.gov/jobs/search/executive/job-45306. Please submit applications by 11:59 P.M. ET on August 20, 2021 (submission date may be extended).

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