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Careers

Located within the NIH Office of the Director, the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) strives to create a collaborative working environment in which highly qualified professionals work toward ending the HIV pandemic.

The following employment opportunities are open:

To learn more about careers at NIH or across the federal government, visit these pages:

  • 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: NIH 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.

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

Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Deputy Director, Office of AIDS Research (OAR) to help shape the future of the NIH HIV research program and improve the health of people with, or affected by, HIV. OAR coordinates the NIH HIV research program across 3,500 projects in nearly 100 countries.

For more than 40 years, the HIV epidemic has transformed public health and health research worldwide. The epidemic has evolved from a terminal illness to a preventable and manageable chronic condition through antiretroviral treatment. This progress is due in large part to the groundbreaking research funded and led by NIH.

Because HIV crosses nearly every area of health and scientific investigation, the response to the HIV pandemic requires a multi-institute, multidisciplinary, global research program. Within the NIH Office of the Director, OAR ensures that the largest public investment in HIV and HIV-related research in the world is directed at the highest priority areas among the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs). Established by Congress in 1988, the office:

  • Establishes NIH HIV research priorities;
  • Allocates HIV research funds in line with scientific priorities;
  • Manages HIV research across NIH ICOs; and
  • Collaborates with other U.S. government agencies, community groups, and global organizations to end the HIV pandemic

OAR has an annual operating budget of approximately $63 million and a staff of approximately 41 federal employees. The Deputy Director of OAR provides overall day-to-day management of OAR operations and programs and guides a diverse group of government and contract professionals in the office’s efforts to coordinate the NIH HIV research program. The Deputy Director develops and analyzes policies and program initiatives to enhance HIV research objectives that have national and global impact. They provide effective leadership in the implementation of management policies and guidelines. They participate with the OAR Director in establishing goals, objectives, plans, and priorities for OAR, and communicate goals and priorities to staff.

The Deputy Director of OAR provides scientific leadership in areas including policy development and program management for the diverse, highly complex NIH HIV research program; they also provide scientific advice to the NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research on the entire NIH HIV research portfolio across the broad range of scientific disciplines. The Deputy Director:

  • Supervises, directs, manages, and provides leadership to OAR senior scientific and program staff;
  • Leads and coordinates multi-ICO activities to implement new, innovative programs to enhance collaborations as part of White House and HHS initiatives targeting capacity building and infrastructure to conduct clinical studies;
  • Represents the NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research in NIH, HHS, White House, and other federal governmental scientific task forces, meetings, and working groups;
  • Identifies scientific priorities, opportunities, and programmatic gaps in the NIH HIV research program through the development of the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research;
  • Directs OAR scientific staff in developing the scientific components of the Strategic Plan, which informs the worldwide scientific community of NIH HIV research goals, objectives, and strategies; as well as serving as the basis for the development of the annual NIH HIV research budget; and tracking the expenditure of NIH HIV research resources; and
  • Leads and directs OAR senior scientific staff in convening expert panels of non­government scientists, clinicians, and community representatives to assess NIH HIV research programs.

The Deputy Director provides advice to the OAR Director on major extramural policy issues and initiatives affecting HIV research and NIH. The Deputy Director:

  • Maintains current knowledge of NIH extramural research policies and procedures;
  • Continually identifies potential areas of concern or improvement for further consideration by the OAR Director;
  • Maintains knowledge of current and emerging issues, including Congressional concerns and external policy setting activities in other agencies within and outside the federal government that may affect OAR; and
  • Monitors the effects of national policy changes on research activities.

The Deputy Director carries out or directs special OAR program or policy assignments requested by the Secretary of HHS, or by the directors of NIH, the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), or OAR. These assignments involve independent analysis and evaluation of significant problems or questions pertaining to OAR activities, programs, and policies. Analyses may include outlining alternative strategies and options for implementation that become the official response to requests from Congressional committees, the Office of the Secretary, and other external sources. Analysis may become discussion papers on specific aspects of NIH HIV research policy and program development for use by NIH leadership. The Deputy Director:

  • Coordinates the overall development of the $3.3 billion budget for NIH HIV research;
  • Directs and advises the OAR Director and senior scientific staff in the review of ICO Funding Opportunity Announcements, special initiative funding availability, and budget requests; 
  • Provides overall program-related advice to the OAR Director in all scientific areas of NIH-sponsored HIV research; 
  • Develops and offers recommendations to the OAR Director on the level of HIV funding for each ICO based on proposed projects; and
  • Demonstrates thorough knowledge of individual HIV research programs within each ICO and their integration across the NIH to ensure appropriate resources are available for the highest scientific priorities and opportunities in HIV research.

The Deputy Director of OAR maintains a broad knowledge across scientific disciplines. They organize workshops or conferences to seek input from extramural or intramural researchers, synthesize this information, and establish or update scientific priorities and goals for OAR programs, ensuring alignment with NIH ICOs and OARs collaboration efforts. The Deputy Director:

  • Cultivates and maintains relationships with senior scientists within ICOs and AIDS Coordinators (representing ICO Directors on HIV-related issues) to address HIV programmatic and portfolio needs and opportunities across NIH;
  • Engages with ICO extramural, intramural, and review staff to identify scientific gaps and opportunities;
  • Builds partnerships with government officials and academic leaders to foster scientific collaborations, enhance capacity building, and support infrastructure development to further the OAR’s mission; and
  • Directs and organizes panels of leading HIV researchers, community representatives, and experts to identify research priorities, opportunities, and future directions for NIH HIV/related initiatives.

LOCATION: Bethesda, MD

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: NIH seeks candidates with strong scientific and communication skills, and who have a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to help lead a dynamic and diverse organization. Applicants must possess an M.D. and/or Ph.D., or a comparable doctorate degree in a field of health science, plus senior-level scientific HIV research experience and outstanding scientific knowledge of HIV research programs. They should be known and respected within their profession, both nationally and internationally, as individuals of outstanding scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and leadership credentials. Applicants must also have demonstrated experience in setting, planning, implementing, and analyzing program objectives and priorities. They should have demonstrated leadership and broad visionary capabilities in the research arena with proven ability to engage others to develop 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 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 biomedical and behavioral sciences research workforce. The position requires expert familiarity with the NIH HIV research program, including basic and implementation science, and with NIH and/or HHS administrative processes.

SALARY/BENEFITS: The Deputy Director of OAR will be appointed at a salary commensurate with their qualifications and experience, and a full Federal benefits package is available including leave, health and life insurance, retirement, long term care insurance, and savings plan (401K equivalent).

EQUAL OPPURTUNITY 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. NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: NIH 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 on the NIH Ethics Program 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 of 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 United States. 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.

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. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must submit current curriculum vitae, copy of degree, bibliography, and full contact details for five references. In addition, applicants are asked to prepare two statements: a vision statement and a statement that addresses the specific qualification requirements. Please limit each statement to two pages. Send the application package to DeputyDirectorOARApplication@mail.nih.gov.

Information on the OAR is located at its website: http://www.oar.nih.gov/. Please contact Betty Haileleul at Betty.Haileleul@nih.gov for questions and/or additional information.

DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR BIRTH DATE OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON APPLICATION MATERIALS.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 P.M. EST 

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2025

This page last reviewed on December 17, 2024