Careers

At the Foundation Fighting Blindness, our employees are true beacons of hope as they are committed to our urgent mission to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the largest nongovernmental foundation supporting retinal disease research in the world. Over the past four decades, FFB expanded its influence by raising more than $750 million to fund thousands of research studies at prominent institutions worldwide, attracting and investing in the first generation of clinicians and scientists focused on retinal disease research. We have regional offices in New York NY, Columbia MD, Chicago IL, Raleigh NC and Santa Monica CA.

We are looking for talented and passionate individuals to join us in the search to find preventions, treatments, and cures for inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Learn more about the job opportunities that are currently available at the Foundation.

DIRECTOR, PRECLINICAL TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

Company Summary: The Foundation Fighting Blindness has one clear objective: accelerating therapeutic advances for the treatments and cures of rare genetic diseases of the retina, including retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease and related conditions. These diseases, which affect more than 10 million Americans and millions more throughout the world, often lead to severe vision loss or complete blindness.

Working with preeminent scientists, the FFB has funded breakthroughs in gene therapy, stem cells and bionic retinas, providing a historic opportunity for a promising new era in human clinical trials. We are the largest non-governmental source of research funds for inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Over the past four decades, FFB has raised more than $750 million to fund research studies in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Position Summary: We are currently seeking a Director, Preclinical Translational Research to provide financial awards along with guidance from experienced industry consultants to accelerate promising projects towards IND submission for clinical trials. The grants support a wide range of technologies including small molecules, biologics, genetic and cell therapies.

Under the direction of the Sr. Director, Grants & Awards Program, the Director will provide management for TRAP. This position is based in Columbia, MD

Primary Responsibilities:

  1. Facilitate awards through the Translational Research Acceleration Program (TRAP)
  2. Support a successful award applicant to develop appropriate milestones and implementation plans as well as organize and manage a project team of consultants to help ensure the project achieves its objectives
  3. Perform research and analyses on program success and trends, the retinal degeneration therapeutic landscape, awardee progress and other TRAP support as needed
  4. Facilitate the entire award process including:
    1. The issuing of Requests for Proposals;
    2. The receipt and scientific review of applications through to the approval determination;
    3. Award of the contracts;
    4. Organization of consultants;
    5. Oversight of scientific progress; and
    6. Ensure progress reports and financial statements are processed appropriately
  1. Build rapport and work with the Foundations Scientific Advisory Board for the scientific review of proposals and their progress
  2. Build relationships with key opinion leaders in the field
  3. Responsible for maintaining awareness of the advances in preclinical and clinical research in the disease areas of interest to the Foundation, monitoring technologies that may be relevant to our interests and assisting in scientific reviews of information that may be presented by researchers and industry
  4. Provide scientific support to the Foundations venture philanthropy RD Fund
  5. Work directly under the guidance of the Senior Director, Grants and Awards Programs and closely with the My Retina Tracker registry staff, Executive Vice President Research, and Chief Scientific Officer to provide scientific support as necessary

Qualification Requirements The ideal candidate will offer:

  • S. or Ph.D. in a field of science, preferably in biochemistry
  • 5+ years post-doctoral or equivalent work experience, in with at least 3 years relevant experience in industry
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Experienced and knowledgeable of the FDA regulatory process for the above therapeutic approaches
  • Experience in due diligence, relationship and collaboration building
  • Experienced with the translational pathway from bench to clinic and the requirements for submitting an IND
  • Self-motivated, with consistent on-time delivery of goals
  • Able to work independently with minimal oversight
  • Proficient in concise, accurate writing of scientific reports
  • Assumes responsibility for producing final work products
  • Able to make clear and concise verbal presentations at all scientific levels, including patient groups, Investigator meetings, and Board of Director meetings
  • High level of proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Project Management tools
  • Experience with grants/database software and GANTT charts
  • Outstanding project management skills with the ability to meet competing deadlines and manage multiple projects at once
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills; judgment, trust, integrity, sensitivity, diplomacy
  • Able to organize virtual meetings and webinars
  • Passion for FFB mission and values
  • Willingness and ability to travel
  • Able to travel to conferences and trainings as needed, including overnight and weekend travel required on occasion
  • PMP certification or training preferred
  • Experience in the Ophthalmology field preferred
  • Experience in the philanthropic or nonprofit sector preferred

Please send resume with salary requirements to HR@fightblindness.org. RESUMES WITHOUT SALARY REQUIREMENT STATED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, as well as a terrific team to work with! FFB is an equal opportunity employer.

EVENTS ASSISTANT

We are seeking a dynamic, experienced and organized EVENTS ASSISTANT to be part of our team, based in New York City. The ideal candidate will provide support for annual events in the region including walks, wine tastings, golf tournaments, and volunteer led events.

Responsibilities include:

  • Provide day-to-day event support including database entry and event support
  • Assist in coordination of multiple chapter activities and coordination of symposia
  • Draft correspondence, gift acknowledgments, corporate proposals, website copy, printed materials, and auction
  • Coordinate schedules and meetings among Event Committee members and
  • Manage invitation responses, donations, guest lists and mailing
  • Develop and design promotional materials such as invitations, advertisements, posters and
  • Research prospective event locations and funding resources, such as corporate, foundation and individual
  • Negotiate contracts with outside vendors, and maintain invoices and expenses based on FFB accounting
  • Provide day of event support, including evening and weekend events, and minimal travel. Knowledge of Walk events highly
  • Solicit in-kind donations, auction items, and other services as
  • Maintain excellent customer service and support with all volunteers, FFB Board Members and National Trustees, donors and event

The successful candidate will possess:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 3+ years’ experience - non-profit experienced preferred
  • Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint required
  • Strong knowledge of relational databases
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and the ability to multitask
  • Able to lift up to 30
  • Possess valid driver’s license with driving record acceptable to FFB insurance carrier
  • Ability to work occasional overtime for completion of projects
  • Occasional travel is required

Please send resume with salary requirements to hr@fightblindness.org. RESUMES WITHOUT SALARY REQUIREMENT STATED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. We offera competitive salary and benefits, as well as a terrific team to work with! FFB is an equal opportunity employer.

EVENTS MANAGER

We are seeking a dynamic, experienced and organized EVENTS MANAGER to be part of our team. This position will be based in Los Angeles, CA.

Responsibilities include:

  • Plan fundraising events in coordination with management, vendors and volunteers
  • Responsible for event logistics including venue, communication, vendor, staff and volunteer matters. Events include dinners, walks and other smaller events
  • Ensure all fundraising events are within budget, meet financial objectives, and appropriately represent the Foundation to the donor community
  • Works with internal and external parties to initiate, plan and execute fundraising events including venues, photographers, food, floral arrangements,
  • Recruit, trains, and supervises event volunteers
  • Cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects, donors and volunteers
  • Functions as Foundation liaison with Planning committees and meetings
  • Transports event materials and equipment as needed
  • Participates in special projects and events as assigned
  • Supervise and mentor an Administrative Assistant

The selected candidate will possess:

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • 5+years of demonstrated experience in non-profit event planning and fundraising
  • Fundraising with walk-a-thon experience is highly desirable
  • An ability to lead and motivate volunteers, and maintain positive client relations
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast- paced environment
  • Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent attendance and be must be accountable for quality of work
  • Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
  • Working knowledge of relational databases; Convio helpful
  • Overnight and weekend travel required
  • Able to lift up to 20
  • Possess valid driver’s license with driving record acceptable to FFB insurance carrier

Please send your resume with a cover letter stating salary requirement and overview of fundraising accomplishments to HR@fightblindness.org. We offer an excellent salary and benefits, and a terrific team environment!

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

We are seeking a dynamic, experienced and organized MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR to be part of our team, based in Columbia MD.

Responsibilities include:

  • Coordinate and monitor project schedules and monitor timelines, including grant calendars, while effectively communicating project needs to ensure deadlines are met
  • Communicate with internal and external stakeholders to organize and manage assigned projects/events
  • Fully utilize the database and portal that contain donor records, including basic reporting
  • Assist with maintaining donor records in the donor database to reflect communication updates, ongoing research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities
  • Coordinate donation acknowledgement process, including pulling reports, personalizing thank you outreach for gifts, preparing and sending personalized letters, and working with external partners to produce bulk acknowledgements
  • Support grant/partnership reporting by drafting basic communication and working with the finance team to create financial statements. Work with multiple departments to gather information necessary to report to corporate/foundation funders on Foundation programs
  • Maintain financial/data reports that provide information on the performance of the marketing programs including measures of progress
  • Respond to social media and email inquiries on behalf of the Foundation in a timely and accurate manner, including the monitoring of the Membership e-inbox
  • Update various marketing materials such as fact sheets, research advances, education materials as new information as provided by managers
  • Monitor organization and industry-related news to develop media reports for internal staff and constituents

The successful candidate will possess:

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience
  • Requires project management skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to communicate in a consistent, proactive and inclusive manner and work in a dynamic, fast-paced organization
  • Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, and strong verbal and written communication skills required
  • A team player with an ability to work independently
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of relational databases
  • Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  • Knowledge of multiple social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and social media best practices
  • Ability to work occasional overtime for completion of projects
  • Occasional travel and overtime required

Please send resume with salary requirements to HR@fightblindness.org. RESUMES WITHOUT SALARY REQUIREMENT STATED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, as well as a terrific team to work with! FFB is an equal opportunity employer.