FDA: Apply to be the New Head of Center for Tobacco Products

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has begun accepting applications for those interested in becoming the agency’s new director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).

Mitch Zeller, who has led CTP since March 2013, will retire this April and the agency is looking for a replacement. Because this is a government job, the information surrounding it is rather detailed. For example, the pay will range between $110,460-275,000 or $135,468-203,700 annually. The differences are related to what payscale the applicant is hired using and the applicant’s qualifications.

The job is based out of FDA’s office in Silver Springs, Md. and the job posting lists 10 duties for the new director including developing and executing new strategies regarding tobacco regulation.

Notably, you do not need to be a scientist or doctor to apply for this job. Zeller, for example, has a J.D., but neither a Ph.D nor M.D. That being said, you will be required to hold Top Secret Security Clearance in order to have this position.

Whoever is selected for the role will take over at another transformative time for CTP. Zeller’s tenure saw him oversee the introduction of the deeming regulations in 2016, the first major new policy enacted under CTP and the first time the agency regulated cigars and e-cigarettes. Now, FDA has announced plans to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, a contentious fight that the new CTP director will be tasked with leading.

Updates on the agency’s plans to ban flavored cigars and a decision on the future regulation of premium cigars are expected to be announced by FDA this spring, right around the time Zeller is expected to step down.

Applicants have until Feb. 25, 2022 to submit their applications for this job.