Staffing Advisors has been exclusively retained by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (“PCORI”) to conduct a search for a Director, Merit Review. PCORI is an equal opportunity employer.

Please submit your application to Staffing Advisors through this link: Director, Merit Review.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.

Please do not contact PCORI directly; all resumes sent to PCORI will be routed to Staffing Advisors for handling and will create delays.

About Us 

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. 

PCORI’s internal structure includes three major Departments: Patient-Centered Research Programs (PCRP), Strategy, Planning & Outreach, and Operations. The PCRP department comprises four major divisions: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research; Engagement, Dissemination, and Implementation; Research Infrastructure & Innovation; and Program Operations. The Program Operations division provides leadership, facilitation, coordination, and support for a spectrum of functions that carry out PCORI’s programmatic goals. These functions are provided by robust units, including Award Development & Implementation, Merit Review, Contract Management, Award Process Management, and Peer Review (of research results). 

Position Summary 

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is the leading funder of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research in the US. As Director of Merit Review, you will be instrumental in advancing research in priority and emerging scientific areas, meeting the strategic goals outlined in PCORI's National Priorities for Health. You will report to the Chief Officer, Program Operations and oversee a high-performing and experienced team of about 18, including three associate directors, to ensure high-quality and comprehensive scientific and technical review of applications submitted for funding. You will manage a portfolio of 300-500 applications per year across 3-4 different funding cycles and a diversity of funding opportunity types across comparative clinical effectiveness research, research methods, research engagement, research infrastructure, and dissemination and implementation.

Most of your time will be internally focused, supporting the Merit Review team in developing optimal models for the array of PCORI funding vehicles and funding application cycles. A portion of your time will be externally focused, liaising with nonprofit healthcare funding partners on best practices and innovation in application review as well as reaching out to the research communities to promote understanding of PCORI’s merit review process.

As a member of PCORI’s director-level leadership, you will act as the Merit Review unit’s primary forward and strategic thinker. You will collaborate closely with the Chief Officer, Program Operations and develop strong relationships and open dialogue with colleagues across PCORI to support new initiatives by adapting the merit review process, where applicable, to meet programmatic needs. Your ability to confidently and effectively interact and engage with PCORI leaders, staff, and external partners is essential.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Strategic Leadership. Internally, you’ll create an environment of trust and respect, evaluate and refine current processes, and put in place best practices and/or innovative business procedures and efficiencies that are understood and used by all. Through your external work with sector peers and the research communities, you will ensure PCORI is a leading voice and innovator in the nonprofit health research funding sector.
• Process Improvement. You will evaluate our current merit review processes to ensure the integrity of the process is maintained and all requirements are value-added. You will implement process improvements where needed to balance speed with accountability and improve our ability to meet programmatic needs with processes that are rigorous yet efficient.
• Team Management. You will thoughtfully and effectively manage, mentor, and organize our Merit Review staff, leveraging individual strengths and fostering productive collaboration within the team and across adjacent departments.

Work Environment 

• You’ll enjoy a purpose-driven hybrid work environment, collaborating with colleagues 3 days on-site in our Washington, DC, office with the option to telework the rest of the week. 
• You are joining a team of mission-driven professionals with a high level of experience in the field who are genuinely interested in helping each other succeed. This role is intellectually stimulating; you’ll be learning and addressing new challenges every day.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy

• Lead the development, implementation, and/or refinement of the PCORI merit review strategy and create multi-year strategic goals that align with PCORI’s broader strategic plan and priorities.
• Identify ways to track department progress in achieving goals, proactively report on progress, and adjust associated strategies and processes, as appropriate.
• To ensure the successful execution of all merit review activities, provide expert guidance and leadership to cross-functional interactions across all divisions of the PCRP as well as divisions within other PCORI departments, including Planning & Evaluation; Communications; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; DIGITAL (IT); Procurement Services; and others.

Visibility in Sector

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with other nonprofit health research funders, leading experts, and other stakeholders.
• Represent PCORI at relevant sector events, including the research communities, and promote our unique patient-centered approach to merit review.

      Policy

•  Lead the identification, formulation, revision, and implementation of PCORI policies and procedures relating to merit review activities.

Department Oversight and Management

• Oversee a highly effective team of about 18 full-time staff members, as well as variable surge support contractors, of multiple levels and areas of responsibility to ensure the successful administration of the full merit review process in compliance with internal policies and PCORI’s policies for applicants. This includes, but is not limited to, contributing to the PCORI annual funding cycle timeline; guiding and overseeing all aspects of recruitment and training of patients, stakeholders, and scientists as merit reviewers and panel chairs; guiding preparation of pre-and post-review documents and materials for use by applicants, reviewers and staff; and implementing the merit review work plan.
• Develop, manage, and maintain the Merit Review unit's annual operating budget.
• Oversee the review of an annual funding application volume of 300-500 applications with multiple funding announcements and funding cycles.
• Oversee all Merit Review procurement activities for meeting, consulting, or surge support services.
•  Interact effectively with all members of the Merit Review team (including staff, interns, and third-party workers), members of the PCORI senior and other staff, merit reviewers (current and prospective), and external stakeholders/sector leaders.
• Foster, support, and align with the Program Operations goal of proactively cultivating, through actions and attitudes, a culture of support, synergy, respect, trustworthiness, and accountability with all PCORI internal and external stakeholders.  

• Collaborative. You communicate and coordinate effectively at every level. You share information, work cooperatively, seek out relevant information, decide on the appropriate steps, and achieve the desired results.
• Gravitas. You have a confident and engaging communication style. You can see the big picture, balance priorities, and remain confident and flexible in a high-visibility environment.
• Leader. You are a facilitator and team builder. You have proven experience coaching, mentoring, and developing staff at all professional levels.
• Mission-driven. You are externally focused and committed to providing the highest level of service while remaining aligned with the mission of the organization.
• Strategic. You set priorities wisely and make tough resource allocation decisions, always finding a way to forward strategic initiatives while enriching relationships.

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in clinical research review and management, ideally working with a variety of research funding models. Doctorate or professional degree (e.g., Ph.D., ScD, MD, DrPH) in a relevant field desirable.
• Proven leadership in research program administration, scientific project management, or a specific area of knowledge, preferably in a nonprofit health research funding environment.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively managing staff and leading teams in a collaborative environment.
• Sound judgment and maturity, exemplified by consistent professionalism in working with individuals at all levels, both internally and externally.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $201,815 - $242,178

The above range represents the salary or hourly pay range expected for the position; however, final offers are based on several factors such as the position’s responsibilities; the candidate’s experience, education, and skills; location; travel required; and current market conditions. 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, eligible employees may participate in PCORI-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee’s eligible dependents.

Conflict of Interest

PCORI wants to ensure that prospective employees are aware of its conflict-of-interest policies so that employment deliberations take into consideration this aspect of PCORI employment. PCORI requires all PCORI employees to disclose upon commencement of their employment and on an annual basis all individual and close relatives financial, business, and personal association with the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one’s decisions relating to PCORI. All disclosures made by employees are made publicly available on PCORI’s website. Disclosures must include all financial, business, and personal associations with any health or healthcare-related organizations. Disclosures should include all associations with any other organizations that have the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one’s decisions relating to PCORI, including but not limited to vendors or other third parties with whom PCORI has a contract or that PCORI has funded. For more information, please visit PCORI-Conflict-of-Interest-Policies-Outside-Employment-Policy.pdf

PCORI conducts background checks on all applicants.

PCORI recommends all members of the PCORI workforce adhere to the CDC recommendations regarding staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.   

PCORI’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

PCORI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity both internal and external to the workplace. You can learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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