Meeting the Moment During the Science and Tech Revolution; How Inaugural Roles Across Science, Technology, and Society Are Stepping Up

Our society finds itself at a time of great challenge, and great promise. From climate change to health to technology, we are living in a world in which an evolving set of problems requires innovation and collaboration. This is a critical moment for the civic sector to focus on developing a group of leaders to fill inaugural roles in science and technology who can work creatively to ensure positive and equitable outcomes for all of humanity. 

Search process challenges presented by inaugural leadership roles

The search for inaugural leadership roles presents unique challenges, as these roles often lack historical precedent. Many of the positions needed to meet the demands of cutting-edge fields have emerged only in recent years. As a result, hiring organizations and search firms must engage in deep, structured thinking to define what success looks like, especially in the early stages of a new endeavor. Successful searches for inaugural roles share three essential attributes: clearly articulating future success, conducting a thoughtful and inclusive process, and considering candidates beyond the typical pool of applicants.

A private, nationally ranked research university entering its second year of a multibillion-dollar capital campaign focused on exploring new fields in computational science recently conducted a search for the inaugural director of their distinguished data science institute. The role presented an opportunity to reimagine and implement a strategic vision for excellence. Extensive conversations with a vast number of stakeholders to determine the metrics that matter most were critical to finding the right person to take on this role. While the stakes are high with inaugural hires, success is achieved through a careful and thorough search process.

Federal funding plays a significant hand in the creation of inaugural roles

The creation of inaugural roles is often driven by new funding, primarily from federal sources, which is leading universities and nonprofits to establish new programs and institutes. Startup and legacy organizations alike must ensure that program offerings, operational procedures, and resources align with modern needs, while pushing into new frontiers of research and development. This surge in demand for inaugural leadership is particularly evident in the intersection of science, technology, and society, where pioneering efforts are essential to address emerging challenges.

We have recently seen searches for leadership positions spanning roles in technology, workforce planning, and finance at an independent, nonprofit public-private partnership established by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop products created from natural materials and address the lack of bio-industrial manufacturing within the United States. The successful leaders placed in these roles are innovative and multidisciplinary strategists equipped to foster company growth and advance domestic biomanufacturing research and development.

Furthermore, legislative acts like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS Act have sparked new recruitment activities across the country including inaugural roles for organizations spanning national funders investing in communities to increase competitiveness for IRA dollars, and research institutes within universities. These roles require not only technical expertise, fundraising, and management skills but also leaders who can navigate ambiguity, set strategic direction, and focus on broader impact.

The importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across STEM leadership

The historical lack of diversity in the science and tech sectors highlights the need for the next generation of STEM leaders to drive substantive conversations and hold a commitment to advancing EDI in their work and across the field. A deep dedication to equity and inclusion differentiates exceptional candidates and ensures that programs have a positive and equitable impact on all communities.

Roles recently filled at a university affiliated research institute focused on engineering, health sciences, and computer science in the New England region required talented inaugural leaders who understood the critical need for inclusive and equitable impact on the regional economy, in addition to outstanding technical skills.

Finding a “unicorn” candidate and securing a place in our rapidly changing society

As organizations search for leaders to fill these inaugural positions, they often are looking for the perfect candidate – a unicorn – technical expertise, a strong commitment to EDI, and years of leadership experience. While unicorns exist, most candidates bring diverse qualifications. The ability to distinguish between required vs. desired expertise becomes crucial. Hiring organizations can manage an effective search process for inaugural roles by clearly articulating success metrics, running an equitable and inclusive search, and identifying candidates who may not reflect a traditional model.

This is an opportune moment for institutions and organizations in science and technology to introduce new roles, foster diverse leadership, and tackle some of the world’s most exciting and challenging issues, including the exploration of our cosmos, advances in computational technology, climate change, curing rare diseases, and educating the next generation of leaders in STEM fields.

Andrew Lee is a Partner at Isaacson, Miller and leads the Science, Technology and Society Practice.