Job Title: Director, Clinical Research

Position Summary:

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 Director of Clinical Research, you will be responsible for aligning the Foundation’s investments in global clinical cohort studies with the Foundation’s broader scientific goals, leading a team of project and relationship managers focused on accelerating clinical-stage research in Parkinson’s, and allocating financial and people resources to ensure achievement of strategic deliverables. Success in this role will ensure that the Foundation remains a field leader in developing resources to drive patient-centered drug development for Parkinson’s disease.

You will report to a Clinical Research Strategy Lead and work closely with a diverse set of cross-functional stakeholders including Clinical Development, Translational and Discovery Research, Biopharma Partnerships, Funder Alliances, and Marketing & Communications. You will also serve as a key liaison between these internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure MJFF’s flagship clinical programs advance the Foundation’s broader research agenda and drive field-wide innovation in Parkinson’s therapeutic development. The ideal candidate will have working knowledge and interest in clinical research practices, including patient engagement, as well as experience in personnel management, talent cultivation, and project management.

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%).

*The Clinical Research team is looking to fill two open positions with the following focus areas:

(1) Parkinson’s Progression Makers Initiative (PPMI), the Foundation’s flagship observational study

(2) Patient engagement in clinical research

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify, scope, and execute strategic programs against our Clinical Research priorities and Research Business Unit vision in collaboration with MJFF’s Research Leadership Team and external advisors.
• Train, coach, and upskill a team of project and relationship managers focused on accelerating clinical-stage research in Parkinson’s.
• Oversee project- and program-level budgets and hold team accountable to annual financial targets.
• Oversee ongoing refinement and dissemination of the Foundation’s operational and recruitment and retention best practices for global cohort studies.
• Maintain intelligence on trends and upcoming challenges in the clinical trial operational and recruitment landscapes for Parkinson’s and related disorders; anticipate field needs to prioritize MJFF’s research funding and stakeholder engagement.
• Manage strategic plans at all stages from concept development, acquiring internal and external buy-in, resource allocation, risk monitoring, and problem-solving as issues arise.
• Serve as a thought and accountability partner on cross-functional initiatives and tracking progress against department, business unit, and organizational KPI.
• Support annual strategic planning for the Clinical Research team (e.g., prioritization and allocation of resourcing, identifying, and scoping annual strategic imperatives, assessing performance against funding and scientific goals).
• Create executive-level communications (including presentations and reports) to communicate strategic impact of MJFF’s Clinical Research activities and to ensure cross-functional alignment and coordination against major business unit and enterprise-level programs and projects.
• Build strong relationships with clinical study leadership, clinical study operational partners, clinical site network personnel, key opinion leaders, and the patient and participant community.

Qualifications and Skills:

• BA/BS degree required; advanced scientific, medical, or business degree strongly preferred
• 8-10+ years of relevant work experience (e.g., biopharma, healthcare consulting, clinical research, public health), including previous product or program management responsibilities and demonstrable people management experience (e.g., team leadership, delegation, coaching, talent development)
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including team-based problem-solving approaches
• Initiative and independence to identify short and long-term program needs, creatively formulate plans with cross-functional input, efficiently achieve timely decisions/alignment, and organize and deploy resources
• Ability to influence cross-functionally and drive alignment among the team, with peers, and with senior leadership, demonstrable level of executive presence
• Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal; ability to articulate program vision and motivate the team; ensures broader organization is aligned with and aware of program strategy, status, and risks
• Strong decision-making abilities amidst ambiguity; ability to make judgment calls on tough issues and own that responsibility
• Financial acumen and experience managing budgets
• Clear alignment with MJFF Core Values of Urgency, Optimism, Resourcefulness, Collaboration, Accountability and Persistence; overarching patient-centric approach to supporting drug development

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.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $120k - $150k. 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.

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 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 186 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.