Careers

Located within the NIH Office of the Director, the Office of AIDS Research strives to create a collaborative working environment in which highly qualified professionals work toward ending the HIV pandemic. NIH OAR is seeking exceptional candidates with diverse skill sets to provide direction on the planning, development, and implementation of NIH HIV research. To learn more about potential positions, please contact us. To learn more about careers at NIH or across the federal government, visit one of the links below:

NIH Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives Careers: OAR is one of the coordinating offices in DPCPSI in the NIH Office of the Director. This webpage lists careers available within these coordinating offices.

Jobs at NIH: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports health research – making important discoveries that prevent disease, improve health, and save lives. This webpage lists careers available across the agency.

USAJOBS: USAJOBS connects jobseekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world. This portal is the federal government’s official employment site.

Associate Director for AIDS Research, NIH, and Director, Office of AIDS Research, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI)

POSITION: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the leadership position of Associate Director for AIDS Research (ADAR), NIH. The ADAR also functions as the Director, Office of AIDS Research (OAR) within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) in the Office of the Director. The ADAR is a national and international leader who serves as the NIH official for establishing agency-wide policies and goals in AIDS research and coordinating the activities undertaken in the performance of this research. The position is established in legislation as a Secretarial appointment, reports to the Director, NIH, and the Director, DPCPSI, and has NIH-wide responsibilities summarized below.

This Title 42 position oversees the world’s largest AIDS research program, that reflects a comprehensive and complex NIH, multi-disciplinary, global program of basic, clinical, and behavioral and social science research on prevention and treatment of HIV infection, its associated co-infections, opportunistic infections, malignancies, and other complications. OAR is the only NIH component that carries out legislatively mandated NIH-wide coordination through a strategic planning and budgeting process to identify cross-cutting initiatives, increase interdisciplinary efforts, and establish a balanced portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research investments across nearly all of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC). This process requires innovation and adaptation to meet current scientific challenges and budget constraints. The position leads efforts to plan, coordinate, fund, and evaluate all NIH AIDS activities through unique authorities, including management of all scientific, legislative, budgetary, public policy, economic, and other health matters relevant to NIH AIDS research across all NIH components. These processes allow the position to adjust and refocus program efforts to meet national and international needs in the evolving epidemic. The position provides authoritative leadership, consultation, and advice to IC Directors in defining the overall short- and long-range scope and direction of AIDS research to be supported by the NIH. The position establishes special initiatives to address emerging issues and new frontiers of AIDS research. The position identifies and sets the scientific priorities for AIDS research which shape and determine the overall NIH AIDS research agenda and budget. More information about the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research can be found at: https://www.oar.nih.gov/hiv-policy-and-research/strategic-plan.

The OAR Director designs, leads, and directs efforts to: develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan establishing scientific priorities and objectives for all NIH AIDS research activities and an annual comprehensive NIH-wide research budget; allocates all appropriated funds for NIH AIDS research activities to the NIH ICs in accordance with the strategic plan; develops the Presidential Professional Judgment Budget for NIH-funded AIDS research; plans, coordinates, and integrates all AIDS research activities across and throughout the NIH ICs; assesses and evaluates all current scientific portfolios to enhance collaboration, minimize duplication, and ensure that research dollars are invested in the highest priority areas of scientific opportunity; develops NIH-wide policies related to AIDS research; supports and maintains the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (OARAC), its related task forces and guidelines working groups; convenes the NIH AIDS Executive Committee; facilitates innovative cooperation in AIDS research between government, industry, and universities; and fosters meaningful interaction and collaboration in international AIDS research activities including with scientific and community groups. The ADAR directs a unique OAR process to collect, track, monitor, and assess all funds allocated to AIDS grants, contracts, research management and support, and intramural projects through a database system coding all projects according to the objectives of the plan. OAR employs over 48 full-time Federal employees and oversees the NIH AIDS budget of approximately $3 billion. The OAR has a FY 2023 estimated operating budget of more than $67 million, the majority of which is used to support unanticipated scientific opportunities by the Institutes and Centers.

The Office of AIDS Research was established in 1988 to plan, coordinate, and evaluate AIDS research and other activities conducted or supported by the NIH. OAR has unique legislative authorities unlike any other NIH entity to plan, coordinate, evaluate, and budget the entire NIH AIDS research program. OAR serves as the principal liaison with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, other Federal agencies, and domestic and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations on behalf of NIH AIDS-related research. OAR serves as a model of NIH-wide planning and management vested with primary responsibility for overseeing all NIH AIDS-related research, and thus allowing the NIH to pursue a united research front against the global AIDS pandemic.

Information about OAR is located at its website: https://www.oar.nih.gov/. Information about the National Institutes of Health is located at its website.

ABOUT THE NIH: As the world's largest medical research facility, NIH consists of 27 Institutes/Centers, including the Clinical Center (an on-site research hospital), the Fogarty International Center, and the National Library of Medicine. NIH's national program of health research and research training is currently funded at more than $40 billion annually. NIH has over 18,000 employees.

LOCATION: Bethesda, MD

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must possess a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctorate degree in the biomedical or behavioral sciences plus senior-level scientific experience and knowledge of research programs in one or more scientific areas related to behavioral and social sciences research. They should be known and respected within their profession as individuals of scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and knowledge of HIV/AIDS policy issues. Candidates should have demonstrated leadership and broad vision in the HIV/AIDS research arena involving dealings with outside groups; serving as spokesperson; planning, program assessment, and analysis of program objectives; resolution of operational problems and issues; and the ability to manage financial and human resources including building, motivating, and maintaining a culturally diverse staff.

SALARY/BENEFITS: The Director, OAR, will be appointed at a salary commensurate with their qualifications. Full Federal benefits will be provided including leave, health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, retirement, and savings plan (401k equivalent). A recruitment and/or relocation incentive may be available; and relocation expenses may be paid.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization. The NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes, as well as agency-specific regulations described at the NIH Ethics website. We encourage applicants to review this information. The position is subject to a background investigation and requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is equivalent to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. We will only accept the completed foreign education evaluation. For more information on Foreign Education verification, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Verification must be received prior to the effective date of the appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: NIH provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation during any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must electronically submit a current curriculum vitae, bibliography (if not included in your curriculum vitae), a photocopy of your doctoral degree, and full contact details for three (3) references. In addition, applicants are asked to prepare three (3) statements: a vision statement; a statement that addresses the specific qualification requirements; and a statement indicating how you have promoted diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and describing your mentoring and outreach activities, especially those involving underrepresented groups in biomedical research (please limit all statements to two pages each). Review of applications will begin on August 28, 2023, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Complete application packages must be submitted to OARdirectorsearch@nih.gov.

Please contact Betina Orezzoli at OARdirectorsearch@nih.gov for questions about the application process or position. Additional information may be found on the NIH HR website.

Do not include your birth date or social security number (SSN) on application materials.

HHS and NIH are equal opportunity employers dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.