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 

As Director, Merit Review, you will report to the Chief Officer, Program Operations, and oversee a team of about 18 staff, 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 PCORI mission areas of comparative clinical effectiveness research, research methods, research engagement, research infrastructure, and dissemination and implementation. 

The majority 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. You will evaluate our current merit review processes to ensure the integrity of the process is maintained, and all requirements are value-added, implementing process improvement initiatives where needed to balance speed with accountability and improving our ability to meet programmatic needs with processes that are rigorous yet efficient. While your key focus will be internal, 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 function as the Merit Review unit’s primary forward and strategic thinker, in collaboration with the Chief Officer, Program Operations, and colleagues across the organization to facilitate your leadership of all aspects of PCORI merit review activities and contributing to achieving the PCORI mission through successful merit review of funding applications. Through your continuous dialogue and strong relationships with colleagues across PCORI, you will support new initiatives by adapting the merit review process, where applicable, to meet programmatic needs. 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. 

This role requires you to thoughtfully and effectively manage, mentor, and organize our merit review process and unit, leveraging strengths across the team. Success depends on your ability to 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. Your ability to confidently and effectively interact and engage with PCORI leaders, staff, and external partners is essential. 

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 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.    

Incumbent(s) in this position may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above.

Statements outlined in this section are designated as essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.