Senior Director, Chemical Safety Research & Policy

Job Title: Senior Director, Chemical Safety Research & Policy
Location: Washington, DC 20001
Salary: $211,629 – $254,000
Position Type: Full-Time/Onsite 

About HV Talent Group

At HV Talent Group, we help talented professionals connect with top employers nationwide. As a trusted recruiting partner to industry-leading organizations, we focus on direct-hire opportunities that align with candidates’ career goals, values, and long-term growth.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Director, Chemical Safety Research & Policy opportunity in Washington, DC. This is a full-time senior leadership position offering a highly competitive salary.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished scientific research leader to shape long-range research strategy, oversee major scientific initiatives, collaborate with industry, academia, government, and international research organizations, and translate complex scientific research into actionable insights that support policy and strategic decision-making.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Long-Range Research Initiative & Applied Science Strategies provides strategic and scientific leadership for a long-range research program focused on advancing scientific understanding and applying research to organizational strategy, policy development, and informed decision-making.

This senior-level role oversees the full lifecycle of research initiatives, from identifying emerging scientific priorities and research gaps to developing strategies, managing budgets and contracts, overseeing competitive research proposals, and cultivating external scientific partnerships.

The Senior Director serves as a senior scientific advisor and works closely with internal teams, industry stakeholders, academic institutions, government agencies, and international scientific organizations. The role requires the ability to evaluate complex scientific research and data and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations that support policy positions, regulatory decision-making, and broader organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Research Strategy & Program Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for the Long-Range Research Initiative and related applied science strategies.
• Identify emerging scientific issues, research gaps, and priorities relevant to chemical safety, science, and policy.
• Develop research strategies, objectives, priorities, and methodologies aligned with organizational goals.
• Lead the development, evaluation, and implementation of approved research projects and scientific proposals.
• Oversee competitive research solicitation and bidding processes, consultant selection, contracts, and project deliverables.
• Evaluate research outcomes and identify opportunities to apply findings to organizational strategy and policy development.
• Coordinate with international research initiatives and scientific organizations to promote collaboration and alignment on global research priorities.

Program & Budget Management

• Oversee all aspects of the research program, including contracts, consultants, budgets, resource allocation, timelines, and expenditure tracking.
• Develop and monitor program budgets to ensure effective resource allocation and successful execution of research initiatives.
• Manage project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve program efficiency, research impact, and resource utilization.
• Ensure research activities are executed effectively and in accordance with approved objectives, budgets, and timelines.

Scientific Leadership & Advisory Support

• Serve as a senior scientific resource and provide expert consultation to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Analyze and interpret complex scientific studies and data relevant to chemical safety, risk, and policy.
• Translate scientific findings and research outcomes into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Apply scientific evidence and research to inform regulatory, policy, and strategic initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging scientific methodologies, approaches, and research to strengthen organizational understanding of complex scientific issues.
• Provide objective, science-based perspectives to support informed decision-making.

Stakeholder & Committee Leadership

• Lead and manage the LRI Topic Committee, including meeting planning, agendas, research priorities, and scientific discussions.
• Facilitate collaboration among scientists and science leaders from industry, academia, government, and other relevant institutions.
• Present research strategies, scientific findings, recommendations, and program updates to senior executives, board members, and other key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior scientists, research institutions, government agencies, and domestic and international scientific organizations.
• Represent the organization in relevant scientific forums, research collaborations, industry initiatives, and professional settings.
• Build consensus and foster productive relationships across diverse scientific, industry, government, and policy stakeholders.

Research Application & Policy Support

• Leverage research findings to support member organizations and broader science and policy priorities.
• Integrate scientific evidence, research findings, and data analysis into policy positions and strategic recommendations.
• Support the development of science-based approaches to regulatory and policy challenges.
• Identify opportunities to apply research findings to emerging scientific and regulatory issues.
• Communicate research results effectively to technical and non-technical audiences, including executives and policymakers.
• Ensure research initiatives contribute to stronger scientific understanding and informed policy development.

Must-Have Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Education: Master’s or Doctoral degree in Science or a related technical field.
2. Industry/Government Experience: At least 10 years of experience in the chemical industry, a related industry, or government.
3. Scientific & Data Analysis: Demonstrated proficiency in data analysis and interpretation of complex scientific studies, particularly research related to chemical safety and policy.
4. International Experience: Experience working with international research organizations or multinational scientific initiatives.
5. Scientific & Chemical Assessment Expertise: Experience with key scientific and chemical assessment programs, processes, and professional venues.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience working with international research organizations or on multinational scientific initiatives.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements relevant to chemical research and safety.
• Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies and their application to regulatory or policy development.
• Advanced training or coursework in toxicology, environmental science, public health, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in science communication, including translating complex scientific concepts and research findings for non-technical audiences, executives, policymakers, or other stakeholders.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary research programs, scientific committees, research partnerships, or external scientific consultants.
• Demonstrated ability to influence strategy, build consensus, and establish trusted relationships with senior scientific, industry, government, and policy stakeholders.

Core Competencies

• Strategic research leadership
• Scientific analysis and interpretation
• Chemical safety and risk assessment
• Research program and budget management
• Regulatory and policy analysis
• Stakeholder and relationship management
• International scientific collaboration
• Executive-level communication and presentation
• Science-to-policy translation
• Project and contract management
• Critical thinking and strategic problem-solving
• Ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly to diverse audiences

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Additional Benefits

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Disclaimer: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. The company reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Equal Employment Opportunity: HireVenture is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Note: The information provided in this job description is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the latest version of the job description available on our website for the most up-to-date information.

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