Company Description

The Jackson Laboratory (“JAX” or “the Laboratory”) is a non-profit world leader in mammalian genetics and human genomics research. Founded in 1929 in Bar Harbor, Maine, JAX is an independent, non-profit research institution with locations in Maine, Connecticut, California, and Japan.

Renowned for its mice and data resources used for biomedical research around the globe, JAX provides a unique bridge across experimental, translational, and clinical contexts. JAX’s faculty collaborate to integrate mouse genetics and human genomics to understand the underlying causes of human health and disease. There are no individual departments within JAX, facilitating an environment of intra-institutional collaborative and team-based science. Since 1983, JAX has had a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, one of only seven institutes in the United States that have received this designation for its contributions to basic cancer research.

In addition to research supported by the NIH, DOD, and foundation funding sources, generous philanthropic donations have led to the establishment of eight endowed faculty chairs since 2013. The chairs provide leading faculty members with additional support to take their research in bold and innovative directions. Current chairholders investigate the microbiome, computational genomics, reproductive biology, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and glaucoma.

JAX has used the mouse as the experimental model for mammalian genetics and human disease research since its inception, and its accumulated resources in mouse data and expertise — in addition to its vast repository of mouse strains — are unmatched in the world. With the establishment of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in 2012, JAX has also established itself as a leading human genomics research institute, leveraging human data and clinical collaborations to accelerate the translation of research findings to the clinic.

JAX provides extensive resources and support to its research faculty and staff through an array of services and shared facilities. The service and support programs offer the latest equipment and technologies, and are staffed with highly skilled dedicated personnel. In addition to advanced capabilities in microscopy, mass spectrometry and protein chemistry, histopathology, flow cytometry, JAX has services that drive the development of novel, advanced methodologies in cellular engineering, single-cell biology, and genome technologies.

JAX has an annual $500 million operating budget, of which approximately $100 million a year comes from federal and foundation research grants, with over $400 million in revenue generated from JAX Mice Clinical & Research Services (JMCRS) as well as generous philanthropic support and a growing endowment. JAX is on strong fiscal footing and has positioned itself well to further expand impact over the coming years.

JAX is building a strong translational science component, connecting its research to biopharma and other businesses. Of JAX’s 120 active patent families, more than 70% were filed within the past five years. This increased activity reflects the recent entrepreneurial emphasis across the organization. JAX’s strategic approach to IP will allow the institution to translate exciting innovations into tomorrow’s cures.

The coming years will witness an intense period of growth for the Laboratory as the institution combines its extensive genetic expertise, large-scale research capacity, analytical power, and data science, together with its entrepreneurial prowess to better provide scientists with new insights into predicting, curing, and even preventing disease. The new Data Science Institute that the Chief Data Science Officer establishes will be an integral part of the Laboratory’s overarching ambition.

JAX’s organizational structure currently consists of:

• More than 400 staff members who hold a Ph.D., M.D., DVM, or D.Sc. advanced degrees.
• Over 60 research teams in Maine and Connecticut.
• Faculty members with over 500 active sponsored research collaboration agreements in partnership with over 350 institutions.
• JAX Centers that coordinate expertise around critical research areas including cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, addiction biology, and rare and orphan disease genetics.

JAX Leadership

Dr. Lon Cardon joined JAX as president and chief executive officer in November 2021. An internationally recognized human geneticist and demonstrated leader in academic, pharma and biotech research, he was previously chief scientific officer and chief scientific strategy officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., a rare disease biotechnology company. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and head of genetics, quantitative sciences, and alternative discovery/development at GlaxoSmithKline. He has also served on the faculty at Oxford University as a professor of bioinformatics. Dr. Cardon’s arrival as chief executive officer marks an ongoing transformation of JAX, including the creation and building of a new Data Science Research Institute in Portland, Maine that will ultimately house 100 staff in support pathbreaking research capitalizing on the unique data as-sets of JAX and its research partners.

The Position

The Jackson Laboratory seeks nominations and expressions of interest in the search for the Senior Director, JMCRS IT. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this individual will join the Information Technology team to partner with the organization to best leverage their IT assets. The Senior Director will have responsibility for leading a highly skilled team in information technology at JAX to support researchers and their operations throughout JAX and in their Data Science Institute.

The Senior Director, JMCRS IT will report to the chief information officer, Brendan Arbuckle. Brendan, with nearly 30 years’ experience in IT and operations in the private sector, joined JAX in 2019 and was appointed CIO in 2023. Arbuckle oversees a team of 156, excluding contractors, and an annual IT budget of $48 million with an additional $15 million spent this past year on capital projects.

JAX is a world leader in mammalian genetics and possesses one of the most robust data sets in life sciences in the world, utilizing primarily its expertise in genetics within the mouse model. JAX has built data sets in multiple genetic and genomic areas over time, and the Laboratory recognizes the need for a dedicated IT team to drive the advancement of human health via integration of mouse and human data and systems throughout the entire organization.

Scope and Responsibilities

Working closely with the Chief Information Officer, manages, plans, oversees, and directs day-to-day and long-term activities associated with JMCRS business unit operations. The role is specifically responsible for the development, management, and administration of JMCRS IT Transformation and Growth including Global Supply Chain, Mouse Ops, Portals and Sales and Marketing solutions as well as all associated Cloud Services and Solutions. This leader ensures that all programs, projects, and policies under purview of responsibility align with organizational strategies while considering financial drivers and maintaining competitiveness in a fluctuating and dynamic research and business environment. This role will require strong technical and people leader characteristic as well as a leader who can enhance and build operational rigor, new processes, and drive strategy for the organization.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and strategic direction for all assigned areas including JMCRS Operations, Inventory, Sales, Marketing and E-commerce solutions with a focus on efficient, effective, and high-functioning code and tool delivery.
• Develops a high-functioning team that is creative, proactive, engaged, and extremely productive by demonstrating that behavior. This includes driving positive accountability and fostering an environment of continuous learning consistent with organizational needs.
• Create IT strategy directly linked to JMCRS goals and business initiatives with the ability to articulate the technical roadmap with the business.
• Evaluate and refine internal processes and programs to better support the organization.
• Provides leadership and support to key JMCRS growth and operational services including platforms, databases and tools supporting all business unit objectives.
• Responsible for the development, deployment, and performance of the Project Management Office and all assigned processes, projects, and resources as measured by customer engagement, successful project oversite and completion, and the PMO impact on partner organizations.
• Guides the design, implementation, and testing of all JMCRS IT-related technology to improve established goals and outcomes. This includes implementation of a comprehensive CI/CD and automated testing approach to reach world class goals for quality on software and service delivery to the customer / business unit.
• Advises, consults, and serves as a member of the Senior IT Management Team in the development and execution of short and long-range plans and budgets based on broad organization-wide goals, acquisitions.
• Consults, coordinates, and liaisons between all JAX entities and JMCRS for IT needs and services.
• Leads the development and/or re-engineering of standard operating procedures to ensure effective and efficient IT and JMCRS IT Operational processes.
• Ensures an efficient structure and practices are in place for the successful day-to-day operations and delivery of IT services globally.
• Serves a lead role in analyzing, recommending, and developing D365, Portal, Sales Marketing or other critical business solutions. This includes evaluation of return on investment, setting performance standards and metrics, vendor engagement and management to those standards.
• Drives JMCRS IT KPIs and reporting to ensure Customer Satisfaction and financial alignment with the JMCRS business team to include managing relationships to drive positive value on code changes, new projects, and IT services.
• Develops processes, plans and programs to align teams on technology solutions to align to the strategic plan as promulgated by CIO; This includes rationalization and simplification of existing systems while maintaining high standards for customer satisfaction and positive impact on business operations.
• This role requires excellent communication and relationship management skills to include presentations and other communication methods that effectively relay critical information required for review, discussion and decision making up and down the leadership chain.
• Oversees operations to track, monitor and report on CIO / COO dashboard level data, (e.g. key performance indicators) and other metrics to ensure IT is operating in the most effective and efficient manner, and inform JAX leadership on IT trends to improve decision making.
• Partners with other IT groups to ensure smooth integration of all services, consistent documentation and support methods, as well as driving and owning security of critical resources and assets.
• Develops and implements systems to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to all internal policies as well as legal requirements for the area of operations under consideration (local, state, federal, or appropriate foreign legal requirements).
• Coordinates the development and implementation of programs, special projects, research studies and other initiatives to identify best practices and process improvements to promote functional efficiency and productivity.
• Supervises and directs all communications associated with areas of responsibility.
• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and ensures processes across all IT and ensures all teams and offices are aligned.
• Performs such other duties as the supervisor may, from time to time, deem necessary.

Key Selection Criteria

• Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree in technology or business discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 10 (15 preferred) years leadership experience in IT management, preferably with an organization of national and international scope.
• Area of Specialization: Commercial IT, Software Engineering and Development
• Experience with packaged software, homegrown systems, as well as custom code.
• Ability to identity and break down silos in the organization.
• Strategic leadership with the ability to execute effectively.
• Ability to effectively lead, motivate, and engage a dispersed and hybrid team.
• Proven track record of successfully leading innovating changes to enhance technology operations glob-ally.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge in leading Information technology practices.
• Demonstrated forward-thinking strategic leadership.
• Ability to drive project management, project completion, and project roadmaps efficiently and effectively.
• Experience conceptualizing, leading, implementing, and monitoring technology initiatives in the context of organization-wide objectives.
• Ability to exercise sound and accurate judgment and make timely decisions.
• In-depth knowledge and proven track record building effective technology solutions and programs.
• Proven track record of evaluating and improving internal processes and procedures.
• In-depth knowledge and skills in functions and processes associated with Commercial IT Systems such as LIMS, ERP, E-commerce, and sales solutions.
• Experienced in developing and managing complex teams, in heavily matrixed or nuanced environments with an emphasis on positive cultural development and delivering results in the face of competing opinions and approaches to projects and problems.

Personal / Professional Attributes

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge in the collection, analysis and determination of IT alternatives, potential value and organizational application of quantitative vendor, research or survey data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; extremely detail-oriented.
• Skill in writing concise, logical, analytical reports and notes to justify recommendations and decisions.
• Ability to work under pressure and lead multiple initiatives concurrently to meet deadlines in a timely manner.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of creative problem-solving and priority-setting.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment; strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents in a diverse community.
• Motivated self-starter.

The Search

Materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to JAX’s consultants, Sal DiFranco or Ted Yemm of DHR Global, at tyemm@dhrglobal.com.

The salary range is $154,596 - $272,217. Salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org .

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.