Director, Early Phase Developmental Therapy Program

Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Located in the Washington, DC suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, Inova Schar Cancer Institute (ISCI) seeks a dynamic, distinguished leader to serve as the first Director of its Early Phase Developmental Therapy Program. This is a unique opportunity to build a developmental therapy cancer program at Inova, a world-class health care system in the rapidly growing Northern Virginia Region.

The ISCI is the largest clinical cancer program in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is based in a 400,000 square-foot dedicated facility on the Inova Fairfax Medical Center campus with satellite centers at four regional hospitals, all in Northern Virginia. The program is experiencing rapid growth, over 15% per year.  Currently, 31 medical oncologists in collaboration with specialists in surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and other relevant specialists provide diseased-based specialty care to all major types of cancer.

ISCI has a sophisticated and growing clinical research program supported by a well-functioning clinical trials office. Individual research programs include over 160 active industry-sponsored, cooperative group, and investigator-initiated clinical trials. Inova and the ISCI have a formal academic affiliation with the University of Virginia, with opportunities for an academic appointment if the successful candidate is involved in medical student education. ISCI serves as a primary site for the Alliance NCI cooperative group and is the base for the Inova Fairfax Medical Center hematology-oncology fellowship program.

Reporting to the President of ISCI, the incoming Director is expected to build and lead the development of a program that offers access to cutting-edge experimental therapeutics, expand current clinical trial offerings, and design and develop early phase clinical trials in collaboration with both industry and other institutions. The Director will have an active clinical practice supporting clinical trial accruals and contributing to ongoing clinical and translational research at ISCI. 

Compelling candidates for the position will possess an M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited institution and completion of an accredited medical oncology fellowship, with board certification, and at least five years of oncology clinical trial development and design experience. They will have a successful track record of investigator-initiated Phase 1 clinical trials and experience collaborating with pharmaceutical companies. A record of leadership experience as a Phase 1 program leader is preferred. The next Director will be an exceptional communicator with strong organizational, and interpersonal skills; with the ability to build programs, recruit, develop, and lead successful interdisciplinary collaborations.

Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications, including a CV and letter of interest, should be submitted to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search, Kimberly Smith, Walter Ettinger, M.D., and Tiffany Johnson, preferably via e-mail, InovaDirector@wittkieffer.com or by phone at 916-536-6888.

Inova Health System is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. To fulfill this commitment, Inova Health System administers all its employment programs, procedures and practices without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions and lactation), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information. Inova operates both affirmative action and equal opportunity programs, consistent with federal and state requirements, including Governor's Executive Order One (2018). Consistent with federal and state requirements, Inova also prohibits retaliation against any person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice.