Director Research Governance and Transformation, Research and Sponsored Programs

Position: Director Research Governance and Transformation

Department: Research and Sponsored Programs

Schedule: 40 hours per week, Remote

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Research Governance & Transformation leads the design and implementation of Health System wide research governance and operational infrastructure within the Chief Scientific Office (CSO) and serves as a senior administrative leader for system-wide research initiatives within the CSO. Reporting to the Executive Director System Research Strategy & Governance, this position partners closely with CSO and Research & Sponsored Programs (RSP) senior leadership to lead cross-functional initiatives and align institutional stakeholders in support of research priorities.
The Director translates institutional research strategy into actionable programs, governance structures, policies, and operational processes, including leading the development of research privacy, compliance, and secondary data-use research frameworks that enable compliant, scalable, and efficient research human subjects research operations across the Health System.

In close partnership with Research & Sponsored Programs leadership, research operations, compliance, privacy, legal, IRB, and data infrastructure leadership, the Director ensures alignment between institutional priorities, regulatory requirements, and operational execution across the health system. The Director oversees high-priority institutional initiatives and special projects on behalf of the CSO and provides strategic analyses, recommendations, and executive-level briefings to senior leadership on performance, emerging risks, and future direction.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the establishment and ongoing stewardship of Health System-wide research governance frameworks in partnership with CSO, IRB, Compliance, Privacy, and Legal to ensure regulatory alignment, clarify organizational responsibilities, and mitigate institutional risk related to human subjects research and data use.

• Translate health system research strategy into institutional programs, governance structures, policies, and operational processes across the Research Enterprise.

• Provide upstream guidance on feasibility, compliance, and data use considerations for research proposals, initiatives, and institutional priorities.

• Develop and implement Health System dissemination strategies related to regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and processes.

• Oversee CSO and RSP project management resources, including establishing standard operating procedures, tools, and resource deployment to prioritize and execute cross-functional research initiatives.

• Lead strategy and alignment of research core facilities to ensure cohesive user experience, standardized processes, and coordinated operations.

• Establish and oversee a centralized project management function (PMO

• Partner with leadership to operationalize strategic priorities through scalable systems, governance structures, and cross-functional coordination

• Convene and lead cross-functional stakeholders to align on policies, workflows, and operational standards across research administration, compliance, and data teams

• Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional research capabilities, improve governance alignment, and enhance coordination across the research enterprise.

• Prepare strategic analyses, recommendations, and executive-level briefings for CSO and senior leadership regarding research initiatives, operational performance, regulatory considerations, and emerging institutional risks and opportunities.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) from an accredited four-year college or university

• MBA, MPH, or other advanced degree preferred

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in healthcare management and/or research operations

• Demonstrated experience leading teams, including development and execution of complex initiatives or programs, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a large academic medical center or health system environment, coordinating stakeholders across clinical, academic, compliance, legal, privacy, and administrative domains.

• Experience developing and implementing institutional policies, operational frameworks, or governance structures.

• Ability to tackle complex and unstructured institutional challenges by identifying critical issues, assessing risk, and developing multiple solution pathways, including determining when escalation to senior leadership is required.

• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks applicable to human subjects research and healthcare environments, including privacy, ethical standards, and institutional governance practices.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, operational frameworks, and governance structures that align strategy with regulatory and institutional requirements.

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, assess operational performance, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and drive projects to completion with minimal oversight in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex analyses into clear, concise materials for executive-level audiences.

• Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority and build consensus across diverse constituencies.

JOB BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs
• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base especially for individuals pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research.
• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn’t dictate health.

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Compensation Range:

$140,500.00- $204,000.00This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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