Director, Scientific Operations & Partnerships

alleninstitute; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 198,850 - 256,950; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Visa sponsorship

Job summary

The Allen Institute is seeking a Director of Scientific Operations & Partnerships to lead and scale the CellScapes initiative. This role focuses on organizational integration, cross-functional alignment, and external partnerships to accelerate interdisciplinary science and scalable operations.

The ideal candidate will combine operational excellence with leadership, relationship-building, and scientific curiosity, driving momentum across programs while fostering an open, collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent leadership experience.
• 5–7 years leading complex scientific, operational, or interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Strong operational leadership and organizational management experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational coordination and integration across CellScapes programs and initiatives (CellScapes).
• Oversee and collaborate with Operational Specialist and senior support functions at the interface with Allen Institute teams.
• Partner with Executive Director and leadership to scale organizational effectiveness and execution.
• Identify and remove bottlenecks that limit progress, collaboration, or decision-making.
• Oversee the program management team and workflows supporting CellScapes initiatives.
• Ensure prioritization, communication, accountability, and cross-functional coordination.

Skills

Operational leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Systems thinking

Education

Advanced degree in a scientific discipline

PhD and postdoc in biology or related field

Job description

Director, Scientific Operations & Partnerships – Cell Science

The mission of the Allen Institute is to understand the principles that govern life, and to advance health. Our creative and multi‑dimensional teams focus on answering some of the biggest questions in bioscience. We accelerate foundational research, catalyze bold ideas, develop tools and models, and openly share our science to make a broad, transformational impact on the world.

The mission of the Allen Institute for Cell Science is to create multi‑scale visual models of cell organization, dynamics, and activities. Our approach encompasses large‑scale data collection, observation, theory, and predictions to understand cellular behavior in normal and pathological contexts. As a division within the Allen Institute, the Allen Institute for Cell Science uses a team‑oriented approach, focusing on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a transformational impact on science.

We are seeking a Director, Scientific Operations & Partnerships to help lead and scale the next phase of the CellScapes initiative — a long‑term effort to understand how cells organize into functional multicellular systems and apply this understanding to engineer the programmable tissues of the future.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role focused on enabling ambitious, interdisciplinary science through organizational integration, operational coordination, and ecosystem building. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and serving as a key member of the CellScapes leadership team, the Director will help drive scientific momentum across programs, strengthen cross‑functional alignment, build external partnerships, and support the continued evolution of CellScapes as a collaborative scientific hub.

The ideal candidate is an emotionally intelligent and system‑oriented leader who combines operational excellence with strong relationship‑building skills, scientific curiosity, and the ability to create clarity, momentum, and cohesion in complex and fast‑moving environments.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone — and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

Scientific Operations & Organizational Leadership

• Lead operational coordination and integration across CellScapes scientific programs and initiatives
• Oversee and partner closely with Operational Specialist, Senior supporting operational functions and excellence at the interface of CellScapes with Allen Institute administrative and scientific teams
• Partner closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to help scale organizational effectiveness, alignment, and execution
• Identify and remove organizational and operational bottlenecks that limit scientific progress, collaboration, or decision‑making
• Oversee scientific program management team and workflows supporting CellScapes initiatives
• Establish and maintain effective mechanisms for prioritization, communication, accountability, and cross‑functional coordination
• Help ensure scientific initiatives move forward efficiently while maintaining a collaborative, mission‑driven culture
• Partner with scientific and operational leaders to support strategic planning, implementation, and organizational adaptability
• Facilitate leadership coordination and follow‑through across major organizational priorities

Partnerships & Scientific Ecosystem Development

• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships across academia, industry, foundations, and the broader scientific community
• Help position CellScapes as a collaborative hub through partnerships, workshops, scientific convenings, and community‑building initiatives
• Identify opportunities to expand the reach, accessibility, and impact of CellScapes science, tools, platforms, and collaborative efforts
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific engagement
• Partner with leadership to support dissemination and external visibility efforts aligned with the CellScapes mission

Culture, Communication & Team Effectiveness

• Help cultivate a culture grounded in scientific excellence, openness, respect, accountability, and shared purpose
• Foster an environment where teams feel empowered to move quickly, experiment thoughtfully, collaborate effectively, and take ownership
• Support clear communication, organizational cohesion, and alignment across teams and leadership groups
• Serve as a trusted partner and integrator across scientific, operational, and external‑facing functions
• Help create organizational structures and processes that enable long‑term scalability and sustainability

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Advanced degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent combination of scientific training and leadership experience
• 5‑7 years demonstrated experience leading complex scientific, operational, or interdisciplinary initiatives
• Strong operational leadership and organizational management experience
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship‑building skills
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast‑moving, evolving, and highly collaborative environments
• Strong systems‑thinking, problem‑solving, and organizational integration skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution and follow‑through
• Demonstrated experience building trust and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders

Preferred Education and Experience

• PhD and postdoc in biology or related life science field
• Experience working within interdisciplinary or team science environments to achieve time‑bound milestones
• Experience managing scientific operations, program management, or cross‑functional research initiatives
• Experience developing scientific collaborations, partnerships, or community initiatives
• Familiarity with open science and collaborative research models
• Experience supporting organizational growth, transformation, or scaling efforts

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Travel

• Occasional travel to partner sites for compliance oversight required
• Occasional local travel to alternate locations such as warehouses or data centers.
• Attendance and participation in national and international conferences

Additional Comments

• Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance
• Please note, this opportunity offers work visa sponsorship

Annualized Salary Range

$198,850 - $256,950 *
* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Benefits

Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.