Research Director

Nashville CARES•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Now Hiring: Research Director Location: Nashville, TN Job Type: Full-Time Reports to: Principal Investigators Salary Range: $92,000 – $105,000 annually Lead Meaningful Research That Improves Lives Join Nashville CARES, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic across Middle Tennessee through prevention, treatment, advocacy, and compassionate care. We are seeking an experienced and mission-driven Research Director to lead a major PCORI-funded research initiative focused on improving healthcare outcomes and advancing patient-centered research across multiple regions in the Southern United States. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative research leader who is passionate about public health, community impact, and evidence-based healthcare innovation. Position Overview: The Research Director will oversee the full lifecycle of a large-scale research project, including strategic planning, implementation, compliance oversight, stakeholder engagement, data management, and dissemination of findings. This role partners closely with Principal Investigators, clinicians, analysts, community organizations, and cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of high-impact research initiatives.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, or a related field
5–7+ years of experience leading health research initiatives and multi-site studies
Experience managing PCORI-funded research strongly preferred
Strong leadership and project management skills
Experience with statistical and analytical tools such as SAS, R, or SPSS
Excellent communication and stakeholder collaboration abilities
Deep commitment to patient-centered and ethical research practices

Responsibilities

Lead all phases of the PCORI-funded research project
Ensure project milestones, timelines, and deliverables are successfully achieved
Drive strategic execution and operational oversight
Supervise and mentor research staff, analysts, and coordinators
Foster collaboration, accountability, and professional growth within the team
Collaborate with advocacy groups, healthcare partners, and community organizations
Ensure research initiatives reflect patient priorities and community needs
Oversee data collection, management, and analysis activities
Maintain high scientific, ethical, and methodological standards
Ensure compliance with PCORI guidelines, reporting requirements, and budget management
Support regulatory and ethical research compliance processes
Lead development of reports, presentations, and publications
Help communicate research findings to both professional and public audiences