Director of External Research, Oncology Medical Affairs

The Director of External Research is responsible for managing internal resources, operational approval processes, study budgets, and timelines for the Discover Study Program, a portfolio of external investigator-initiated studies with oncology researchers from academic and large community cancer centers. The role will work with internal stakeholders to align internal strategies with external research opportunities that generate real-world evidence to guide physicians' insights in using molecular biomarkers and support reimbursement for molecular assays. . Additional responsibilities include maintenance and development of internal tracking and coordination of data disclosure strategy.

Responsibilities

• Organize and track all new proposals brought in by Medical Science Liaisons for review and approval by senior medical affairs leadership.
• Scientific review with internal partners and senior medical leadership to identify project risks and benefits, and to ensure research proposals have strategic relevance, a clear scientific intent/question, are methodologically feasible, and are achievable with adequate resource provisioning.
• Manage contracts for all approved Discover studies, acting as a liaison between Medical Affairs and legal departments of Tempus and external institutions.
• Ensure a clear understanding of all contracts between Tempus and specific institutions relevant to research partnerships, including alignment with the Partner Operations team to ensure timely execution.
• Provide operational summary updates for review by the Oncology Business Review Team, including monthly analyses of personnel resources, study concepts received and approved, analyses in progress, financial budgets, timelines, abstract submissions, and manuscripts from the Discover Study Program.
• Provide input into quarterly and annual strategic planning for Discover Study Program.
• Serve as a key point of contact in managing day-to-day focus on portfolio of external research projects being executed
• Creation of materials to support external research framework

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial business approach; thrives in a high growth, rapidly evolving business environment
• Proactive mindset that can operationalize implementable solutions, and can help move both internal and external stakeholders to quickly solve problems
• Understanding of translational research, discovery, and clinical development at research universities
• Preferred advanced understanding of clinical or translational research, biology, or therapeutic interventions in Oncology
• Proven ability to navigate multi-faceted client organizations with repeated success
• Ability to set strategies/tactics that are aggressive, but realizable
• Exceptional account management, articulation of issues and an ability to navigate a wide range of stakeholders to solve problems
• Strong business communication and presentation skills, including adept use of MS Excel and Powerpoint

Experience

• At least 5+ years in clinical, translational, or basic science research preferably in oncology or molecular genetics
• Prefer 3+ years work experience in clinical operations or project management experience
• Advanced degree in clinical / basic science (PharmD, PhD, MD)