Director, Applied & Developmental Research Directorate (ADRD)
Job ID: req4638
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Applied & Development Research Program
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
The Frederick National Laboratory is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.
Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Applied Development and Research Program Director provides strategic leadership, oversight, and management of a portfolio of applied research initiatives designed to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions, technologies, policies, or public health interventions. The Director ensures alignment with agency priorities, federal mandates, and stakeholder needs while advancing innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact. This role bridges research, policy, operations, and external partnerships to accelerate implementation of evidence-based solutions.
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBLILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight
- Develop and execute a multi-year applied research and development strategy aligned with agency and departmental priorities.
- Manage a large and complex portfolio of contracts, cooperative agreements, or internal research initiatives.
- Identify emerging scientific, technological, or public health trends and translate them into actionable programs.
- Establish optimal performance metrics and evaluate program outcomes against those metrics.
Applied Research Management
- Oversee funding opportunity announcements proposal review processes and award decisions.
- Monitor scientific and technical progress of funded projects to ensure it meets the standard of the statement of work / task order.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations, ethical standards, and reporting requirements.
- Facilitate translation of research findings into implementation frameworks, tools, or policy recommendations.
- Establish high standards of performance for your direct reports and for their direct reports and hold others accountable for their performance.
- Hold yourself to the same standards of performance and model best practice behaviors.
Budget & Resource Management
- Manage program allocated budgets for respective programs within the remit of the directorate
- Conduct resource planning and allocation to maximize program impact and the allocation of funds.
- Monitor financial performance and ensure stewardship of federal funds through the activities carried out by the directorate
- Take ownership when projects fall to meet their goals and develop and implement mitigation plans while immediately informing your supervisors (Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and the President of Leidos Biomedical Research of the issue.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Collaborate with federal agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health), academic institutions, industry partners, and non-profits to advance the full lifecycle of applied research—from discovery through translation, validation, scale-up, and implementation.
- Serve as subject matter expert and represent the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research at meetings, advisory committees, and national forums.
- Coordinate with internal policy, regulatory, and operational groups to ensure adoption and scale-up of research outputs.
Policy & Regulatory Integration
- Inform policy development through evidence synthesis and program findings.
- Provide regular briefings to senior leadership and government customer stakeholders typically on a weekly or monthly basis.
- Ensure alignment with federal statutes, public health mandates, and administration priorities.
Team Leadership & Development
- Hire, supervise and mentor qualified research staff, as applicable
- Set performance expectations, provide positive and constructive feedback in a timely manner
- Support staff development and promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and respect
- Foster effective teamwork and communication with directorate
- Hold accountable those to whom the directorate head delegates authority to act and assures that those individuals are trained in the delegated functions.
Leveling Descriptor - M5
- Accountable for executing and enabling the strategy set by the business segment management board and integrating policy across several departments
- Provides leadership and direction through Directors, Mgr I, and Mgr II positions
- Accountable for results which impact the entire business segment.
- Functional budget holder
- Is accountable for the performance and results of a large, strategically important function in an extremely large diverse disciplines or departments within a large geography or division, a large, strategically important discipline within a major department
- Develops, adapts and executes functional or departmental strategy to achieve key business objectives in area of responsibility
- Impact is on medium- to long-term functional goals.
- May directly impact the results of several functional areas.
- Decisions are guided by organization and functional strategies and objectives.
- Function manager with broad extensive knowledge of the theories and practices within a functional area and its interrelationship with other functional areas.
- Implementation of solutions often requires a longer-term view, conceptual thinking, devising and applying new concept and solutions, while taking into consideration multiple perspectives and future implications.
- Reconciles multiple stakeholder views, requiring awareness, respect, and the ability to reconcile cultural differences.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:
- Possession of advanced scientific (PhD) or medical degree (MD) from an accredited college/university/medical school according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
- In addition to the education requirement, must have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience including a minimum of eight (8) years as a clinical laboratory manager
- Experience in a federal setting preferred such as prior work in a federally funded research and development center as a contractor or as a government employee at Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, or Federal Drug Administration as examples
- Demonstrated experience managing complex applied research programs or portfolios
- Experience with federal grants management, contracts, or cooperative agreements
- Knowledge of and publication record demonstrating expertise in translational science, implementation science, or technology transfer
- Demonstrated strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a broad group of stakeholders
- Experience briefing senior leadership and external stakeholders
- Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives
- Manage short and long-term functions within budgetary constraints
- Maintains and applies a broad understanding of financial management principles to ensure decisions are fiscally sound and appropriate
- Must possess basic Microsoft Office skills
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICSTIONS
Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:
- Experience within Health & Human Services or other federal health agencies
- Demonstrated record of published applied research or program leadership
- Experience leading cross-sector public-private partnerships
- Certified to oversee Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) laboratories
- Knowledge of regulatory science or health innovation ecosystems
JOB HAZARDS
- This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to animals(s) and/or animal material(s)
- This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, color, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.
219,300.00 - 314,152.00 USD
The posted pay range for this job is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include, but are not limited to, responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as internal equity, and alignment with market data.
The salary range posted is a full-time equivalent salary and will vary depending on scheduled hours for part time positions
