The University of Virginia, in partnership with Korn Ferry, invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology.

The University of Virginia is a proudly public institution, consistently ranked among the best universities in the United States for excellence and value. Comprised of 12 schools in Charlottesville, the College at Wise in Southwest Virginia, and UVA Northern Virginia representing nine UVA schools in Fairfax and two in Arlington, as well as a comprehensive health system and six pan-University research institutes, UVA advances knowledge and prepares students to be citizen leaders who are guided by empathy, integrity, and truth.

Founded in 1819 as the 10th medical school in America, the University of Virginia School of Medicine – with 20 clinical departments, 9 research departments, and 7 research centers – consistently attracts some of the nation’s most prominent researchers to develop breakthrough treatments that benefit patients around the world. Those research efforts are backed by more than $280 million in grant funding and the staff and faculty that make all of it possible. As part of its mission to provide excellence and innovation in patient care, UVA Health engages talented researchers and trainees, and promotes and facilitates cutting-edge biomedical research.

Playing a broad role in the Commonwealth of Virginia through clinical trials with researchers in the UVA School of Medicine and UVA Health, and a manufacturing center, the University’s Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology (The Manning Institute) will focus and project the University’s commitment to research in biotechnology by promoting collaborative science and establishing a state-of-the-art campus centered on the research, development, commercialization, manufacturing, and patient care of new, innovative cellular, gene, and immuno-therapies. The Manning Institute will provide a confluence of researchers and scientific leaders from all biomedical, engineering, and chemical sciences at the University as well as catalyze innovation and stimulate collaboration throughout the state by bringing together world class researchers in biotechnology who will bring life-changing and life-saving treatments to those who need them the most. The ultimate outcome is to ensure that no Virginian needs to leave the Commonwealth to obtain high quality state-of-the-art health care.

In addition to an extremely generous $100 million donation from philanthropists Paul and Diane Manning, the Institute is being funded by a substantial investment of $100 million to date from the Commonwealth of Virginia and $150 million from UVA – for a total initial investment of $350 million. Under the leadership of Mark Esser, PhD, the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer and Head, the Manning Institute will build on its expertise in biotechnology and is anticipated to foster an “ecosystem of innovation” that will attract biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to what is expected to become a major hub for research and manufacturing centered around UVA’s new state-of-the-art biotech facility. Critical to the success of this Institute is a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will provide day-to-day strategic and operational oversight and expertise for all administrative aspects of the Institute. A national search is underway.

In partnership and collaboration with the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer and Head, the COO of the Manning Institute will be responsible for the Institute’s facilities, operations, technologies, and human resources management necessary to effectively support the Institute’s mission, vision, values, and plans. The COO will play an active role in identifying and creating partnerships with other academic institutions and organizations in the pursuit of the Institute’s goals, and will serve as a spokesperson for the Institute, communicating the Institute’s goals, accomplishments, and plans to appropriate stakeholders, including the government as well as donors. This new leader will have proven and successful experience on the business and operational side of academia, life sciences, and/or technology sectors, an understanding of and commitment to the mission and operations of academic medical centers, and a passion for turning ideas and concepts into companies and products. Finally, this individual will possess strong interpersonal skills and will need to work effectively for and collaboratively with the CSO and Head, a committed board of directors, staff, shareholder organizations, and other important stakeholders in the region.

Korn Ferry is assisting the Manning Institute and UVA with this important recruitment. Please forward, as soon as possible, applications or nominations of appropriate candidates, in confidence, to: tara.vittese@kornferry.com.

******

Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.