Program Director, Biobanking

The Colossal Foundation is looking for an experienced program leader who will build and run the operational engine behind BioVault, Colossal's endangered species biobanking program. The role's first and largest commitment is Colossal's partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: a multi-year effort to collect, process, and cryopreserve living cell lines, reproductive tissue, and genomic material from endangered and threatened species across the United States. The role also directs Colossal's other biobanking efforts, including collaborations with zoological institutions, universities, and international conservation partners, and the Colossal Foundation's genetic rescue programs.

This role sets BioVault's annual species targets, builds the partner network of refuges, zoos, state agencies, universities, Tribal nations, and international institutions that supplies samples, and holds the schedule and reporting commitments under the USFWS MOU and Colossal's other biobanking agreements. This role works closely with Colossal Foundation staff, including the Partnerships Manager, and with Colossal's Animal Operations, Embryology, and Assisted Reproduction teams and external partners to keep every program on time and aligned with BioVault's sample-completeness standards. This position reports to the Executive Director of the Colossal Foundation.

This position is based out of Dallas, TX and relocation assistance is provided.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Own program delivery under the Colossal–USFWS MOU: annual species batches, collection schedule, throughput, and the completeness tier (Minimum / Target / Gold) achieved for each species.

• Direct Colossal's other biobanking collaborations with zoological institutions, universities, and international conservation partners, applying the same standards, systems, and chain-of-custody practices established under the USFWS program.

• Build and manage the partner network that performs or hosts sample collection, including USFWS refuges and field offices, state wildlife agencies, zoological institutions, universities, Tribal partners, and international collaborators; own partner agreements, training, kit logistics, and quality control on incoming material.

• Lead a cross-functional program team spanning field collection, biorepository operations, partner enablement, data management, and logistics; hire and develop the program's staff through its first two phases.

• Serve as Colossal's day-to-day counterpart to USFWS program leads on joint work plans, quarterly reporting, species prioritization reviews, and issue escalation, and as the primary program contact for other biobanking partners.

• Set and track program metrics (species sampled, cell lines established, tiers achieved, time from collection to banked material) across all BioVault efforts and report to Colossal and Colossal Foundation leadership.

• Coordinate protocol hand-offs for reproductive tissue and gamete cryopreservation with Colossal's Embryology and Assisted Reproduction teams without diverting their capacity from core programs.

• Represent BioVault with conservation partners and the scientific community, in coordination with Colossal Foundation staff.

• Travel to field sites, partner institutions, and USFWS offices, including some international travel, up to 30%.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated success leading a multi-site, multi-partner wildlife, conservation, or field biology program at regional or national scale, with direct ownership of staff and delivery.

• Working knowledge of the Endangered Species Act and the federal, state, and Tribal permitting landscape for handling listed species; this role works closely with Colossal's registrar and permitting staff, who hold and administer program permits.

• Experience building and running partner networks with government agencies and zoological or academic institutions, including negotiating agreements and setting shared standards.

• Operational fluency with sample chain-of-custody, cold-chain logistics, and laboratory intake workflows, or demonstrated ability to learn them quickly.

• Strong program management discipline: work plans, milestone tracking, risk management, and clear written reporting to executives and agency partners.

• Strong communication skills (written/verbal), including presenting to agency leadership and external partners.

• Ability to work across Colossal Foundation staff and Colossal's Animal Operations, Embryology, and Assisted Reproduction teams, including veterinarians, scientists, and animal husbandry experts.

• Must be able to travel up to 30%.

Education and Experience:

• B.S. in biology, wildlife science, conservation biology, or a related field required; M.S., Ph.D., or D.V.M. preferred.

• At least ten years of experience in wildlife conservation, zoological, or field research programs, including at least five years directly managing programs and staff.

• Experience working with or inside USFWS, state wildlife agencies, or zoological institutions strongly preferred.

• Experience with biobanking, genetic resource banking, or wildlife genomics programs preferred.

What Colossal Offers Full-Time Employees:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Excellent paid time off and company holidays so you can rest and recharge

• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

• Company matched 401k retirement plan

• Paid parental leave at 100% salary for up to 12 weeks

• Education reimbursement

• An opportunity to help us return the Earth to a healthier state

The team at Colossal is committed, colorful, passionate, intelligent, collaborative, creative, experienced, scientific and world-class. That sounds like a lot to fit into one building. That’s why we are spread out in several locations that include laboratories, test facilities, academic institutions, libraries and offices.

Through it all, however, we maintain a culture of positivity, hope, happiness and belief that we’re doing something big. Something Colossal.

Colossal is proud to be an equal employment opportunity workplace. We welcome people from all backgrounds as well as celebrate and support diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment so everyone can thrive.

EEO is the Law

Search Firm Representatives: Colossal does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms. No fees will be paid for a hired candidate where no pre-existing agreement is in place. We handle most recruitment in-house.

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