Leadership role
Chief Science Officer
The senior scientific executive, leading the research or scientific direction of a research institute, disease foundation or health organization.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO. Authority covers the scientific agenda, research programs and scientific staff or grantmaking.
Core responsibilities
- Sets the scientific strategy and research priorities
- Oversees research programs or funded grants to outside investigators
- Chairs or works with scientific advisory boards and peer review panels
- Ensures research integrity and human or animal subject protections
- Represents the organization to scientists, regulators and the public
- Advises development staff on scientific cases for major donors
How it differs
The VP of Research and Director of Research manage research at a lower level. The Medical Director / CMO leads clinical care, and the Principal Investigator runs a specific funded project.
By organization size
In disease foundations the role mostly guides grantmaking. In research institutes it may lead labs and large federal grant portfolios.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Chief Scientific Officer; Chief Science Officer; Chief Scientist; EVP, Chief Scientific Officer; EVP & Chief Scientific Officer; SVP, Chief Scientific Officer