Director, Awards

The New York Academy of Sciences; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Personal and career development stiped

Generous paid time off

Job summary

The New York Academy of Sciences seeks a Director of Awards to oversee and grow its portfolio of prize programs, including the Tata Transformation Prize and Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. You will lead a multidisciplinary team from nominations through gala events.

Working with Marketing, Operations, and Advancement, you will promote programs, secure funding, and implement dissemination products. This role supports expansion into new fields and career stages.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (Medicine and Biology, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Engineering).
• At least 5-7 years of experience in scientific leadership, program management, or partnership development.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple complex initiatives, budgets, and cross-departmental teams.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills; able to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across science, academia, government, and industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic vision for the scientific awards portfolio aligned with the broader awards, fellowships, and conferences portfolio.
• Manage day-to-day program operations to meet objectives, schedules, and budgets; flag challenges and adjust resources as needed.
• Contribute to growth by identifying opportunities for process improvement and alignment with the Academy’s mission.
• Collaborate with the Advancement team, SVP Scientific Programs & Awards, and Chief Scientific Officer on outreach and fundraising.
• Oversee or support program renewals and budgets with Finance.
• Plan and execute awards ceremonies, symposia, jury meetings, and other events in the U.S. and internationally.

Skills

Excellent relationship-building, commu

Strong analytical, financial, problem-

Experienced leading teams

Project management skills

Engagement with diverse stakeholders

Education

Ph.D. in relevant scientific discipline

Job description

About the New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.

Job Title

Director, Awards

Department

Awards

Reports To

SVP, Scientific Programs and Awards

Summary

The Director of Awards will oversee, maintain, and help grow the Academy’s portfolio of scientific award programs including the Tata Transformation Prize and Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists from development through execution. Manage a team of multidisciplinary PhD scientists to successfully deliver all elements of the Awards cycle from nominations to selection to gala ceremonies globally. Collaborate with the Academy’s Marketing, Communications, and Operations teams, external vendors, and Advancement staff to promote, fund, create dissemination products, and execute program events. As the Academy expands its Awards portfolio to include new prize programs supporting scientists across diverse fields and career stages, the Director, Awards will provide key conceptual, program management, coordination, and implementation support to help advance this growth.

Essential Duties

• Support Academy leadership in developing and advancing the strategic vision for the scientific awards portfolio, ensuring alignment with the broader awards, fellowships, and conferences portfolio. Help communicate portfolio goals, priorities and strategic direction to the Awards Team.
• Manage day-to-day program operations to ensure the portfolio is on track to meet objectives, schedules, and budgets; flag potential challenges and recommend adjustments to resources as needed; ensure compliance with contractual and funder requirements.
• Contribute to the growth and development of the Awards portfolio by identifying opportunities for process improvement, enhanced representation, and alignment with the Academy’s broader mission.
• Collaborate with the Advancement team, the SVP Scientific Programs & Awards, and the Chief Scientific Officer on outreach strategies and fundraising efforts to sustain and expand Awards programs.
• Oversee or support program renewals.
• Develop budgets in partnership with the Finance team; track expenses against budgets, prepare forecasts, and help ensure proper approvals and compliance with Academy guidelines.
• Plan and execute awards ceremonies, symposia, jury meetings, and other events in the U.S. and internationally, ensuring high-quality program delivery and smooth execution, in collaboration with the Academy’s operations team and external production companies.

General Responsibilities

Strategic Contributions & External Engagement

• Develop a strong understanding of the Academy, its mission, and programs, and contribute scientific and programmatic insights to help shape mid- and long-term goals.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with a broad network of researchers, organizations, and institutions across academia, government, and industry.
• Support sponsor relations by maintaining regular communication with representatives, assisting in the stewardship of current programs, and contributing to efforts to secure resources for new and expanded initiatives.
• Support fundraising and partnership development by identifying opportunities for collaboration and new stakeholder engagement that can support the growth and innovation of the Awards portfolio.

Program Management & Operations

• Ensure compliance with Academy policies, internal controls, and funder requirements, including financial and data reporting obligations.
• Manage budgets, identifying potential gaps, and coordinating with Finance and sponsors to address financial commitments.
• Track progress against defined goals and develop metrics to assess portfolio performance; highlight challenges or bottlenecks and recommend solutions.
• Keep senior leadership informed of programming milestones, risks, and opportunities through timely and clear communication.
• Support the planning and oversight of the judging process, including judge recruitment and selection, while upholding the highest ethical and procedural standards.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of application, evaluation, and selection policies and procedures, incorporating best practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and objectivity.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to promote Awards programs globally and encourage diverse, high-quality applicant pools.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Director will directly manage and oversee the day-to-day activities of multidisciplinary, PhD-trained scientists and measure performance and deliverables in accordance with the Academy’s performance management process.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (Medicine and Biology, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Engineering).
• At least 5-7 years of experience in scientific leadership, program management, or partnership development in academia, industry, government, publishing, or nonprofit/NGO sectors.
• Demonstrated success in program management, including sponsor stewardship experience and identification of expansion opportunities.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple complex initiatives, budgets, and cross-departmental teams.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills; able to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across science, academia, government, and industry.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities, coupled with integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to the Academy’s mission.
• Experienced leading teams and mentoring people.

Work Schedule and Environment

The Academy operates during standard business hours Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm ET. Standard work week is 35 hours, unless otherwise noted.

The Academy offers a flexible hybrid work model, which includes a combination of in-office and remote work. Specific in-office days are determined in coordination with the team and leadership. Flexibility is offered where possible, but regular in-person collaboration is required to support team effectiveness and project goals.

This role requires domestic and international travel (2+ trips per year) within the U.S., India, and/or Europe and other locations as needed.

The role is primarily sedentary and performed in a professional office environment. Employees are regularly required to sit or stand for extended periods, communicate effectively, and occasionally walk, bend, or lift light items (up to 10 pounds).

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $110,000- $125,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. The salary listed represents a target range; final compensation will be determined based on multiple factors, including experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, the Academy offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes affordable health insurance, a retirement plan with matching employer contributions, a personal and career development stipend, as well as generous paid time off policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The New York Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination, on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. This includes, but is not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Academy is also committed to making good faith efforts to recruit applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, including those historically underrepresented in the sciences.

Reasonable Accommodations

The Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].