Core Scientific Assets Managing Director

Context

The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) is a research center dedicated to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and the study of cognitive functions affected in healthy and pathological aging. It was founded in 2012 by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, with the support of the Pompeu Fabra University and “la Caixa” Foundation. 
The mission of the BBRC is to provide innovative solutions to decipher and prevent biological changes and cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the aging of the world population, these diseases constitute a global challenge, since, for example, dementia can reach epidemic levels in 2050, with a forecast of more than 150 million people affected, if a way to prevent its appearance and development is not found. 
The Pasqual Maragall Foundation, the Pompeu Fabra University and “la Caixa” Foundation are permanent members of the BBRC Board. The center is affiliated and located in the Ciutadella Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, in a building inaugurated in 2016. The BBRC headquarters have excellent technical facilities, including a 3TMR scanner exclusively  dedicated to research, and spaces for conducting Clinical Trials, among others. State-of-the-art scientific facilities, effective management and continuous high-standard peer-review evaluation are the BBRC core proceedings to ensure achieving world-class research results. 
BBRC is also part of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), a large research facility that hosts several research institutions related to biomedical research, including the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (MELIS-UPF), the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-UPF), the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelona site of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), among others, in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and stimulating international environment in close contact with a clinical setting, thus conducive to translational research. 
The BBRC received the HR Excellence in Research award (HRS4R) granted by the European Commission; a recognition that shows its adherence to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Research Staff. The center offers a stimulating and favorable working environment in accordance with the Charter and Code, which describe the rights and responsibilities of researchers and their employers, and contributes to the creation of a transparent, attractive and open ecosystem at the international level. 
For more information see: www.fpmaragall.org and www.barcelonabeta.org

About the project

The BBRC has established and sponsors a series of studies aimed at understanding the initial asymptomatic stages of the Alzhimer’s continuum to understand the natural history of Alzhimer’s and develop and implement novel biomarkers for early diagnosis as well as design and implement disease prevention trials. 
The BBRC’s Core Scientific Assets (CSA) currently include:

• The ALFA (for Alzheimer and Families) parent cohort is composed of nearly 3.000 cognitively unimpaired participants aged between 45 and 75, most of them first-degree descendants of Alzheimer’s disease patients. This cohort was established as a research platform to characterize preclinical Alzheimer’s in asymptomatic individuals and will serve to untangle the natural history of the disease and to model the preclinical stages in order to develop successful trials and interventions to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Within the ALFA programme there are a number of nested studies such as the ALFA+ cohort, composed of 420 cognitively unimpaired participants, aged between 45 and 65 years at ALFA baseline visit, who have been thoroughly characterised from a sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, cognitive, genetic and biomarker (both fluid and neuroimaging) perspective. Participants are followed every 3 years: so far we have conducted the study’s baseline visit (V1; 2016-2019) and the first follow-up visit (V2; 2019-2022). The second follow-up visit (V3) started in May 2023 and includes, on the top of the already mentioned variables, recently developed digital biomarkers.
•  The Beta-AARC (Alzheimer’s At Risk Cohort) study, is composed of more than 230 participants (55-80 years), who are feeling a decline in their memory or other cognitive abilities (Subjective Cognitive Decline, SCD). Its main goal is the early detection of blood and digital biomarkers that represent the pathophysiological changes related to Alzheimer’s disease in people with SCD (either cognitively unimpaired or with mild cognitive impairment). It is a longitudinal study with annual follow-up visits (magnetic resonance imaging and lumbar puncture are performed every 2 years). In this cohort the baseline visit was completed in August 2024.
•   In addition, the BBRC is participating in clinical trials from the pharmaceutical industry that test the preventive effect of experimental drugs mostly in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease.

About the position

The CSA Managing Director is responsible for providing executive leadership and operational management while ensuring the performance, sustainability, and continuous development of BBRC’s CSA , including its cohort studies, participant engagement activities, research operations, and associated scientific infrastructures. Working in close partnership with the CSA Strategic Director, the role translates the agreed CSA strategic priorities into efficient, scalable, and high-quality research operations.The CSA Managing Director ensures the successful execution of the CSA portfolio by integrating internal research initiatives, national and international collaborations, and participation in scientific consortia. The position is accountable for maximizing the scientific value, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability of BBRC's core scientific assets while fostering their continuous growth through effective resource planning, operational excellence, and process improvement.

BBRC's Core Scientific Assets are institutional research initiatives whose successful delivery relies on the coordinated contribution of multiple organizational areas. Faculty provide scientific leadership; Research Facilities—particularly Clinical Operations and the Data Center—deliver the specialized technical and clinical capabilities required for participant assessment and data generation; and Research Support Areas, particularly Scientific Coordination and Research Support (SCRS), provide the project management, regulatory, and administrative framework that enables their execution. Within this institutional model, the CSA Managing Director acts as the operational integrator of the CSA ecosystem, ensuring effective coordination, planning, prioritization, and alignment across all stakeholders while respecting the functional responsibilities, expertise, and reporting lines of each participating area.

Working relationship with the CSA Strategic Director
The CSA Strategic Director and the CSA Managing Director operate as complementary leadership roles. The Strategic Director provides the scientific vision, strategic direction, and long-term priorities for the Core Scientific Assets, while the Managing Director provides the executive leadership and capacity required to translate them into coordinated, sustainable, and high-quality implementation.
The two roles are expected to maintain a close and regular working relationship. The CSA Managing Director reports to the Strategic Director on the implementation, performance, and development of the CSA strategy, ensuring that agreed strategic priorities and directions are appropriately translated into operational plans and execution. The Managing Director provides the Strategic Director with the operational information, progress updates, risks, constraints, resource needs, and emerging opportunities required to support strategic decision-making. Within this framework, the Managing Director retains broad autonomy and decision-making capacity for day-to-day management and execution, in accordance with the agreed CSA strategy and BBRC's institutional governance.As the operational leader of the CSA ecosystem, the CSA Managing Director promotes a service-oriented culture that enables researchers, collaborators, and participants to benefit from reliable, efficient, and high-quality support throughout the research lifecycle. The role ensures excellence in participant recruitment and retention, data and biosample generation, research delivery, and cross-functional coordination, ultimately maximizing the scientific impact and institutional value generated by BBRC's core scientific assets.

Main responsibilities
The CSA Managing Director will be in charge of centralizing and coordinating the actions for the exploitation, strengthening and growth of the BBRC’s cohorts/ scientific assets. The position relies on integrating internal projects, national and international collaborations and consortia participation to ensure efficient participants’ recruitment and involvement with data collection and analysis at excellent quality standards. 

Key responsibilities include:
 

• Executive Leadership and Portfolio Delivery: Leads the operational execution of the CSA portfolio, translating strategic priorities agreed with the CSA Strategic Director and BBRC Management into actionable plans and ensuring the successful delivery of cohort studies, intervention studies, and strategic scientific initiatives. Oversees planning, prioritization, resource coordination, and performance monitoring across all CSA activities, and provides the CSA Strategic Director with regular visibility on progress, risks, dependencies, and decisions requiring strategic guidance. 
• Operations, Capacity and Resource Management: Leads the operational framework required for the execution of longitudinal cohorts, observational studies, and intervention trials. Ensures efficient utilization of clinical, technological, and human resources, driving process optimization, scalability, and operational excellence across the CSA ecosystem , in close coordination with Clinical Operations, the Data Center, SCRS, and the corresponding Faculty according to their respective institutional responsibilities.
• Stakeholder Alignment and Governance: Coordinates and aligns the activities of Faculty, Research Facilities, and Research Support Functional Areas involved in CSA initiatives. Facilitates cross-functional decision-making, establishes operational priorities within the strategic framework agreed with the CSA Strategic Director and BBRC Management promoting effective governance mechanisms to ensure the successful execution of CSA objectives while respecting the responsibilities and reporting lines of each participating area.
• Quality, Compliance and Risk Management: Ensures compliance with applicable ethical, regulatory, quality, and data governance standards. Oversees risk identification and mitigation strategies to safeguard participant safety, data integrity, study continuity, and institutional reputation, working in coordination with the relevant operational, regulatory, and research support teams.
• Participant and Cohort Stewardship: Oversees participant recruitment, engagement, retention, and experience strategies across CSA activities, ensuring the long-term sustainability, representativeness, and scientific value of BBRC cohorts in coordination with Clinical Operations, the Data Center, SCRS and the Faculty leading the corresponding scientific initiatives.
• Data and Biosample Governance: Contributes to the governance and stewardship of CSA-generated data and biosamples, promoting quality, accessibility, interoperability, and compliance while enabling scientific discovery, collaboration, and responsible data sharing.
• Open Science and Scientific Impact: Promotes open science principles and the generation of high-quality multimodal datasets. Supports data sharing, FAIR data practices, scientific collaboration, and initiatives that maximize the scientific and societal impact of BBRC's core scientific assets.

Qualifications and professional experience

• Bachelor's or equivalent university degree in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, or a related discipline.
• A PhD in Neuroscience, Health Sciences, or a related field will be considered a strong asset.
• Additional postgraduate training in business administration (MBA), organizational management, innovation management, research management, or related areas will be highly valued.
• Established experience in clinical research management, particularly with cohort studies
• Proven track record in aligning with multiple stakeholders for an optimal exploitation of research infrastructures. 
• Proficient coordination in transdisciplinary settings.
• Experience in clinical practice environments, protocol design, regulatory compliance.
• Experience in clinical project management: feasibility assessments and budgeting, implementation planning and project overview; timeline tracking, risk mitigation 
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English.

Personal skills
●    Strong organizational and collaboration skills. 
●    Strategic thinking and business acumen.
●    Ability to inspire, empower and develop multidisciplinary teams, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
●    Ability to lead organizational transformation and drive continuous improvement in dynamic environments.
●    Excellent communication skills and relationship management. 
●    Analytical and rigorous, with a data-driven mindset. 
●    Pragmatic, solution-oriented.
●    Comfortable with unexpected changes.

Characteristics of the Position

• Starting date: Immediate

• Permanent Contract

• Full-time position, 38 hours weekly.

• Salary will depend on experience and will be in accordance to the BBRC's reward Policy and Development Plan. 

• Flexible Compensation plan (meal card, health insurance, kindergarten). 

• Holidays: 23 working days proportional to the date of hiring. Furthermore, other extra calendar days such as long weekends and days in March-April and December. 

• We offer a very stimulating environment with infrastructure and unique opportunities for professional development. 

• We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. We offer as well, the unique research opportunity in a highly innovative project in a multidisciplinary institution.

• At BBRC we also care about developing your professional abilities and career. We evaluate the potential of our team to develop the skills necessary to achieve a high level of professional performance.

Application process

All documentation must be submitted confidentially and electronically to talent@barcelonabeta.org (please specify the position you are applying for in the subject line).To apply, please submit a single PDF file containing the following documents:

• Cover Letter: Highlighting your interests, experience, and motivation for joining the Foundation's mission. 

• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) Subject:  Core Scientific Assets Managing Director

   

In compliance with the data protection regulation, we inform you that your personal data will be processed by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation to manage the selection process for the job offer you have applied for.

You can exercise your rights of access, rectification, suppression, opposition and other rights present in the normative, sending an email to gdpr@barcelonabeta.org. For further information and how to use your rights, please see our privacy policy.