The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is the leading funder of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research in the US. As Director of Scientific Review, you will be instrumental in advancing research in priority and emerging scientific areas, meeting the strategic goals outlined in PCORI’s National Priorities for Health. You will report to the Chief Officer, Program Operations and oversee a high-performing and experienced team of about 18, including three associate directors, to ensure high-quality and comprehensive scientific and technical review of applications submitted for funding. You will manage a portfolio of 300-500 applications per year across 3-4 different funding cycles and a diversity of funding opportunity types across comparative clinical effectiveness research, research methods, research engagement, research infrastructure, and dissemination and implementation.
Most of your time will be internally focused, supporting the Merit Review team in developing optimal models for the array of PCORI funding vehicles and funding application cycles. A portion of your time will be externally focused, liaising with nonprofit healthcare funding partners on best practices and innovation in application review as well as reaching out to the research communities to promote understanding of PCORI’s merit review process.
As a member of PCORI’s director-level leadership, you will act as the Merit Review unit’s primary forward and strategic thinker. You will collaborate closely with the Chief Officer, Program Operations and develop strong relationships and open dialogue with colleagues across PCORI to support new initiatives by adapting the merit review process, where applicable, to meet programmatic needs. Your ability to confidently and effectively interact and engage with PCORI leaders, staff, and external partners is essential.
How You’ll Make an Impact
- Strategic Leadership. Internally, you’ll create an environment of trust and respect, evaluate and refine current processes, and put in place best practices and/or innovative business procedures and efficiencies that are understood and used by all. Through your external work with sector peers and the research communities, you will ensure PCORI is a leading voice and innovator in the nonprofit health research funding sector.
- Process Improvement. You will evaluate our current merit review processes to ensure the integrity of the process is maintained and all requirements are value-added. You will implement process improvements where needed to balance speed with accountability and improve our ability to meet programmatic needs with processes that are rigorous yet efficient.
- Team Management. You will thoughtfully and effectively manage, mentor, and organize our Merit Review staff, leveraging individual strengths and fostering productive collaboration within the team and across adjacent departments.
Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits
- You’ll enjoy a purpose-driven hybrid work environment, collaborating with colleagues 3 days on-site in our Washington, DC, office with the option to telework the rest of the week.
- The budgeted salary for this role is $201,815 – $242,178, including generous PTO (up to 30 days in a full year) medical, dental, and vision insurance, long-term and short-term disability, 401(a) plan with employer contribution up to 10%, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, employee engagement events, and more.
- You are joining a team of mission-driven professionals with a high level of experience in the field who are genuinely interested in helping each other succeed. This role is intellectually stimulating; you’ll be learning and addressing new challenges every day.
- As a research funder, convener, and employer, PCORI is dedicated to advancing and accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in our work. Internally, we know diversity and inclusion are about the experience and culture an organization builds for itself. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts stretch across our entire organization, from recruiting our workforce to cultivating business relationships.
Responsibilities
Strategy
- Lead the development, implementation, and/or refinement of the PCORI merit review strategy and create multi-year strategic goals that align with PCORI’s broader strategic plan and priorities.
- Identify ways to track department progress in achieving goals, proactively report on progress, and adjust associated strategies and processes, as appropriate.
- To ensure the successful execution of all merit review activities, provide expert guidance and leadership to cross-functional interactions across all divisions of the PCRP as well as divisions within other PCORI departments, including Planning & Evaluation; Communications; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; DIGITAL (IT); Procurement Services; and others.
Visibility in Sector
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with other nonprofit health research funders, leading experts, and other stakeholders.
- Represent PCORI at relevant sector events, including the research communities, and promote our unique patient-centered approach to merit review.
Policy
- Lead the identification, formulation, revision, and implementation of PCORI policies and procedures relating to merit review activities.
Department Oversight and Management
- Oversee a highly effective team of about 18 full-time staff members, as well as variable surge support contractors, of multiple levels and areas of responsibility to ensure the successful administration of the full merit review process in compliance with internal policies and PCORI’s policies for applicants. This includes, but is not limited to, contributing to the PCORI annual funding cycle timeline; guiding and overseeing all aspects of recruitment and training of patients, stakeholders, and scientists as merit reviewers and panel chairs; guiding preparation of pre-and post-review documents and materials for use by applicants, reviewers and staff; and implementing the merit review work plan.
- Develop, manage, and maintain the Merit Review unit’s annual operating budget.
- Oversee the review of an annual funding application volume of 300-500 applications with multiple funding announcements and funding cycles.
- Oversee all Merit Review procurement activities for meeting, consulting, or surge support services.
- Interact effectively with all members of the Merit Review team (including staff, interns, and third-party workers), members of the PCORI senior and other staff, merit reviewers (current and prospective), and external stakeholders/sector leaders.
- Foster, support, and align with the Program Operations goal of proactively cultivating, through actions and attitudes, a culture of support, synergy, respect, trustworthiness, and accountability with all PCORI internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 15 years of experience in clinical research review and management, ideally working with a variety of research funding models. Doctorate or professional degree (e.g., Ph.D., ScD, MD, DrPH) in a relevant field desirable.
- Proven leadership in research program administration, scientific project management, or a specific area of knowledge, preferably in a nonprofit health research funding environment.
- Demonstrated experience in effectively managing staff and leading teams in a collaborative environment.
- Sound judgment and maturity, exemplified by consistent professionalism in working with individuals at all levels, both internally and externally.
*Internally, this position is titled Director, Merit Review.
About Us
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.
Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.
