Associate Director, Clinical Research

Job Title: Associate Director, Clinical Research

Position Summary:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) takes a holistic approach to investing in Parkinson’s research, providing both intellectual and financial capital to accelerate therapeutic development. As part of this strategy, MJFF sponsors global clinical cohort studies that address field-wide therapeutic development challenges and pursues strategies to enable smart, efficient, patient-centered clinical trials for promising PD therapies. As Associate Director of Clinical Research, you will be responsible for managing relationships with clinical research stakeholders, managing projects within and across clinical studies, and supporting strong execution of study deliverables. Success in this role will ensure frictionless implementation of adaptive operational and engagement strategies for driving patient-centered drug development for Parkinson’s disease.

You will report to a Clinical Research Program Lead and work closely with Biopharma Partnerships, Funder Alliances, Marketing & Communications, key opinion leaders and advisors, and external program and study partners. The ideal candidate will be an independently motivated and skilled project manager with strong communication skills and an interest in patient-centered research.

You will have the option to work remotely full time, to work in MJFF’s office in midtown New York City full time, or to have a hybrid flex work schedule. Standard business hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. The Foundation supports flexible and remote work schedules. Some travel may be required (~10%).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Manage pilot and longer-term projects within and across clinical studies from development to closeout, including tracking key performance indicators to monitor project status, health, and impact.
Proactively identify, escalate, and resolve risks and issues that could impede study or project progress.
Prepare and present internal and external project debriefings on progress, outcomes, and impact.
Develop and cultivate positive working relationships with external collaborators and partners, which include program and study partners, other research funders, key opinion leaders, clinicians, researchers, and the patient & participant community.
Build and maintain intelligence on clinical trial operational and engagement landscape and trends for Parkinson’s and related disorders.
Support development and implementation of strategy for disseminating the Foundation’s operational and engagement best practices for global cohort studies for adoption by the research community and to advance MJFF’s research interests.

Clinical Research is looking to fill two open Associate Director positions with the following focus areas:

One Associate Director role will focus on the Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC PD) study, a cross-sectional genetics study funded by the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) with implementation support from MJFF2.
One Associate Director role will focus on patient engagement in clinical research, specializing in engaging populations that have historically been underrepresented in clinical research

· Qualifications and Skills:

BA/BS degree required
4-8 years of relevant work experience (e.g., project management, biopharma, healthcare consulting, public health, clinical research, community organizing) with measurable success and achievement
Highly creative and analytical approach to solving complex problems
Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in personal and/or professional settings
Ability to work productively both independently and as part of team and to independently prioritize time and work
Strong written and verbal communication skills and instinct to share information
Effective team player with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and comfort in navigating ambiguity
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
Motivated by patient focus and personal commitment to high performance and results
Clear alignment with MJFF Core Values of Urgency, Optimism, Resourcefulness, Collaboration, Accountability and Persistence

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $75k - $90k. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 15+ options for medical insurance (with MJFF paying 90 percent of the premiums); competitive dental and vision plans; 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution; flexible spending accounts; employer paid life and disability insurance; 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO); 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 1 Floating Holiday; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. MJFF provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. The Foundation values workplace flexibility, with staff and leadership working together to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing their specific qualifications and interest in the position. Applicants who best match the position's needs will be contacted.

About Us:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $1.5 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 201 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Vaccine Statement:

At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. MJFF has made the decision to require all staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated by date of hire and proof of vaccine is required. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after both doses of two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, because of medical or religious reasons, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology, and age.