Vice President of Research

About the Position

Vice President of Research

Divers Alert Network (DAN) is seeking a Vice President of Research to lead our interdisciplinary applied-science program, focusing on diving-related injuries and safety improvements. This executive leadership and hands-on department management position is based in Durham, North Carolina, with a hybrid work arrangement.

Responsibilities

• Mission and Strategic Direction: Define and implement the research mission and strategic direction.
• Department Leadership and Management: Lead the Research Department, managing research leaders, program managers, scientists, analysts, and support staff.
• Applied Research Portfolio and Execution: Direct research from problem definition through operational application.
• Safety Translation and Organizational Integration: Ensure evidence-based findings become tangible safety improvements.
• Scientific Quality, Ethics, Data, and Compliance: Maintain scientific rigor and peer-reviewed publication standards.
• External Partnerships, Funding, and Representation: Build and manage external partnerships and secure funding.
• Financial and Resource Stewardship: Oversee the department's budget and resources.
• Executive and Board Support: Provide support to the President & CEO and the Board.

Requirements

• Educational Background: Doctoral degree or equivalent advanced clinical or scientific qualification in diving and hyperbaric medicine or a closely related discipline.
• Experience: At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in applied, translational, clinical, operational, or safety research, including at least five years leading multidisciplinary teams, complex programs, budgets, and external collaborators.
• Skills:
  • Demonstrated ability to translate scientific findings into practical improvements.
  • Substantive knowledge in diving or environmental physiology, undersea or hyperbaric medicine, human performance in extreme environments, neuroscience, epidemiology, or injury prevention.
  • Strong command of research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, data interpretation, research ethics, human-subject protections, IRB processes, and scientific communication.
  • Proven project-management capability.
  • Demonstrated people leadership, sound judgment, direct and respectful communication, and willingness to address difficult performance, conduct, compliance, or strategic issues promptly.
  • Ability to communicate credibly with scientists, clinicians, executives, board members, industry leaders, media, donors, dive professionals, and the public.

We Offer

• Compensation: $180,000 - $200,000 per year.
• Work Environment: Hybrid work arrangement with regular on-site presence in Durham, North Carolina.
• Travel: Domestic and international travel as required.

About the Company

Divers Alert Network (DAN)

DAN is a mission-driven applied research program dedicated to improving understanding of diving-related injuries, human performance in the underwater environment, and practical methods of risk reduction. We are committed to scientific rigor and peer-reviewed publication, but our work is selected and judged by mission relevance, execution quality, and demonstrated safety impact.