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Chief Scientific Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Travere

Chief Scientific Officer

The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) reports to the EVP, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer and serves as a member of the Executive Team. As the Company's foremost scientific ...

Travere

Chief Scientific Officer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) reports to the EVP, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer and serves as a member of the Executive Team. As the Company's foremost scientific ...

ATCC

Chief Scientific Officer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

A global nonprofit that provides trusted biological materials for science and health, ATCC is hiring a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team in ...

ATCC

Chief Scientific Officer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

A global nonprofit that provides trusted biological materials for science and health, ATCC is hiring a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team in ...

Tessering Biosciences Inc.

We're looking for an exceptional scientist and leader to join our founding team and direct our preclinical discovery and development programs. If you thrive with high agency, want your work to ...

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How much do chief scientific officer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief scientific officer in the United States is $118,455.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a chief scientific officer do?

A Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) is an executive responsible for overseeing a company's scientific research and development activities. They set the scientific vision and strategy, guide research teams, and ensure that projects align with business goals. CSOs often collaborate with other executives to drive innovation, secure funding, and maintain compliance with industry regulations. Their role is crucial in organizations focused on scientific advancement, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or research-based companies.

What does a chief scientific officer do?

As a chief scientific officer, you provide scientific guidance and support for your company. As part of this, you may help other executives understand the likely timescale of a research program, help manage daily technological operations, and answer questions from other executive employees. The details of this job often vary by company—some CSOs focus on managing research and development operations while others help identify market opportunities, train new employees, or provide expert advice on specific subjects. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of this position often involves presentation skills, evaluating the qualifications of scientists, and managing regulatory training for all employees.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief scientific officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Scientific Officer, you need advanced scientific expertise, a strong research background, and typically a Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant field, along with leadership experience. Familiarity with laboratory management systems, data analysis tools, and regulatory compliance processes is essential. Visionary leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills set outstanding CSOs apart. These skills are crucial for guiding scientific strategy, ensuring research excellence, and aligning scientific objectives with organizational goals.

What are some typical challenges faced by a chief scientific officer when leading cross-functional research teams?

Chief Scientific Officers often face the challenge of aligning diverse scientific teams with broader organizational goals while fostering innovation. Balancing the need for scientific rigor with business priorities can require strong communication and negotiation skills. Additionally, CSOs must ensure effective collaboration between departments such as R&D, regulatory, and commercial teams, often managing competing timelines and resource constraints. Overcoming these challenges involves setting clear expectations, promoting a collaborative culture, and maintaining open lines of communication across all stakeholders.

What is the difference between Chief Scientific Officer vs Research Director?

AspectChief Scientific OfficerResearch Director
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in science (PhD, MD), extensive industry experienceAdvanced degrees, research experience, leadership skills
Work EnvironmentExecutive leadership, strategic planning, cross-department collaborationManaging research teams, project oversight, experimental design
Industry UsageBiotech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare companiesResearch institutions, R&D departments in various industries

The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) is an executive responsible for the overall scientific strategy and innovation within a company, often involved in high-level decision-making. In contrast, a Research Director typically manages research teams and projects, focusing on executing scientific research. While both roles require advanced scientific credentials and industry experience, the CSO has a broader strategic role, whereas the Research Director is more focused on day-to-day research operations.

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Chief Scientific Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Scientific Officer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,455 per year, or $56.9 per hour.

Chief Scientific Officer

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Heartland Food Products Group
Manufacturing • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about Heartland Food Products Groupexternal

Other

Re-posted yesterday

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and lead the company's scientific and policy affairs strategy to inform business decisions, policy, and external engagement.

  • Monitor emerging scientific research, regulatory developments, and public policy issues, translating findings into strategic recommendations.

  • Represent the company and its brands in scientific, policy, and regulatory discussions with external stakeholders.

Job description

Heartland Food Products Group is seeking a visionary Chief Scientific & Policy Affairs Officer to establish and lead the company's scientific and regulatory affairs. This person will serve as the company's senior scientific representative, providing strategic counsel to leadership while representing the company and its brands with regulators, policymakers, scientific organizations, academic experts, and media on issues related to nutrition, ingredient science, food regulation, and public health.


The Chief Scientific and Policy Affairs Officer will strengthen the company's scientific credibility, thought leadership, and trusted voice by translating emerging science into business insight, developing corporate scientific and regulatory positions, leading engagement on public policy and regulatory matters, and ensuring the organization is prepared to address evolving scientific, regulatory, and public policy issues.


The Opportunity

Consumers, healthcare professionals, regulators, and policymakers are increasingly shaping conversations around sugar reduction, ingredient safety, nutrition policy, and emerging food science. These discussions shape consumer trust, the evolving regulatory landscape, and long-term business growth.

This role will establish the scientific and regulatory affairs capability needed to help the company anticipate emerging issues, inform executive decision-making, strengthen relationships with external stakeholders, and position Heartland Food Products Group and its brands as trusted, evidence-based leaders in nutrition and food science.


This role is based out of our Carmel, Indiana corporate headquarters.


Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and lead the company's scientific and policy affairs strategy, ensuring science informs business strategy, policy and regulatory decision-making, external engagement, and corporate reputation.
  • Monitor emerging scientific research, regulatory developments, and public policy issues relevant to the company's business and brands, translating findings into strategic recommendations.
  • Identify and translate emerging scientific insights into opportunities to strengthen product positioning, support development of substantiated benefit statements, and inform innovation pipelines for future products and ingredients.
  • Develop and maintain evidence -based corporate scientific and regulatory positions on priority issues by integrating scientific evidence, regulatory considerations, stakeholder perspectives, and business objectives.
  • Establish governance processes that ensure scientific positions are consistently applied across business decisions, external engagement, and corporate communications.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership on emerging scientific, regulatory, and reputational opportunities and risks.
  • Develop and lead the company's scientific affairs, policy and regulatory strategy, and external engagement with policymakers, regulatory agencies, scientific organizations, academic experts, and industry associations.
  • Represent the company and its brands in scientific, policy and regulatory discussions with regulators, policymakers, scientific organizations, industry groups, and other external stakeholders.
  • Serve as the company's scientific spokesperson with media and external audiences, as appropriate, on issues related to nutrition, ingredient science, public health, and emerging scientific topics.
  • Lead development of scientific and regulatory positions supporting regulatory submissions, public comment opportunities, external engagement, and executive decision making.
  • Identify opportunities to strengthen the company's scientific credibility, reputation, and thought leadership while proactively addressing emerging scientific and regulatory issues that may impact the business.
  • Priority areas include low- and no-calorie sweeteners, ingredient safety and benefits, nutrition science, sugar reduction, nutrition policy, and other emerging scientific issues relevant to the company's business and brands.


Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate combines exceptional scientific expertise with strategic business acumen and the ability to influence executive leaders, external stakeholders, and public conversations.

Required qualifications include:

  • PhD, MD, or DO in Nutrition, Food Science, Toxicology, Public Health, Medicine, or a related scientific discipline.
  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in scientific and regulatory affairs, regulatory science, nutrition science, food science, healthcare, consumer products, academia, government, or related fields.
  • Demonstrated expertise evaluating complex scientific evidence and translating it into strategic business recommendations.
  • Experience building credibility and productive relationships with regulators, policymakers, scientific organizations, academic leaders, media, and other external stakeholders.
  • Experience serving as an external spokesperson or representative on scientific, regulatory, or public policy issues.
  • Strong understanding of nutrition science, food regulation, scientific communication, and public policy.
  • Exceptional communication, executive presence, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
  • A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build alignment across diverse functions and lead through influence.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience within the consumer packaged goods, food, nutrition, or health and wellness industries.
  • Experience building or leading scientific and regulatory affairs, regulatory, public policy, or external affairs functions.
  • Established credibility and professional relationships within relevant scientific, regulatory, or policy communities.


Measures of Success

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

  • Establishing clear, evidence-based scientific and regulatory positions on priority issues affecting the company's business and brands.
  • Integrating scientific and regulatory insights into business strategy, executive decision-making, and external engagement.
  • Building trusted relationships and credibility with regulators, policymakers, scientific organizations, academic leaders, and other key external stakeholders.
  • Proactively identifying and addressing emerging scientific and regulatory opportunities or issues before they become business or reputational risks to grow brands.
  • Building a scientific and regulatory affairs capability that strengthens the company's scientific leadership, reputation, and long-term strategic objectives.


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