Director of Real-World Evidence and Implementation Science Research

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Real-World Evidence and Implementation Science Research based in United States.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to build and scale a real-world evidence and implementation science research function within a national cardiovascular care network. You will shape the strategy, portfolio, and operating model for observational and pragmatic research programs. The role spans scientific research, study operations, business development, partnerships, and service-line performance. You will take studies from initial concept and feasibility through protocol development, regulatory review, activation, execution, analysis, and dissemination. Working closely with clinicians, researchers, analytics teams, sponsors, and external partners, you will translate complex clinical questions into rigorous, actionable evidence. This is a builder-oriented environment suited to a research leader who combines scientific credibility with operational discipline and commercial judgment.

• Lead RWE strategy and growth: Develop the strategic vision, roadmap, growth targets, operating model, and resourcing plan for the real-world evidence and observational research service line.

• Build the research portfolio: Identify opportunities across sponsors, clinical data assets, emerging methodologies, and market needs, translating priorities into a managed portfolio of RWE engagements, registries, and observational studies.

• Lead end-to-end research delivery: Develop research concepts and protocols, conduct feasibility assessments, define study objectives and methodologies, coordinate start-up activities, and oversee studies through activation, execution, analysis, and closeout.

• Establish scalable operations: Create and maintain standard operating procedures, quality controls, study documentation, feasibility tools, workflows, and other infrastructure that supports consistent, responsible growth.

• Manage regulatory and data governance activities: Oversee IRB and research compliance submissions while partnering with Privacy, Compliance, Legal, IT, and research stakeholders on data access, privacy, security, and governance requirements.

• Coordinate scientific and analytical resources: Bring together biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, clinical expertise, and external partners to support study design, analysis, interpretation, and scientific deliverables.

• Oversee vendors and technology partners: Manage external research vendors, data and analytics partners, chart abstraction providers, and other subcontractors, including contracts, statements of work, budgets, timelines, deliverables, and issue escalation.

• Drive business development: Support sponsor outreach, opportunity identification, pipeline development, proposals, capabilities materials, pricing, contracting, and revenue tracking while helping position research capabilities as commercially compelling offerings.

• Lead service-line operations: Serve as the day-to-day leader for the function, coordinating and developing a cross-functional team while maintaining accountability for quality, operational performance, partner responsiveness, and financial results.

• Build stakeholder relationships: Foster strong partnerships with physicians, practices, researchers, sponsors, and internal stakeholders and promote a culture of scientific integrity and operational excellence.

• Advance research dissemination: Support abstracts, manuscripts, presentations, sponsor reports, and other scientific outputs that communicate the impact and findings of real-world research.

Requirements

• Advanced research leadership experience: 10+ years in real-world evidence, observational or epidemiologic research, health outcomes research, clinical research operations, or a closely related discipline, with demonstrated experience leading studies or programs end to end.

• Education: Master’s degree in health sciences, epidemiology, public health, life sciences, data science, business, or a related field required; a PhD, PharmD, or equivalent terminal degree is strongly preferred.

• Research execution expertise: Proven ability to independently develop and operationalize studies, including protocol development, feasibility assessment, resource planning, IRB or regulatory submissions, study activation, research conduct, and closeout.

• Real-world data knowledge: Strong understanding of EHR, claims, registry, and clinical data sources, along with familiarity with the methodological, privacy, governance, and regulatory considerations associated with RWE.

• Program management: Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives and deliver work on time and within budget.

• Vendor and partner management: Experience overseeing external vendors, consultants, or strategic partners, including contracting, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.

• Commercial orientation: Strong business acumen and experience contributing to business development, proposals, sponsor relationships, pricing, contracting, or revenue management.

• Communication and influence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate effectively between scientific, operational, clinical, and commercial audiences.

• Therapeutic expertise: Experience in cardiovascular medicine, cardiology, or a related therapeutic area is preferred.

• Technology exposure: Familiarity with AI/ML-enabled research platforms and applications such as cohort identification, phenotyping, natural language processing, and real-world data analytics is preferred.

• Industry experience: Experience working with pharmaceutical, medical device, or diagnostics sponsors on RWE or observational research is preferred.

• Financial leadership: Experience securing and managing multi-year contracts or grants is valuable; experience managing a research program P&L of at least $10M is a strong plus.

• Regulatory knowledge: Understanding of IRB processes, HIPAA, data governance, and Good Clinical Practice standards is preferred.

• Leadership style: Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution, cross-functional leadership, operational discipline, commercial orientation, and comfort working in a rapidly evolving environment.

• Work location and travel: Remote within the U.S., with a preference for candidates in the Southeast or Florida region. Periodic travel to practices and partner sites is expected.

Benefits

• Fully remote U.S.-based position.

• Opportunity to build and scale an RWE and implementation science capability at national scale.

• Direct exposure to physician, research, quality, analytics, and clinical leadership.

• Opportunity to influence how real-world evidence is generated and translated into improved cardiovascular care.

• Mission-driven environment focused on advancing cardiovascular health and clinical research.

• Broad leadership scope spanning research strategy, scientific operations, partnerships, business development, and service-line growth.

• Salary and benefits details were not specified in the provided job posting.