Associate Director, Biostatistics | School of Medicine - Pediatrics, Innovation Research

Emory University • Atlanta, GA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Working closely with the Core Director, the Associate Director plays a central role in guiding the scientific and operational activities of the Core, including methodological oversight, staff supervision and development, investigator relationships, resource planning, and continuous improvement of Core processes. The ideal candidate combines strong applied biostatistical expertise with excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills and demonstrates the judgment, initiative, and independence needed to lead complex projects, people, and priorities.

Serves as a senior biostatistical expert and collaborator for complex pediatric and clinical research projects, including study design, statistical analysis planning, sample size and power calculations, advanced data analysis, interpretation of findings, and preparation of statistical sections for grants, protocols, presentations, and manuscripts.
Provides scientific and methodological leadership across the Core, including consultation on complex analytic challenges, review of statistical approaches and work products, and guidance to biostatistical staff and investigators on appropriate study design and analysis methods.
Partners with the Core Director in setting priorities, addressing scientific and operational needs, supporting strategic initiatives, and leading major areas of Core activity involving staff, investigators, departments, and institutional partners.
Provides oversight and management for assigned projects, including communication with investigators, clarification of expectations, coordination of timelines and responsibilities, delegation of work, and review of deliverables.Supervises, mentors, and supports the professional development of biostatistical staff, including workload and priority management, methodological guidance, performance feedback, and promotion of high-quality, collaborative work.
Supports day-to-day Core leadership and organization, including staff coordination, resource planning, prioritization of competing needs, and continuous improvement of team operations.
Develops and improves Core standard operating procedures, workflows, and documentation related to functions such as hiring, onboarding, staff transitions, project intake and assignment, internal award programs, and quality oversight.
Helps lead and strengthen relationships with investigators, clinical divisions, departments, and institutional partners, including service agreements, communication regarding expectations and deliverables, assessment of investigator satisfaction, and proactive resolution of concerns.
Serves as a visible and effective representative of the Core through presentations, outreach, and engagement with investigators, faculty leaders, research teams, and other institutional stakeholders.
Mentors and trains faculty, fellows, trainees, investigators, and Core staff on statistical methods, clinical research design, and effective collaboration with biostatisticians through lectures, workshops, seminars, and other educational activities.
Participates in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, performance management, and transition planning for Core staff and helps foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented team culture.
Keeps abreast of emerging statistical methods, research practices, and computing tools relevant to collaborative biostatistics and clinical research and contributes to continuous improvement of statistical quality and standardization across the Core.

Requirements

• A Masters degree in biostatistics, epidemiology or another public health field with 7 or more years of research experience.

Nice To Haves

• Deep applied expertise in classical and contemporary statistical methods relevant to pediatric and clinical research, such as generalized regression modeling, longitudinal and mixed-effects models, survival and competing risks analysis, trajectory and latent-variable modeling, data visualization, and other advanced analytic approaches.
• Substantial experience serving as a senior biostatistical collaborator, Key Personnel member, or Co-Investigator on federal, foundation, industry-sponsored, or other clinical research, including development of analytic plans, power and sample size calculations, conduct of analyses, interpretation of results, and dissemination through grants, presentations, and manuscripts.
• Demonstrated ability to provide scientific leadership and methodological oversight to biostatisticians, investigators, and interdisciplinary research teams, including review of statistical work products and complex analytic approaches.
• Strong proficiency in at least one statistical programming language such as R, SAS, or Python, with experience in data management, advanced statistical analysis, visualization, simulation, reproducible workflows, and reporting.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and sound judgment in managing complex scientific, personnel, operational, or organizational matters, with the ability to take ownership of priorities, anticipate needs, and move work forward with appropriate independence.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or leading technical staff, including workload oversight, priority setting, professional development, performance feedback, and support of high-performing teams.
• Experience contributing to the operational or administrative leadership of a biostatistics, data science, research, clinical, academic, or other technical team, including development or improvement of workflows, documentation, or team processes.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-management skills, with experience working effectively with investigators, faculty leaders, clinical divisions, interdisciplinary teams, and other stakeholders to build trust, establish expectations, and address concerns.
• Excellent presentation and teaching skills, with the ability to communicate statistical and research concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities, bring structure to complex work, and lead initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in people management or formal team leadership is strongly preferred, with a track record of fostering professional development, collaboration, accountability, and high team performance.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for statistical analysis and consulting, data management and analysis for division specific projects including data cleaning, manipulation, data analysis, creation of tables, figures and other aspects of projects reporting.
• Provides project oversight and management of all statistical-related aspects of assigned projects including supervision of staff, communication with investigators, setting deadlines and managing study expectations.
• Develops statistical analysis plan, performs sample size and power calculations for grants.
• Mentors, trains and lectures different pediatric divisions on statistical topics, participates on scholarship oversight committees, organizes journal clubs, and co-leads curriculum for biostatistical core staff development.
• Keeps abreast of the latest statistical modeling and computing tools. Develops and validates SAS programs to support statistical analyses.
• Provides interpretations of statistical results, and prepares the relevant statistical sections for study reports.
• Creates and maintains biostatistical documentation, including descriptions of methods, SAS programs and results.
• Prepares electronic files using appropriate formats for submission to regulatory agencies.
• Participates in the development of standardization procedures for statistical functions.
• Reviews and audits statistical analysis plans, SAS programs, and statistical reports including tables, listings, and figures.

Benefits

• Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
• Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.
• Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination.
• Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities).
• Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior