The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking applications from exceptional candidates to be the next director of NIH’s National Library of Medicine (NLM).

NLM is the world’s largest biomedical library that maintains and makes available a broad range of print and electronic resources. Current NLM databases include GenBank, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Following from the recent report of the NLM Working Group to the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director, NLM is also poised to become “the intellectual and programmatic epicenter for data science at NIH and stimulate its advancement throughout biomedical research and applications.”

According to the vacancy announcement,

This position offers a unique and exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader to serve as the chief visionary for NLM and lead all aspects of this highly complex organization. The Director, NLM, is responsible for the management and direction of the world’s largest biomedical library, and will lead the organization in championing data science efforts. Scientists, health professionals, and the general public rely on robust, uninterrupted access to NLM’s digital resources. As an international leader in information innovation, the NLM also supports and conducts computational biology, data science and standards, biomedical communications, and health information technology.

The Director, NLM, serves as the principal advisor to the Director, NIH, concerning matters related to biomedical informatics and access to biomedical information with responsibilities for program planning, implementation and evaluation, keeping the NIH Director abreast of NLM developments, accomplishments, and needs as the relate to the overall mission of NIH. The Director, NLM, maintains continuous contact with outside industry and private interest groups, members of Congress, officials of other Federal agencies, and officials of foreign governments for the purpose of explaining the program, mission, and goals of informatics research and information access at NIH.

Applicants must possess a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctorate degree in a field of health science plus senior-level scientific experience and knowledge of research programs in one or more areas related to biomedical informatics, computational biology, data science and standards, biomedical communications, and health information technology. The individual should be known and respected, both nationally and internationally, within their profession as someone of scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and leadership credentials. They should have demonstrated leadership and broad visionary capabilities in the research arena, with demonstrated ability to engage others to create and execute an organization’s vision; to navigate successfully within and collaborate across the public sector to achieve research objectives; and to optimize organizational performance by developing strategic priorities, setting and communicating clearly defined expectations, promoting accountability for results, and resolving operational problems and issues. Candidates should have demonstrated management acumen, including identification and management of financial and human resource needs; proven ability to make complex and strategic decisions to optimize resource usage, mitigate risks, and achieve desired results; and, the ability to build, mentor, motivate, and maintain a culturally diverse staff.

We believe there may be several excellent candidates among or known by the GSA community, and we encourage you to spread the word to those who may be interested.

Applications will be reviewed starting October 20, 2015, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

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Adam Fagen was formerly Executive Director of the Genetics Society of America.

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