Council for Responsible Genetics

Executive Director

The Council for Responsible Genetics, the oldest non-profit organization in the United States addressing the societal impacts of biotechnology, is continuing its national searchfor am Executive Director. The Council is seeking a dynamic and highly motivated individual who is invested in non-profit activism and who is prepared to take the Council to its next stage of development through creative fundraising, by expanding the visibility of its publication GeneWatch, and by serving as a source of reliable knowledge for other non-profit groups and the general public.

Most importantly, this position is a career-building opportunity for the right individual. The ED works with scientists, public health activists, indigenous rights spokespersons, and civil rights leaders in shaping the future public agenda for biotechnology.The office is currently located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but could be relocated to New York or Washington D.C. to accommodate a candidate’s choice location.

The starting salary and fringe benefits will be commensurate with experienceCandidatesshould send a cover letter and resume to the address below. No phone calls, or faxes will be accepted. Email documents to ED(at)gene-watch.org. or Sheldon.Krimsky(at)Tufts.Edu

Job Description:

For 24 years, the non-profit Council for Responsible Genetics has been examining the scientific, ethical, legal and environmental aspects of the emerging biotechnologies. With an active board of social activists and scientists, a small staff, and an eminent board of advisors, the Council engages in action-oriented research, works with activists and scholars in many fields, and publishes GeneWatch, the oldest magazine that critically examines biotechnology.The Executive Director is an energetic, dynamic and committed individual responsible for all aspects of the organization’s functioning. Working from the board’s strategic plan and with Board Members and advisors to the organization, the ED sets priorities, maintains the staff function, raises funds, represents CRG in public and to the press, acts as editor-in-chief of GeneWatch, works with the board and staff in planning and in carrying out those plans, and performs other duties necessary to ensure the smooth function and effectiveness of CRG’s work.

Job Duties:

I. Support of the board:
The Executive Director works with and will be a member of the Board of Directors. She or he is the principal point of contact between the board and the staff, helping to set priorities, allocate staff time and financial resources. The ED also helps the chair and treasurer in the preparation and presentation of information at board meetings.

II. Finances:
The Executive Directors is responsible for the Council’s finances. This includes working with the treasurer of the Board, managing cash and cash flow, supervising the bookkeeping and the timely filing of forms and required reports, close work with the accountant and auditor, and the creation and implementation of the CRG budget.

The ED is also responsible for guiding the organization’s fundraising, researches foundations, writes letters of inquiry and when appropriate, funding proposals, keeps a foundation calendar, writes foundation reports, meets with foundation staff, and insures that earmarked funds are properly kept. The Council has historically derived its primary funding from yearly foundation support.

III. Staff Supervision
The Executive Director hires and supervises CRG’s staff, currently two-three other people: an office manager, a communications director who serves as GeneWatch editor and web/list serve editor, and a program coordinator. The ED works with staff on establishing work plans, both individually and as a group at the annual staff retreat, provides evaluations and problem solving support, and maintains the standards of performance that CRG expects. The ED is also responsible for CRG’s intern program, and may supervise individual students.

IV. Outside Relationships
The Executive Director responds to media calls, either finding the appropriate person to provide the interview or information, or providing it directly. The ED writes articles and makes speeches in public about CRG’s current concerns. He or she works with other activist and scholarly organizations to provide support with CRG resources as well as networking that builds and strengthens the overall movement for responsible biotechnology including genetics research, military, agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical industry and forensic uses of genetic engineering, The ED attends such meetings and conferences as are needed to adequately promotes and represent the Council’s work and interests.

The Council for Responsible Genetics, a twenty-four-year-old nonprofit based in Cambridge, MA, fosters public debate on the social, ethical and environmental implications of new genetic technologies. The Communications Director plays a key role in managing the Council’s core communications.

The Communications Director is editor of GeneWatch, the CRG’s flagship publication and the oldest magazine to critically and objectively cover biotechnology. He or she plans, edits, lays out the magazine in-house and manages the publication. This includes finding articles, working with authors, fulfilling permission requests, some writing, copyediting, supervising interns, and coordinating work with the editorial board and CRG staff.

The Communications Director also oversees the production of the magazine, working with printers, and is responsible for seeing that its distribution operates smoothly. Finally, the editor, along with other CRG staff and board, is responsible for marketing the magazine. In general this position requires the Communications Director to track and manage the production of GeneWatch through every step.

Web Communications

The Communications Director is in charge of the extensive CRG website, which includes information and articles from all our program areas along with the GeneWatch archive. He or she must be able to update or redesign the website as needed. This involves translating material from the CRG staff and board into web-appropriate formats.

The Communications Director also manages the Council’s private Internet list serves, e-mail server and office computer network.

Other Work

The Communications Director oversees the production of all CRG publications, such as pamphlets and position papers, and makes sure that sufficient stocks are on hand.

The Communications Director is supervised by the President, and performs such other appropriate work as might be required to get the Council’s work done. The job consists of about 75% GeneWatch work; the rest is web, technology and publications support.

Qualifications

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Send a cover letter, resume, substantial writing sample, and three references to: ComDirector(at)gene-watch.org. If we are interested in your application, we will get in touch with you.