Associate Director, Research

Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired•Chicago, IL

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Research Officer, the Associate Director is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for the organization’s research portfolio. The Associate Director is a skilled and collaborative leader who coordinates administrative functions to support efficient, effective operations. The Associate Director works closely with the Chief Research Officer and Director of Clinical and Scientific Initiatives to advance the organization’s research strategy, operational excellence, and department goals.

Requirements

Master's degree required; doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) preferred in a scientific, clinical, public health, engineering, or related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of research methodologies, data management, and scientific communication.
Minimum of five years of experience in research, program management, clinical research, or a related field.
Experience coordinating multiple research projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
Experience supporting grant proposal development, funding applications, and research administration.
Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scientific writing and presentation development.
Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.
Proficiency in data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
Knowledge of research ethics, data security, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.
Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
Proficiency with standard research, data management, and productivity software applications.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Nice To Haves

Commitment to our mission of providing opportunities for people who are blind, visually impaired, otherwise disabled, or are Veterans is essential.
doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) preferred in a scientific, clinical, public health, engineering, or related field.
Experience with research compliance, regulatory requirements, and data management practices preferred.
Publication, presentation, or other scholarly dissemination experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, and deliverables for software, hardware, and clinical research activities
Coordinate cross-functional research activities among academic, clinical, engineering, and commercial collaborators
Support strategic partnerships with academic, clinical, and industry stakeholders to advance vision research and technology translation
Communicate project status, technical risks, study findings, and milestone progress to internal teams and collaborators
Lead clinical psychophysical testing for visual prosthesis research, including experimental design, condition planning, and data collection oversight
Direct all aspects of clinical-trial data storage, access, and security for ongoing visual prosthesis research studies
Analyze clinical data to inform insights into clinical devices and guide optimization
Support regulatory documentation and submissions as needed for clinical research activities
Direct system-level design and software development for the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP)
Develop, maintain, and document ICVP C# software in accordance with design-control practices and participant-safety requirements
Design, implement, and execute unit- and system-level verification tests for visual prosthesis software
Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies into prosthetic vision systems
Collaborate with grants and development teams to identify funding opportunities aligned with organizational research priorities.
Support the development and submission of grant applications, funding proposals, and other research-related funding materials.
Coordinate with investigators, partners, and stakeholders to gather information and strengthen proposal submissions.
Identify and communicate opportunities for research growth, innovation, and program expansion.
Support proposal development by coordinating scientific content, budgets, timelines, and supporting documentation.
Assist in cultivating relationships with funding organizations, research partners, and collaborators.
Author and co-author peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference abstracts to disseminate research findings
Present research outcomes at national and international conferences
Provide expert peer review and editorial service for manuscripts submitted to leading journals in the field
Mentor students and support research personnel and junior team members in research methods, data analysis, scientific communication, and professional development.
Provide guidance and support to promote rigorous research practices, effective project execution, and dissemination of research findings.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Research Officer.