Executive Advisor for Biomedical Research Partnerships

Executive Advisor For Biomedical Research Partnerships

The Office of the Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences is seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly influential leader to serve as the Executive Advisor for Biomedical Research Partnerships managing the relationship between UCLA and the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy (CIII), potentially other biomedical research partners and David Geffen School of Medicine research in the UCLA Research Park a groundbreaking public-private partnership dedicated to advancing immunology and immunotherapy research.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences & CEO of UCLA Health, this high-stakes, high-impact role will drive the vision for collaboration between UCLA and CIII. The Executive Advisor will lead key initiatives, navigate complex institutional and external relationships, and ensure seamless execution of strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the VC/CEO's designee to oversee the UCLA-CIII relationship and drive long-term strategy.
• Develop and implement systems, policies, and agreements in collaboration with UCLA, UCOP, and external stakeholders.
• Act as a primary liaison between UCLA Health, CIII leadership, faculty, government agencies, and donors.
• Provide executive-level guidance on contractual, financial, legal, and policy matters.
• Engage with faculty, deans, and administrators to establish frameworks for affiliation and collaboration.
• Oversee financial stewardship related to gifts, funding, and resource allocation.
• Lead branding, communications, and donor engagement efforts related to the initiative.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned leader (10+ years of experience) with deep expertise in university operations, faculty engagement, research administration, and external relations. The role requires:

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience required. A law degree (JD) is preferred.
• Proven experience advising executives at the Dean/Vice Chancellor level.
• Deep understanding of UC policies, governance, finance, compliance, and intellectual property matters.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder dynamics across academia, government, and private sectors.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues for diverse audiences.
• Ability to thrive in an autonomous leadership role with 24/7 availability expectations.

Why Join UCLA Health?

This is a rare and prestigious opportunity to shape one of the most ambitious biomedical research collaborations in history. You will play a pivotal role in fostering innovation, attracting top scientists, and positioning UCLA as a global leader in immunology and immunotherapy.