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This position is a direct hire for International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS)

Director, Environmental Science Leadership

Location: Remote

Position Summary

The Director, Environmental Science Leadership is a senior leadership position responsible for advancing ICCS’ global environmental science strategy and helping shape the future of animal-free environmental safety assessment. Reporting to the Senior Director, the Director provides strategic leadership across ICCS’ environmental science portfolio, working collaboratively with ICCS leadership, members, regulators, academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and scientific organizations worldwide.

The Director combines scientific excellence with strategic leadership to accelerate the development, validation, regulatory acceptance, and implementation of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). Through collaboration, consensus building, and strategic engagement, the Director helps position ICCS as the global leader advancing modern environmental safety science.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable leading scientific discussions, advising organizational leadership, facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration, and representing ICCS in high-level scientific and regulatory forums around the world.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead ICCS’ global environmental science strategy in alignment with the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and annual work plan.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Steering Committee, Priority Teams, and Activity Teams on emerging environmental science, regulatory developments, global trends, and stakeholder priorities.
• Lead the development of ICCS positions, frameworks, and collaborative approaches on emerging scientific and regulatory issues, working closely with members and external stakeholders to build consensus and accelerate the acceptance and implementation of animal-free approaches.
• Identify opportunities to expand ICCS’ scientific leadership and influence through strategic initiatives, partnerships, and collaborative programs.
• Develop long-range strategic priorities for the Environmental Sciences portfolio while anticipating future scientific, regulatory, and societal developments.
• Present strategic recommendations and future priorities to ICCS governance bodies for discussion, refinement, and approval.

Scientific Leadership

• Provide scientific leadership for ICCS’ environmental science initiatives supporting the development, validation, regulatory acceptance, and implementation of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
• Translate emerging scientific advances into practical strategies that strengthen regulatory confidence and facilitate global adoption of modern environmental safety assessment approaches.
• Monitor emerging scientific, regulatory, and policy developments worldwide and proactively identify opportunities and risks relevant to ICCS and its members.
• Foster scientific excellence while ensuring ICCS remains responsive to evolving regulatory expectations and stakeholder needs.
• Provide scientific oversight to ensure ICCS initiatives remain credible, impactful, and aligned with organizational objectives.

External Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as one of ICCS’ principal scientific leaders and ambassadors with regulators, government agencies, scientific organizations, academia, industry, NGOs, and international organizations on the environment.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with senior leaders throughout the global scientific and regulatory community.
• Convene and facilitate discussions among diverse stakeholders to build consensus around emerging scientific and regulatory challenges affecting environmental safety assessment.
• Develop collaborative strategies that strengthen confidence in animal-free science and accelerate the global implementation of NAMs.
• Identify opportunities for ICCS to partner with external organizations on initiatives that advance scientific innovation, regulatory confidence, and international collaboration.
• Represent ICCS at international scientific conferences, regulatory meetings, workshops, and strategic forums on environmental issues.

Organizational Leadership

• Work collaboratively across ICCS Priority Teams, Activity Teams, consultants, and staff to ensure environmental science initiatives support broader organizational objectives.
• Foster collaboration across scientific disciplines and organizations to advance innovative approaches to environmental safety assessment.
• Mentor and support staff while promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to organizational planning, governance, and strategic initiatives as a member of the ICCS leadership team.

Operational Leadership

• Develop and manage the Environmental Sciences budget.
• Lead and oversee staff, consultants, project managers, and external experts supporting environmental science activities.
• Ensure successful execution of the Environmental Sciences and Regulatory workplan and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and manage relationships with vendors, consultants, and collaborative partners.
• Monitor program performance and recommend improvements that maximize organizational impact and member value.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Environmental Sciences, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Toxicology, Risk Assessment, or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in environmental safety assessment, regulatory science, or related scientific fields.
• Deep knowledge of environmental hazard and risk assessment, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA).
• Experience working with international regulatory frameworks and global scientific organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing organizational strategy and leading complex scientific initiatives.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage executive, scientific, regulatory, and policy audiences.
• Exceptional relationship-building, collaboration, and consensus-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience working within international scientific collaborations, trade associations, or membership organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established professional network within regulatory agencies, academia, industry, scientific organizations, and environmental NGOs.
• Experience engaging with global regulatory authorities on environmental safety assessment.
• Experience leading international scientific collaborations involving industry, regulators, academia, and public-interest organizations.
• Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson in scientific and regulatory forums.
• Experience within the cosmetics, consumer products, specialty chemicals, or related industries a plus.

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Visionary leadership with the ability to anticipate emerging scientific and regulatory trends.
• Executive presence and credibility with senior leaders across industry, government, academia, and NGOs.
• Exceptional collaboration, diplomacy, and consensus-building skills.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to translate science into organizational priorities and meaningful outcomes.
• Strong political and organizational awareness with sound judgment in complex stakeholder environments.
• The ability to inspire trust, build partnerships, and influence through collaboration rather than authority.
• A passion for advancing modern, animal-free approaches to environmental safety assessment and strengthening ICCS’ global leadership.