C-brAIn Chief Executive Officer (Remote) - Neurology

Scheduled Hours

40

Position Summary

This is a rare opportunity to lead a mission-driven consortium at the forefront of biomedical innovation. The CEO will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI in science, accelerating discoveries that improve lives, and building a legacy of impact through collaboration, technology, and visionary leadership. The CEO will be responsible for cultivating a high-performing organizational culture, forging strategic partnerships, and ensuring the Consortium’s long-term sustainability and impact.

About C-brAIn:

The Consortium for Biomedical Research and Artificial Intelligence in Neurodegeneration (C-brAIn) is a pioneering initiative at the intersection of biomedical science and artificial intelligence. Anchored by Washington University in St. Louis and supported by leading institutions across academia, industry, and philanthropy, C-brAIn is advancing a transformative vision: to accelerate breakthroughs in neuroscience, brain aging, and neurodegenerative disease through the development of an AI-powered, scientist-in-the loop research platform. This is a well-resourced, high-impact effort with the potential to transform the field.

The CEO will serve as the strategic and operational leader of C-brAIn, guiding the Consortium’s mission to redefine biomedical discovery through AI. This individual will work in close partnership with the Executive Director, Steering Committee, and a multidisciplinary executive team to ensure the successful development, deployment, and scaling of C-brAIn’s platform and initiatives. The CEO will oversee the development and integration of AI-powered research tools (in collaboration with the CTO). Ultimately, these products will scale beyond Alzheimer’s disease to broader biomedical domains.

Job Description

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Lead the execution of C-brAIn’s mission, ensuring alignment with the scientist-in-the-loop, open science, and multi-stakeholder principles.

• Develop and implement strategic plans, milestones, and metrics for the delivery of MVPs and the unified AI Biomedical Research Scientist platform.

• Champion a culture of scientific rigor, ethical AI, and continuous innovation.

• Drive expansion into new disease areas and global markets as the platform matures.

• Report regularly to the Steering Committee on performance, progress, and strategic issues.

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including program management, resource allocation, progress tracking, and risk management.

• Direct and support the executive team to ensure efficient coordination of activities and communications, and timely delivery of technical and scientific objectives.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and data privacy and security standards (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR).

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of researchers, AI engineers, software developers, and data scientists, cultivating a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive environment.

• Provide mentorship and support for team members’ professional growth and alignment with C-brAIn’s mission and values.

• Oversee the scaling and deployment of products to address neurodegeneration research challenges while expanding to broader biomedical applications.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Steering Committee to align goals with organizational strategy; integrate multiple strategies and ideas across technical and scientific domains.

• Collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer to guide technical vision, product development, and AI/ML tool delivery, ensuring technology development is driven by research needs and use cases, with strong scientific input and community feedback.

• Build and nurture partnerships across academia, industry, and philanthropy, fostering collaboration and a and high-performance culture to achieve shared goals.

• Engage with scientific experts to ensure the Consortium’s work is accessible, equitable, and impactful for all stakeholders; ensure the product remains relevant to real-world biomedical challenges and supports a “scientist-in-the-loop” approach.

• Foster strategic partnerships with AI technology companies and other stakeholders.

• Promote open science, data sharing, and responsible AI practices.

• Represent C-brAIn at external meetings, conferences, and events, serving as an ambassador for its mission and vision.

Budget and Resource Management

• Define and manage $10-$100M budgets, timelines, and resource allocation.

• Collaborate with finance and administrative teams to manage budgets, forecast resource needs, and ensure compliance with institutional and funding policies.

• Identify opportunities to leverage funding and resources across partnerships for greater impact and efficiency.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Flexible, with a preference for proximity to key research and industry partners.
• Hybrid, with a mix of remote work, on-site collaboration, and travel to conferences and partner institutions.

Physical Effort

• Typically working at desk or table
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Progressive Managerial Responsibility (7 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

For more information, see https://c-brain.org.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in AI/technology, life sciences, or related sectors.

• Demonstrated success in building and scaling large, complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives or organizations—including experience in startup or consortium environments where agility, resourcefulness, and collaborative leadership are essential.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborations across academia, industry, and philanthropy, and to lead multidisciplinary teams, including technical and scientific staff.

• Strong track record in partnership development and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with or leading academic, industry, philanthropic, startup, consortium, or nonprofit organizations.

• Familiarity with regulatory, legal, and ethical frameworks in biomedical research and AI.

• Experience with federated data architectures, privacy-preserving technologies, and responsible data governance.

• Prior leadership in a startup, consortium, or nonprofit environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

M.D. - Doctor of Medicine, Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Adaptability, Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences, Building High Performance Team, Business Management, Communication, Computer Science, Data Integration, Data Privacy, Engineering Education, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Hypothesis Generation, Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Machine Learning, Negotiation, Open Science, Operational Execution, Organizing, Project Management, Public Health, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Translational Neuroscience, Workflow Management

Grade

G00

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.