California Stem Cell Agency Seeks Five Executives in $3 Billion Program

California’s $3 billion stem cell agency has embarked on a wave of fresh hiring of well-paid executives to fill top slots in the new structure created by Randy Mills, who has been the chief executive of the program since last May.

Five positions are open with salary ranges that hit $244,204 annually.  All of the announcements are emblazoned with the new CIRM 2.0 logo, emphasizing the “radical” changes underway at the agency. The program is formally known as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine or CIRM.

The postings amount to the largest number of top level positions opening at the agency in a number of years, perhaps the largest since its inception 10 years ago.  Total employment at research funding program is slightly more than 50 persons and is not expected to increase significantly.

The open positions include “directors” in the following areas:  medical affairs and stem cell centers, blood and cancer therapeutics, neuro/ocular therapeutics, organ systems therapeutics and administration, which includes everything from public relations to information technology.

The agency’s governing board in December approved Mills’ reorganization with little discussion. He said it would flatten the organization, making it speedier and more efficient.

The new structure eliminated a number of positions, including that of Ellen Feigal, who was senior vice president for research and development, then the No. 2 position at the agency. She resigned last October, giving two weeks notice. At the time, she was the fifth person to leave the agency following the hiring of Mills.

Under Mills’ organization, the agency does not have a No. 2 person or a chief scientific officer. The chief scientific officer position was eliminated years ago, although it is common in many biotech companies.

A comparison of the new and old organization can be found here.

Here is a look at some of what the new positions entail:

Director, Medical Affairs and Stem Cell Centers: Oversight of “the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics, the CIRM Stem Cell Genomics Centers of Excellence, and the CIRM hiPSC Initiative with a total budget of over $90 million.”

Director, Blood and Therapeutic Area: Oversight of more than “20 active programs and a budget of over $200 million. Projects in the therapeutic area range from translational research through human clinical trials.”

Director, Neuro/Ocular Therapeutic Area: This area “currently has over 25 active programs and a budget of over $200 million. Projects in the therapeutic area range from translational research through human clinical trials.”

Director, Organ Systems Therapeutic Area: This involves more than “25 active programs and a budget of over $200 million. Projects in the therapeutic area range from translational research through human clinical trials.” 

Director, Administration:  Oversight of Communications, Information Technology (IT), and Human Resource departments; “Importantly, the Director is also responsible for managing all Governing Board activities and communications.”

All of the positions have a salary range of $167,877 to $244,204 and report directly to Mills.

No deadline exists for filing applications. The announcements said applications will remain open until the positions are filled. Mills, however, moves with dispatch. Interested persons should submit applications quickly if they want to be considered.