Director Research & Evaluation

Patient Advocate Foundation•Washington, DC

7h•$79,000 - $85,000•Remote

About The Position

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a national nonprofit headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. The Director, Research & Evaluation leads the design, execution, and management of mixed-methods research initiatives, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to generate actionable insights on health services topics. The role collaborates with organizational leadership and cross-functional stakeholders and oversees research using primary and secondary data on topics such as financial toxicity, medical debt, transportation barriers, insurance navigation, access to care, patient perceptions of costs, benefits and value, patient-reported outcomes, treatment adherence, health literacy, and quality of life. The position is eligible for remote work. PAF is primarily considering candidates in the Eastern Time Zone, including Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Florida. The Director supervises and develops research, evaluation, and dissemination staff; manages research projects from study design through dissemination; builds partnerships; and contributes to the Patient Insight Institute and Patient Insight Congress research activities.

Requirements

Master’s degree or PhD in Public Health, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Health Policy, Economics, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research in healthcare, public health, or related settings; a PhD may substitute for 3 years of experience.
At least 3 years of experience managing research staff and cross-functional projects.
Experience using qualitative and quantitative analysis software such as STATA, R, NVivo, SAS, or similar tools.

Responsibilities

Provide supervision, mentorship, and professional development support to research, evaluation, and dissemination staff, including research managers, coordinators, and interns.
Lead the design, implementation, and management of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research initiatives aligned with organizational priorities.
Oversee all phases of research projects, including study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings.
Develop research proposals, grant applications, and partnership opportunities with nonprofit, academic, healthcare, and industry stakeholders.
Lead development of research deliverables, including peer-reviewed publications, white papers, policy briefs, presentations, abstracts, and public-facing materials.
Partner with the Chief Science Officer to advance strategic publication and dissemination efforts that elevate organizational research and patient insights.
Build and maintain academic partnerships to support research innovation, evidence generation, and health equity initiatives.
Present research findings at conferences, workshops, panels, and stakeholder meetings.
Support development of the Patient Insight Congress research agenda and initiatives integrating patient voice into research activities.
Contribute to strategic planning, fundraising, and business development, including grants and research partnerships.
Develop and maintain project management systems, workflows, timelines, and documentation to support Patient Insight Institute research activities.