Launched in 2017, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is an international coalition of governments, academic, philanthropic, private, public, and intergovernmental institutions whose vision is to create a world in which epidemics and pandemics are no longer a threat to humanity. Our mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI played a central role in the global response to COVID-19, creating the world’s largest portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines – seven of which are approved for global or domestic use - and co-leading COVAX, the global initiative to support equitable access which supported the delivery of over 2bn vaccine doses globally. CEPI has CEPI has contributed to a number of scientific breakthroughs in vaccine development against other infectious diseases, including the first ever licensed Chikungunya vaccine and the first Nipah and Lassa virus vaccines into Phase 1 trials.
As COVID-19 has demonstrated, emerging infectious diseases represent an existential threat to our way of life. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic of the 21st century, and unless we act now, we can be sure that it will not be the last. Unlike some of the other big threats that humanity faces, we have the tools to systematically reduce and even eliminate the risk of future pandemics. It is vital that we capitalise on the rare alignment of political will, practical experience, and technical and scientific progress emerging from the pandemic to prevent such devastation happening again. CEPI’s five-year plan for 2022-2026 – known as CEPI 2.0 - aims to dramatically reduce or even eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics. Central to the plan is CEPI’s goal to accelerate the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days. Achieving this ‘100 Days Mission’, which has been embraced by the G7 and G20, would give the world a fighting chance of containing a future outbreak before it can spread to become a global pandemic, potentially averting millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.
CEPI is a not-for-profit association under Norwegian Law and has offices in Oslo (HQ), London, and Washington DC.
In CEPI we strive for diverse thinking, and we want a diverse pool of candidates for all our vacancies. We work for an inclusive working environment where each employee can contribute and grow.
More details about CEPI and our mission can be found on our website: www.cepi.net

We seek a Lead/Senior Scientist who has demonstrated expertise in preclinical and non-clinical aspects of vaccines and/or biologics product development. The successful candidate will support the advancement of CEPI’s portfolio of vaccine and/or biologics products, cross-cutting initiatives, and the attainment of CEPI’s broader and longer-term goals of medical countermeasure (MCM) delivery and access, preparedness and rapid response

• Lead enabling science projects that fall within the Laboratory Research and Innovations (LRI) Department remit (laboratory-based evidence generation; development of tools such as assays, reagents, and animal models) with a focus on support of the CEPI Lassa vaccine portfolio, serving as the LRI representative and Preclinical Lead for the Lassa Disease Program Team.
• Ensure strategic oversight, scientific excellence, successful delivery, and incorporation of the deliverables into applicable CEPI programs, including the Lassa Disease Program.
• Provide support to vaccines/biologics development projects as preclinical lead or subject matter expert/scientific support in multidisciplinary project teams. Responsibilities include advising on non-clinical plans relating to safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy, and reviewing relevant documents such as study protocols, study reports, and manuscripts. Facilitate use of LRI networks to perform efficacy testing of MCMs in preclinical challenge models when needed.
• Take the lead on, or support the development and launch of, CEPI Calls for Proposals, and serve as subject-matter expert for grant application review and for the due diligence process preceding potential awards.
• As part of a matrixed team, assist other groups in the LRI Department with enabling sciences projects for CEPI priority pathogens, with a primary focus on Lassa virus, and projects such as those focused on identifying immune correlates of protection.
• Pursue cross-departmental and cross-divisional connections to ensure alignment of LRI activities with the activities of the rest of the organization.
• Maintain an overview of institutional, divisional, and departmental strategy, and use this to prioritize relevant activities, and to make recommendations to CEPI leadership for new investments for gap-filling.
• Support CEPI and the LRI Department / R&D Division to develop concepts supporting the organization’s future priorities and help build the capacities to achieve CEPI strategic goals (including participation in and contribution to cross-functional / cross-departmental activities)
• Represent CEPI at international scientific conferences and in meetings with global organizations (e.g., WHO) and other key stakeholders

• Essential: Advanced degree (Ph D level) in life science, with a minimum of 10 years post-graduate experience.
• Desirable: GLP, GCP, Gx P or regulatory training, such as Study Director training or experience
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to build trust with partners and manage a team of experts in a matrixed, international environment.
• Experience in non-clinical study design, study execution, data interpretation and reporting, with an understanding of all types of non-clinical studies and how these data fit into overall vaccine development, regulatory submissions and product licensure.
• Strong expertise and deep experience in clinical and/or non-clinical immunology, immunobridging and correlates of protection, mode of action and safety
• Strong expertise in preclinical and/or clinical assays, with knowledge of assay development, optimization and characterization and validation principles
• Knowledge of and interest in novel vaccine technologies, in silico modelling/machine learning and immunogen design also valuable
• Experience with Lassa virus, including preclinical models and assays, is highly desired. Experience with other CEPI priority pathogens and/or high containment facilities (BSL-3 or BSL-4) is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of vaccine platform technologies
• Demonstrable problem-solving abilities, supporting vaccine development partners with issues as they arise, and being agile in their support
• Experience in working in collaborative R&D projects, preferably across sectors (academic, private sector, public and private funders)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with emphasis on professional conduct, diplomacy, flexibility, and teamwork. Will need to be able to develop team cohesion in a remote environment.
• Strong communication skills, able to represent CEPI at international events and ensure the necessary flow of information across CEPI divisions and departments, CEPI program teams, and product development project teams.
• Experience with regulated (GLP, GCP, Gx P) studies a plus

• This position can be based in Norway/UK/US

• Experience in the international effort on developing vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and accelerating vaccine development response to outbreaks
• The opportunity to work together with leading internal and external experts on solutions for global challenges
• A diverse and inclusive working environment

Background verification will be conducted to verify information provided in the CV and available documentation for the successful candidate.