The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) is a comprehensive cancer research center dedicated to conduct research and drive innovation in the epidemiological, preventive, clinical, translational, and basic aspects of leukaemia and
other hematologic malignancies, with the final aim of finding a cure for these diseases. It was created in 2010, and since then has experienced an exponential growth.
The IJC is also part of the network of Excellence Research Centers of Catalonia (CERCA) and was accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in 2024. Since 2018, the Institute has also been accredited by the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (FCAECC) Additionally, IJC is one of the centers integrated into the Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) accreditation as Accredited Health Research Institute (IIS) by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
The IJC’s main headquarters is located within the Can Ruti Biomedical Campus, alongside other leading biomedical institutions, providing direct access to cutting-edge scientific and technological facilities, as well as complementary community services. The IJC has six locations integrated into reference hospitals: Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Clínic, Hospital Sant Pau, Hospital Trueta, Hospital del Mar and Hospital San Joan de Déu. This facilitates close collaboration between basic and clinical researchers, fostering translational research that integrates basic science with clinical practice in clinical settings.
We are seeking a DIRECTOR for our institute
Main responsibilities
The new Director should nurture a stimulating environment for interdisciplinary and translational research in leukaemia and other hematologic malignancies and define the overall scientific, technological and innovation vision for the institute. The Director should foster an institutional culture encompassing collaboration, communication, integrity, transparency, collegiality and scientific creativity with the ultimate goal to find a cure for leukaemia and other hematologic malignancies.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Defining and managing the IJC Strategic Plan and the research activities program of the institute, submit them to the members of the Board of Trustees and coordinate their execution.
- To guarantee financial sustainability and provide for sources of income (competitive funds, private sponsors, etc.)
- To co-supervise the economic activities of the institute with the Administrative Director and supervise the scientific human resources management, with direct involvement in those issues related to selection or adscription of research positions.
- To develop the scientific career in the institute, assuring transparency and equal opportunities.
- To represent the Institute at official and social events, in coordination with the President and other members of the Board of Trustees.
- To perform any other functions that might be approved by the Board of Trustees
Strategic development and leadership
- To foster a stimulating environment for top research in leukemia and other hematologic malignancies and define the overall scientific and technological vision for the institute.
- To provide leadership and support for the research groups of the IJC and ensure the best conditions and excellence for IJC activities.
- To lead strategic actions aimed at securing the resources necessary for the institute’s objectives.
- Directing, organizing, managing, and executing the research, training and internal organization of the institute.
- Proposing programs of activities, new research lines and, when appropriate, potential sources of funding to the Board of Trustees.
- To keep CERCA and the Generalitat de Catalunya regularly informed of the Institute’s progress.
- To foster value creation through knowledge and technology transfer and other innovation activities.
- To establish and run an internationally competitive research laboratory pursuing research lines aligned with the institute’s mission
- To explore and foster new partnerships on the national and international level that will increase the impact of IJC’s science.
- Being an effective spokesperson and communicator to all key stakeholders including funders, politicians, journalists and others.
- To establish an effective communication with the managers, clinical departments and scientific advisors of the six IJC-associated hospitals and with their respective research institutes
People management
- To endorse and transmit the core values of the IJC (Scientific and Social Ethic, Interdisciplinarity, Equality and diversity, Creativity, Perseverance and continuous improvement and sustainability).
- Providing guidance to all members of the institute, specially to the strategic, technology transfer, academic and technical departments of the institute.
- To support effective training, career development and mentoring at all levels, consistent with the aims of the IJC’s Equality and Diversity programme.
- To create an executive and effective managements structure by appointing an Administrative Director and, if appropriate, intermediate research managers, and scientific advisors.
- Jointly approving the internal rules of operation of the institute with the Administrative Director and in agreement with the Board of Trustees.
- To assure quality monitoring on all levels by overseeing scientific evaluations and participate in the periodic CERCA evaluation of the IJC,
- To engage with the community of research centres within the CERCA System and SOMM alliance.
Director’s Profile
- PhD or comparable degree in Life Sciences and Health.
- Distinguished record of scientific excellence in Biomedicine. Since the IJC has been awarded the Severo Ochoa Accreditation for institutional excellence in 2024, the candidate will need to meet the criteria of scientific excellence defined by the MCIU (see here https://www.aei.gob.es/sites/default/files/convocatory_info/file/2024-06/Convocatoria%20Excelencia%20Severo%20Ochoa%20Maria%20de%20Maeztu%202023_.pdf).
- Previous experience in leukaemia or other hematologic malignancies.
- Leadership experience, maintaining the highest ethical standards, honesty, transparency, and trustworthiness, and valuing diversity, equality and inclusion.
- Communication skills necessary for managing a multicampus research institute.
- Knowledge of strategic planning, resource allocation and human resources management.
- Experience in managing international research projects. Knowledge of international research programs (H2020, NIH, etc.) will be considered as a value.
- Good knowledge of the requirements for clinical research and capacity to connect basic, translational and clinical research.
- Knowledge of the Spanish and Catalan Scientific, Health and University system.
- Professional experience in an inter-institutional environment will be considered as a value.
- Ambition to further develop IJC to a world-wide reference centre for research on hematologic malignancies.
- Positive evaluation in programs of professional excellence in the field of research (ERC, ICREA, etc.) will be considered an added value.
- Interest to develop research activities as senior group leader that are aligned with the institute’s mission.
- Track record of responsibility in research and innovation. Experience in value generation and tech transfer is an added value.
- Proficiency level in English. The candidate should learn Catalan or Spanish in a period of 12 months after starting in the Director’s position.
- Experience in management of research between centres or institutions at different locations will be considered an added value.
- The possibility of immediate incorporation into the IJC will be positively valued.
What we offer
- Initial appointment for 5 years and extension pending confirmation of the Board of trustees.
- Salary, start-up package and space commensurating track-record and expertise.
- The opportunity to contribute to the consolidation and further development of a unique, disease-focused institute.
- Access to the research infrastructure of IJC and its partners including state-ofthe-art core facilities in banking of samples, Microarrays/Optical Genome Unit, bioinformatics, flow cytometry, genomics, proteomics, microscopy and singlecell omics.
- The stimulating environment of the multi-locations institute, Biomedical Campus Can Ruti and the Barcelona metropolitan area.
Selection process
Until 01/12/2024 the call will be opened. Applicants should send their CV, up to 2 recommendation letters + 1 application letter to the Director of CERCA at candidatures@cerca.cat by December 1st, 2024.
15/12/2024: Report of preselected candidates by SAB
Desember 2024- January 2025: Preselected candidates will be asked to prepare a vision statement for the institute and will be interviewed by the selection committee,
composed by members of the board of trustees.