Director of Research

OUR MISSION: Family Reach is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to removing the financial barriers standing between cancer patients and their treatment — such as loss of income, increased out-of-pocket expenses, and socioeconomic factors. When faced with these financial barriers, families have to make impossible decisions like choosing between paying for treatment or basic essentials like housing, food, and transportation. No family should have to choose between their health and their home — and we won’t stop until that’s the reality.

Position Overview:

From the moment of diagnosis, race, ethnicity, income level, zip code, and language create financial and clinical barriers to cancer care. These factors should not define a patient’s chance of survival, but they do.

Family Reach is committed to expanding our knowledge on the effect of basic health-related social needs (HRSNs) - such as food, housing, transportation, and utilities - on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and treatment adherence among cancer patients.

The Director of Research will play a critical role in shaping and executing the organization’s research strategy, ensuring that research insights guide program development, implementation, and evaluation. This individual will oversee both quantitative and qualitative research efforts, including the analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), to inform and refine interventions.

They will lead the design and execution of research studies, including IRB submissions, focus groups, and all necessary documentation, and will also contribute to the expansion of programs based on actionable research insights. The Director of Research will have a hands-on approach in both generating new insights from internal data and leading the program evaluation and reporting process, including donor deliverables and communication of research findings to key stakeholders. Additionally, they will actively contribute to the organization’s reputation as a leader in health equity research by sharing findings through publications, conferences, and collaborations with external researchers and stakeholders.

The Director of Research will ensure that research is aligned with the organization’s OKRs and strategic goals, facilitating data-driven decisions that enhance program impact and patient outcomes.

This position has no direct reports and reports to the Vice President of Programs & Health Equity.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Design & Execution

Lead the design, development, and execution of both qualitative and quantitative research studies, with a focus on actionable insights that drive program development and improvements.
Conduct comprehensive data collection efforts, including focus groups, interviews, surveys, and the analysis of existing internal data sets.
Oversee the submission and management of Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and ensure compliance with ethical standards and regulations.
Develop and implement validated survey tools and question sets, focusing on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health-related social needs (HRSNs).

Program Evaluation & Impact Analysis

Lead ongoing program evaluations to assess the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas for improvement.
Use research findings to support the development of new programs and initiatives, and to refine existing programs to better address patient needs.
Analyze patient data to track outcomes and inform decision-making, ensuring that research is tied directly to the organization’s mission and impact.

Data Reporting

Develop reports for internal and external stakeholders, including research findings, progress reports, program evaluations and other donor deliverables.
Prepare research findings for publication or white papers, ensuring that results are shared with the broader field of oncology care.
Develop data-driven presentations, academic papers and reports for the Board of Directors, highlighting key findings and actionable recommendations.
Present findings to diverse audiences, translating complex data into actionable insights.

Collaboration & Strategy

Collaborate with internal teams, including Programs & Health Equity, Business Development and Communications, IT/Ops, Data and Senior Leadership, to integrate internal and external research findings into program planning and expansion.
Collaborate effectively with internal team members while also working independently.
Engage with external researchers, partners, and stakeholders to stay current on trends in oncology research, contributing to the broader research landscape.
Provide guidance on research methodologies and program evaluation to during the development of proposals within the organization and with external partners.
Assist with project management tasks, grant proposals, implementation of research agenda, and stakeholder engagement.
Regularly monitor industry trends, reports, and databases, and share key insights with the team to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
Source, analyze, and maintain up-to-date statistical data about basic health-related social needs (HRSNs) in the broader oncology ecosystem.
Act as a thought leader and advocate for evidence-based, strategic decision-making at Family Reach.

Qualifications

PhD in Public Health, Social Work, Epidemiology, Healthcare Research or a related field is required.
Master’s Degree in Public Health, Social Work, Epidemiology, Healthcare Research or a related field is desired.
Minimum of 5-7 years of practice experience is required.
Minimum of 3-5 years in a nonprofit, healthcare, or social services setting is desired.
Demonstrated expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including survey design, focus groups, program evaluation and interviews.
Experience with developing and managing Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols, submissions, with a deep understanding of ethical research practices, and regulatory compliance.
Proven track record in analyzing and interpreting complex data, with the ability to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
Strong understanding of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and the ability to design and analyze research that ties interventions to PROs.
Knowledge of social determinants of health (SDOH), health-related social needs (HRSNs), health disparities, and oncology care, particularly as they relate to patient needs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write reports, proposals, white papers, and research publications.
Experience in donor reporting, and strategic communications with key stakeholders, including Board of Directors.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously, with attention to detail.
Proven ability to develop and oversee research budgets.
Experience in publishing research, such as journals, peer-reviewed academic papers, white papers, opinion pieces and editorials.
Demonstrated ability to present findings to diverse audiences, translating complex data into actionable insights.
Familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, SAS) and qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo).
Deep passion and commitment to Family Reach’s mission.

FAMILY REACH VALUES:
Family Reach is inclusive of all racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities; LGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, individuals that are neurodivergent, and individuals from all educational backgrounds. We encourage multiple perspectives and experiences, support a multicultural environment, and are dedicated to building our leadership and staff to reflect these values and the diverse communities we serve.

COMPENSATION:
The salary range for this position is $80,000-$100,000. Family Reach offers an attractive benefits package, including, but not limited to, an annual performance bonus, medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, and generous vacation and leave policies.