Program Director EPI Center

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)seeksa dynamic growth-oriented science policy leader to take theCenter for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (EPI Center)into its next phase.

The EPI Center bolsters public decisions about the mostimportant issuesof our day byfacilitatingscientific evidences inclusion in a complex process through high-touch high-context dialogue and resources.

The EPI Center advances evidence-informed decision making by:

• Bringing policy-relevant unbiased non-partisan scientific evidence to public decisionmakers at all levels of government;
• Facilitating multi-sector and multi-stakeholder engagements (virtual and in-person) to build trusted relationships between scientists and policymakers to deliver clear actionable and timely information to the people who need it most.

The Centers collaborative engagement model leverages partnerships with nationally recognized civic intermediariesincluding the National Governors Association the National League of Cities the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Council of State Governmentsto reach state and local decision-makers across the political spectrum. To date EPI Center projects have reached over 10000 decision-makers including officials in every state U.S. territory and Washington DC enabling policymakers to more easily access understand and incorporate scientific expertise into their decision-making.

Help us ignite the next era of science.

WhatYoullDo

As the Center enters the next phase of its growth theDirector of the EPI Centerhas ultimate responsibility for setting the Centers long-term strategy and overseeing its day-to-day operations leading a high-performing team of professionals and an ever-growing network of collaborators. This position reports to the AAAS Chief Program Officer and the EPI Center is situated in the programmatic arm of AAAS. The Director will drive the Centers fundraising in close collaboration with the AAAS Advancement team and build support for the EPI Center with a wide range of public stakeholders. The Director oversees the Centers budgetary andfinancial management;representsAAAS broadly; and continuallyidentifiestopics for which scientific evidence and connection to scientists is relevant to include:

• Serves as an energetic team leader determining overall priorities continually refining the EPI Center value proposition in a complex and rapidly changing policy ecosystem.
• Serves as the primary champion and external face for the program to include building partnerships with civic intermediary organizations relevant policymakers and their professional staff scientists and scientific organizations and existing and prospective funders.
• Leads fundraising strategy and activities in close consultation with and with support from the AAAS Office of Advancement including identifying and engaging prospective funders soliciting funding (including grant and contract writing) and managing funder relationships.

• Takes primary program-level responsibility for budget grants and personnel management. Serves as top manager of all Center employees overseeing program-level personnel considerations and decisions including hiring training promotions assessments and short- and long-term adjustments to duties as needed to ensure programmatic success and continuity of operations. Determineresource allocation within the Center andmonitorbudgets on an ongoing basis to ensure timely compliance with funders reporting requirements and AAAS policy and procedures.

• Takes overarching responsibility for the content accuracy and tone of all public-facing communications. Oversee publication and release of reports fact sheets and other written or video deliverables directed toward decision makers and influencers in formats useful to them and responsive to their needs.
• Collaborate and coordinate across AAAS programs to build multi-audience and multi-stakeholder engagement approaches thatoptimizeeffective use of resources and advance the use of science in public decision-making.

• Additionalduties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• ââBachelors Degree in a relevant field (preferred: advanced degree in science public policy or communications-related discipline).

• â10 years of experience in progressively responsible positions in program development and management of science and policy programs in academia government or business. Ideally at least 5 years of demonstrated success in overseeing a complex demanding and mission-oriented enterprise.

• âDemonstrated success in non-profit fundraisingincluding conceptualizing and writing grant proposalsand managing grant activities and budgets. Demonstrated success in scaling non-profitinitiativesa plus.

• âExcellent written and verbalcommunicationsskills. Experience with issues-basedcampaignsa plus.

• âStrongtrack recordwith project management to include experience with project launches development promotion implementation communicationdissemination; personnel management including ideally leading a partially remote team;budget development and financial oversight andcollaborator engagement.

• âSignificant experiencein representationonscientific and public policy issues such as congressional testimony speeches media appearances and writing for publication.

• âStrong understanding of electeddecision-makers and their professional staff as an audience including an understanding of the policymaking landscape at state/local and/or federal levels.

• âDemonstrated success in building andmaintainingmulti-stakeholder networks and partnerships; ability to act as a liaison with scientific engineering civil society private- and public-sector partners; and ability to make presentations to such groups.â

Application Process

Submit aâresume and cover letteroutlining qualifications and interest in the position byOctober 8 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A Recruiter will contact you with next steps if you are selected for an interview.

AAAS is aware of fraudulent messages from individuals and entities falsely claiming torepresentour organization. Please note that all official recruitment communications will come address and all open positions are posted on our Careers page ( AAAS will never ask applicants to provide payment financial information including credit card numbers or Social Security numbers during the hiring process viaan email. If you receive an email claiming to be from AAAS that looks suspicious do not click on any links or open any attachments. Instead please contact us atââbefore responding or sharing any personal information.

Theanticipatedinitialrate of compensation for this position is $185000 $215000âper year.âAAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave paid sick leave paid holidays health insurance flexible spending account dental insurance life insurance vision insurance retirement benefits short- and long-term disability each subject to the terms of the applicable program.Additionalbenefits may apply.

Any actual offer of employment reflecting the total compensation package and benefits will be madeinthe sole discretion of AAAS and will be based on a variety of factors including years of experience depth of experience and other relevant reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sexual orientation gender gender identity national origin age disability veteran status or other protectedcategory. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. No visa sponsorship is available for this position

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Any unsolicited resumes sent to AAAS from a third party such as an agency including unsolicited resumes sent to an AAAS mailing address fax machine or email address directly to AAAS employees or to the AAAS resume database will be considered AAAS property. Verbal or written communications from any employee of AAAS shall not be considered binding obligations. AAAS Human Resources is the only AAAS representative authorized by AAASenterinto any employment agreements with any third party. AAAS will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Required Experience:

Director