Associate Vice President, Cancer Network Research

UT MD Anderson is seeking an Associate Vice President of Cancer Network Research who will report directly to the EVP, Chief Physician Executive. This position will be committed to enhancing research excellence by building a national clinical trials network on behalf of the nation’s top cancer research organization.  

The mission of UT MD Anderson is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

This position serves as the interface for all research initiatives across the network to include certified, partner, international associate members, consulting and sister institutions / global academic programs.

This position is responsible for leading both the research administration and research faculty within Cancer Network. The AVP works collaboratively with cancer network executive team, clinical research leadership and designated division/department representatives.  The positions dotted line reports to the Department Chair of his/her academic department for clinical responsibilities (approx. 20-30% clinical allocation).

The AVP of Cancer Network Research is responsible for maintaining the highest level of research integrity while expanding MD Anderson’s research excellence beyond Houston. 

KEY FUNCTIONS

The role of AVP, Cancer Network Research, is to provide leadership in the development of research activities across the Cancer Network. This includes impacting the strategic planning, conduct, and all research-related relationships with partner sites regarding clinical and translational research conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Network locations.

Additionally, this position is responsible for research faculty integration and research resource allocation across the Cancer Network.

•    Conducts, coordinates or delegates due diligence assessments and ongoing research assessments of all Cancer Network sites, including national and international relationships. Provides feedback to all stakeholders and makes recommendations for improvements.
•    Evaluates programs to ensure adequate research infrastructure is in place to perform multidisciplinary patient care and therapeutic and/or laboratory-based trials. 
•    Works closely with Chief Clinical Research Officer to ensure alignment of scientific strategy and regulatory requirements.
•    Works closely with the Division Heads of Cancer Medicine, Radiation Oncology and Surgery, and other MDACC Division Heads, to facilitate clinical trial development and activation in Network. This includes evaluating trial portfolios and identifying gaps for patients at each Cancer Network site to help identify and enable access to UTMDACC trials whenever possible.
•    Works with the Associate Vice President, Cancer Network Operations & Associate Vice President, Medical & Academic Affairs, Cancer Network, to examine patterns of practice, clinical quality, improve infrastructure and facilitate interactions between institutions.
•    Works with the Executive Director, Oncology Advisory Services (OAS), to foster domestic and international research relationships within MD Anderson Cancer Network OAS program.
•    Actively serves on the leadership team for the MD Anderson Global Network, providing integral leadership for Cancer Network’s international mission to foster clinical and translational research collaborations with centers of excellence around the world. 
•    Acts as role model for teamwork/collaboration in decision-making processes with respect to MD Anderson Cancer Center. 
•    Attends meetings in support of the EVP, Chief Physician Executive.
•    Responsible for research resource allocation and coordinating requests for each new and/or existing cancer network relationship.
•    Serve as liaison to research and divisional leadership to ensure Cancer Network goals and objective are in line with divisional priorities and facilitates two-way communication of priorities. 
•    Participate in research and clinical leader interviews and selection process for Network sites. 
•    Provide feedback and participate in annual reviews for divisional faculty resources assigned to the Cancer Network research. 
•    Attendance at relevant meetings within the Clinical Divisions and representing the Network at meetings associated with the Network, both at MD Anderson and abroad.
•    Articulate a strong vision for Cancer Network Research working with senior leadership and faculty to accelerate team-based translational science
•    Build on and expand the institution’s capabilities to enhance mechanistic basic science
•    Collaborate with multiple constituents, including faculty and staff, to understand the changing landscape of oncology research and translational science, identify opportunities including the need for cross-disciplinary approaches to problem solving
•    Familiarity with national research policy and a track record of promoting external research funding, federal and state support, for strategic research initiatives 
•    Work with faculty to promote inter- and multi-disciplinary research and to support a full spectrum of research inquiry and discovery across the sciences.
•    Guide and make recommendations related to the allocation of research and lab space and forecast the institutional need, as it relates to expansion, recruitment, and future scientific investments at Cancer Network sites.
•    Working with faculty leadership to develop plans for obtaining grants and promoting scientific advances as it relates to the institution’s mission.
•    Acting as a positive change agent and respecting culture, while challenging the status quo.

Strategic Planning and Scientific Vision 
•    Determine and guide the strategic plan and direction for clinical and translational research at the Cancer Network. Work closely with the EVP, Chief Physician Executive, and faculty leadership to determine strategy, policy and management of resources for clinical and translational research at the Cancer Network.
•    Plan with the EVP, Chief Physician Executive, as the key member of the CN leadership team for research, overseeing the necessary resources and administrative needs of the clinical research faculty and staff to recommend strategies for achievement of these goals. 
•    Works closely with Vice President, Clinical Research, to ensure alignment of scientific strategy and regulatory requirements.
•    Works closely with the Division Heads of Cancer Medicine, Radiation Oncology and Surgery, other MDACC Division Heads, to facilitate clinical trial development and activation in Network.
•    Serves as a member of the Advisory Council of Clinical Research Leaders

Clinical and Translational Research Policy and Compliance:
•    Working with the Chief Compliance Officer and providing executive direction from the Office of Research Administration and Division of Clinical Research to ensure that MD Anderson Cancer Network performs clinical and translational research in accordance with federal, state and institutional regulations.  
•    Work closely with the Chief Legal Officer and the Chief Compliance Officer on matters pertaining to clinical and translational research, conflict of interest and research integrity as it pertains to the Cancer Network.
•    Inform and assist the Research Integrity Officer on matters of clinical and translational research misconduct at Cancer Network locations.

Clinical Research Administration: 
•    Plans with the EVP, Chief Physician Executive, the institutional priorities for clinical research at MD Anderson Cancer Network locations.
•    Provides direct oversight of the Network administrative research staff employed at MD Anderson
•    Ensure optimal service to Cancer Network research faculty and their staff through recommendations and guidance of the optimal utilization of infrastructure, personnel and financial resources supporting clinical research operations
•    Identifies best practices for improving the performance of clinical research and facilitates the organization of clinical research in Cancer Network locations.
•    Represents the interests of both individual investigators and the institution as a whole in developing ways to advance the quality of clinical research at Cancer Network sites, while adhering to the highest standards of clinical research compliance with federal regulations