Executive Search: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — openRXiv

Organization: openRXiv

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Remote

Salary: $240,000-$320,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Offering generous and comprehensive benefits.

Seeking a visionary leader, compelling storyteller, and strategic thinker passionate about advancing open science.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

openRxiv, a newly established nonprofit entity launched with support from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), is set to oversee the world’s leading preprint servers for life sciences: bioRxiv and medRxiv. These platforms transform how scientific discoveries are shared, enabling researchers worldwide to disseminate their findings rapidly and openly.

openRxiv’s mission is to advance open science, ensuring that cutting-edge research reaches the global scientific community without barriers. As the organization embarks on its next chapter, it seeks a bold and dynamic leader to drive innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

openRxiv is seeking an inspiring and proactive leader to serve as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of open-access publishing while leading a mission-driven organization at the intersection of science, technology, and nonprofit leadership.

In this role, the CEO will work with the Board and leadership team to set the strategic vision for the organization’s growth, financial sustainability, and operational success. They will lead fundraising, organizational development, and external engagement, ensuring openRxiv’s long-term viability and impact. As a compelling storyteller, the CEO will elevate openRxiv’s mission, serving as one of its primary ambassador to funders, partners, and the broader scientific community.

The CEO will collaborate closely with the Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer (CSSO) and the Chief Product Officer (CPO), ensuring that openRxiv’s business and operational strategies align with its scientific and technology goals. While the CSSO defines scientific scope, content policies, and publishing strategy, the CEO will focus on building a strong financial and operational foundation to support those initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a visionary yet hands-on leader with deep experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, operations, and strategic partnerships. They will thrive in a startup environment, navigating complexity with resilience, creativity, and a commitment to advancing open science.

A FEW KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• Lead openRxiv’s growth, sustainability, and operational success, ensuring financial health and long-term impact.
• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan, aligning business, fundraising, and operational priorities with openRxiv’s mission.

Operations & Financial Oversight

• Oversee openRxiv’s financial sustainability, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term viability.
• Manage the budget, financial planning, and resource allocation, identifying cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high-impact programs.

Fundraising & Revenue Generation

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, securing grants, donations, and foundation support.
• Identify and establish sustainable revenue streams, such as membership programs, institutional partnerships, and sponsorships.

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Our Commitment to Equitable & Inclusive Search Practices

Nonprofit HR, Powered by OneDigital, is deeply committed to fostering equitable and inclusive search practices that are seamlessly woven into every aspect of our work. These principles not only shape how we conduct searches but also guide how we advise our clients and support career candidates, ensuring fair and thoughtful hiring processes. By upholding these values, we strengthen talent management capacity across the social impact sector, helping organizations build mission-driven leadership teams that drive meaningful change.

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