Canning Thoracic Institute Program Director-Translational Research Unit (TRU)

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Chicago, IL

6d

About The Position

The Program Director of the Translational Research Unit (TRU) at the Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI) is a leadership role responsible for clinical trial strategy, research infrastructure, quality, and financial management for clinical and translational studies. The role manages a diverse team, ensures regulatory compliance, builds stakeholder relationships, leads clinical technology development and innovation, oversees sponsored projects, manages industry partnerships, and collaborates with the Northwestern Medicine Ventures and Innovations team. The position also encompasses strategic planning, financial management, operational logistics, stakeholder engagement, data coordination, and cross-functional collaboration.

The Program Director reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values; adheres to its Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program; and complies with applicable policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards. The successful candidate demonstrates strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and communication skills and the ability to direct projects and operational initiatives toward stated outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 8–10 years of industry experience, or a master’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of experience.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers and constituents at all organizational levels.
• Ability to lead projects with budgets in excess of $1,000,000.
• Strong leadership capabilities.
• Strong skills in working with and negotiating with external vendors.
• Unquestionable integrity, credibility, and character, with demonstrated high moral and ethical behavior.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for an assigned portfolio of projects and initiatives through active engagement with Northwestern Medicine executives and stakeholders.
• Lead project proposal and charter definition, budget development, resource allocation and management, information distribution, and meeting facilitation.
• Communicate initiative status and overall performance proactively, clearly, concisely, and in a timely manner to team members, executives, and vendor partners.
• Facilitate the continuous exchange of ideas, information, and developments.
• Recommend solutions that add value and strengthen project or operational outcomes while reflecting sponsor or user needs.
• Deliver projects and operational initiatives on time and on budget, including execution or activation, closeout, and stabilization that meet sponsor and stakeholder outcomes.
• Lead organizational development and improve management competence.
• Develop educational, coaching, and mentoring programs to support an execution-centered organization.
• Set priorities, establish action plans, and anticipate obstacles and alternatives for challenging but realistic work goals.
• Direct and mobilize the organization through strategic thinking, decisiveness, enthusiasm, competence, and integrity.
• Lead, facilitate, and manage change effectively in a changing environment.
• Oversee clinical trial strategy, research infrastructure, quality, and financial management for clinical and translational studies.
• Manage a diverse team and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Foster stakeholder relationships; oversee sponsored projects and industry partnerships; and collaborate with the Northwestern Medicine Ventures and Innovations team.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• Lifecycle benefits
• A wide range of benefits intended to support employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

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