Administrative Director

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Chicago Real-World Data Center for Excellence is a newly established, interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to advancing the generation of high-quality real-world evidence to inform clinical decision-making, therapeutic safety, and effectiveness across diverse patient populations. The Center will develop and implement prospective, longitudinal data collection strategies, curate large-scale datasets, and produce impactful scientific publications that shape clinical practice and policy. Building on the University of Chicago’s leadership in real-world research, the Center aims to establish scalable methodologies and standard operating protocols for prospective monitoring across therapeutic areas, with initial emphasis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Administrative Director will serve as the senior scientific and operational leader of the Real-World Data Center for Excellence, working in close partnership with the Center’s Co-Directors, including Dr. David Rubin. This individual will be responsible for leading the execution, growth, and scientific impact of the Center. This role is ideally suited for a PhD-trained investigator or scientific leader with experience in real-world data, outcomes research, or clinical epidemiology, and a strong understanding of inflammatory bowel disease or related immune-mediated conditions. The Administrative Director will integrate scientific rigor with operational leadership, overseeing complex research programs from protocol design through publication, while managing personnel, funding, and institutional collaborations.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical research, health services research, or a related field.
Experience in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or related immune-mediated diseases strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience in real-world data research, outcomes research, or clinical epidemiology.
Experience in academic medicine, clinical research environments, or large-scale data-driven initiatives.
Deep expertise in real-world evidence generation, including prospective and observational study design.
Experience in grant writing and securing external funding.
Strong understanding of clinical research methodology, data curation, and statistical analysis.
Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications and scientific leadership.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary research programs.
Strong scientific writing skills with a track record of high-impact publications.
Ability to bridge scientific rigor with operational execution.
Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple high-level projects in a fast-paced academic environment.
High degree of professionalism, judgment, and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Lead the scientific vision and execution of real-world data initiatives in alignment with Center leadership.
Develop innovative research strategies to advance prospective real-world evidence generation.
Identify emerging scientific opportunities in IBD and related therapeutic areas.
Ensure methodological rigor, reproducibility, and high-impact output across all Center activities.
Direct the full lifecycle of research programs, including: Protocol development and study design; regulatory and compliance processes; data acquisition, curation, and quality oversight; statistical analysis in collaboration with biostatistics teams; and Manuscript development and peer-reviewed publication.
Establish and maintain standardized methodologies for prospective data collection and analysis.
Ensure timely execution of deliverables across multiple concurrent studies.
Recruit, supervise, and mentor a multidisciplinary team including data scientists, statisticians, program managers, and research staff.
Create a high-performance, collaborative research environment with clear accountability and professional development pathways.
Align staffing structure with phased growth of the Center.
Lead and coordinate development of grant applications, protocols, and scientific proposals.
Drive production of high-quality manuscripts, abstracts, and reports.
Partner with faculty and institutional leadership to secure funding from federal, foundation, and philanthropic sources.
Contribute to long-term sustainability through diversified funding strategies.
Oversee the Center’s operational infrastructure, including data systems, software, and research workflows.
Develop and manage budgets, including forecasting, reporting, and resource allocation.
Ensure compliance with institutional, regulatory, and data governance requirements.
Build and maintain collaborations across University of Chicago departments and external partners.
Serve as a key liaison between scientific teams, institutional leadership, and collaborators.
Represent the Center at scientific meetings and contribute to its national and international visibility.
Oversee dissemination of research findings through publications, presentations, and reports.
Translate complex data into clinically meaningful insights to inform practice and policy.
Support development of thought leadership in real-world evidence and IBD research.
Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
Performs other related work as needed.