Job Details

Chief Scientific Officer, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute is seeking a visionary and accomplished Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to lead and grow the research enterprise at a top-tier, academic standalone cancer hospital with an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Opportunity Overview

The CSO will be a key member of the cancer programs executive leadership team, responsible for setting the strategic direction of scientific and clinical research, fostering innovation, and ensuring the continued growth and impact of our research programs. This role is a unique opportunity to shape the future of cancer care and discovery. This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer of the CCC James, with a dotted reporting line to the Chief Scientific Officer of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive research strategy that aligns with the cancer programs mission and goals. This includes identifying emerging trends, new technologies, and areas of scientific inquiry that will advance cancer research and patient care.

• Research Oversight: Ensure consistency and alignment across all research activities, including basic science, translational research, clinical trials, and population science. Ensure the highest standards of scientific rigor, ethical conduct, and regulatory compliance. Coordination with and support for the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. The CSO will have an executive level role within the center as a member of the council of scientific leaders.

• Faculty Recruitment and Development: Work with college Deans and department chairs to recruit, mentor, and retain world-class scientific and clinical faculty. Foster a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages broadly interdisciplinary research and professional growth.

• Financial Management: Administer and develop new institutional-scale projects, secure extramural funding (e.g., grants from the National Institutes of Health, foundations), and identify new funding opportunities. Partner with the CCC leadership and finance team to oversee the allocation of resources to support high-impact research projects.

• External Relations: Serve as a key spokesperson for the cancer programs research programs. Cultivate and maintain relationships with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), academic partners, industry leaders, and philanthropic organizations.

• Innovation & Translation: Drive the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. Facilitate partnerships with industry and biotech to accelerate the development of new therapies, diagnostics, and technologies.

• Operational Excellence: Optimize the operational infrastructure of the cancer programs research enterprise, including core facilities, research administration, and IT systems, to maximize efficiency and support scientific productivity. This will include working closely with cancer program leadership.

• Enterprise Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across campus, including the OSUWMC CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, as well as college deans and associate deans for research, to develop research strategy and recruiting top-tier faculty to drive growth, innovation and excellence in cancer research.

• Community Involvement & Partnership: Partner with the James CEO to promote community awareness of The James activities and accomplishments, and to incorporate input from community members through the community advocacy programs or partnering community foundations. This will include activities involved in advancement and fundraising, identifying opportunities for optimizing community engagement, and fostering community-based relationships related to the science of cancers.

Qualifications

• Education: M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. with a distinguished record of scientific achievement and publications, and eligibility for appointment at the rank of Professor.

• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex academic or research environment, preferably within an NCI-designated cancer center or a similar institution.

• Expertise: A deep understanding of the cancer research landscape, including basic, translational, and clinical science.

• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage a diverse team of researchers, clinicians, and administrators. Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.

• NCI Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the NCI designation process and the requirements for maintaining an NCI comprehensive cancer center designation.

The James

As the cancer programs adult patient-care component, The James, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 27 years. With 21 floors, more than 1.1 million square feet and 358 inpatient beds, The James is the third-largest cancer hospital in the nation a transformational facility that fosters collaboration and integration of cancer research and clinical care. To learn more, visit cancer.osu.edu.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.