Chief Science Officer

Break Through Cancer was founded in 2021 to organize and support outstanding researchers and physicians to intercept and find improved treatments for the deadliest cancers by stimulating highly collaborative science. The Foundation is a partnership among five of the top cancer research centers in the world: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Over the past five years, funded teams have grown to include scientists and clinicians from more than fifteen institutions, and Break Through Cancer has invested more than $136 million in its scientific portfolio.

Focused initially on several of the deadliest cancers, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer, Break Through Cancer’s funded project teams create new approaches to tackle long-standing challenges in cancer. They accelerate the pace of drug approval by bringing preclinical and clinical science together to support learning deeply in patients during clinical trials, incentivize radical collaboration between academia and industry, and invest in software and technologies that strengthen data sharing and analysis across institutions. TeamLabs, multi-institutional groups of scientists, clinicians, engineers, and data experts, are the engine behind this model, supported by a cloud-based Data Science Hub that removes friction from real-time data sharing.

Position Summary

The Chief Science Officer (CSO) sets and leads the scientific vision and strategy for Break Through Cancer. The CSO works closely with the President, Leadership Team, Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), and Board of Directors (BoD) to identify high-impact scientific opportunities, build and steward TeamLabs, and convert bold ideas into funded, accountable research programs. The CSO serves as one of the organization’s primary scientific ambassadors, cultivating relationships with academic leaders, industry partners, philanthropic supporters, and the broader oncology community.

The CSO leads the process to determine scientific direction for the organization, and represents Break Through Cancer’s scientific vision, along with the President and Chief Data Officer, to the SAB, the BoD, partner institutions, and the wider cancer research community. The CSO is a member of Break Through Cancer’s Leadership Team.

The CSO also leads the Early Trials Alliance, a membership consortium developed to bring together leading oncology, biopharmaceutical, and life science companies to advance cancer treatment through early clinical trials enriched with deep correlative science and data analysis. The Director of Strategic Alliances reports directly to the CSO.

This is a full-time role, headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with an expectation of four days per week in person. This role reports directly to the President of Break Through Cancer, Tyler Jacks PhD.

Key Responsibilities
• Working closely with the President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Data Officer, Leadership Team, SAB and BoD, direct the overall scientific strategy for Break Through
• Identify bold, high-impact scientific challenges within the organization’s focus areas, and co-design TeamLab programs together with leading researchers at partner institutions.
• Set scientific direction for the Scientific Portfolio Managers as they serve as embedded strategists and connectors across TeamLabs.
• Lead Strategic Alliances, including direct oversight of the Director of Strategic Alliances.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with cancer center directors, department chairs, and principal investigators across the partner institutions.
• Chair the process for identifying, launching, and evaluating TeamLabs, including scientific milestones, funding decisions, and portfolio-level performance.
• Serve as the primary scientific liaison to the SAB, and, together with the President, present scientific progress and strategy to the BoD.
• Champion Radical Collaboration™ across partner institutions, and resolve points of friction around data sharing, authorship, and intellectual property in partnership with the Leadership Team.
• Represent Break Through Cancer’s scientific vision externally, including at conferences, in publications, and with peer foundations and industry partners.
• Partner with the Development Team on fundraising efforts, including participating in individual prospect and foundation meetings, drafting and/or reviewing proposals, and stewardship communications that require scientific depth.
• Partner with the Chief Data Officer on the strategic use of the Data Science Hub to support TeamLab science.
• Identify emerging disease areas and scientific opportunities for future investment, and advise the President and Board on portfolio growth.
• Co-lead the Technology Review Committee comprised of licensing, tech transfer, legal, and grants administration professionals from partner institutions.

Skills/Requirements
• M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant biomedical field; preference given to candidates with clinical experience.
• Significant record of leadership in cancer research, spanning basic, translational, or clinical science.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and drive collaboration among scientists across competing institutions.
• Experience managing a scientific portfolio or grant-making program, including funding decisions and milestone accountability.
• Deep knowledge of the cancer research ecosystem, including academic cancer centers, the National Cancer Institute, and industry partners.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publication and scientific thought leadership.
• Experience engaging boards, scientific advisory bodies, and philanthropic stakeholders.
• Strong project leadership skills, with the ability to translate scientific vision into tactical, fundable programs.
• Team player who thrives in a highly matrixed, multi-institutional environment.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific organizations.
• Demonstrated success building strategic partnerships across academia, industry, and nonprofit sectors.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including donors and non-scientific stakeholders.
• Experience leading organizational change or innovation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success influencing without direct authority across matrixed organizations.

To apply for any open positions please submit a cover letter and CV or resume to careers@breakthroughcancer.org