Associate VP, Cancer Network Research

SUMMARY

The Associate Vice President of Cancer Network Research, reporting to the Senior Vice President, Clinical and Academic Network Development, Cancer Network, with dotted line reporting to our VP Clinical Research, will be committed to enhancing research excellence by building a national clinical trials network on behalf of the nation’s top cancer research organization.  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.

With a dyad relationship with the AVP, Research Business Operations, Cancer Network, this position is responsible for leading research faculty within Cancer Network. The AVP works collaboratively with cancer network executive team, research leadership on the main campus and designated division/department representatives. 

The Associate Vice President 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 the AVP, Cancer Network Research, is to provide leadership in development research activities across the Cancer Network. This includes impacting the strategic planning, conduct, approval, and regulation of all clinical and translational research conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Network locations.

Additionally this position is responsible for resource allocation and faculty integration as well as managing research resources across the Cancer Network.

• Conducts, coordinates or delegates ongoing research assessments of the various sites for the Cancer Network 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 with the Vice President, Cancer Network Operations & Vice President, Medical & Academic Affairs, Cancer Network, to examine patterns of practice, clinical quality, improve infrastructure and facilitate interactions between institutions.
• Acts as role model for teamwork/collaboration in decision-making processes with respect to
• MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Attends meetings in support of the Senior Vice President, Clinical and Academic Network Development.
• Responsible for research resource allocation and coordinating requests for each new and/or existing cancer network relationship (partner, associate, consulting, certified, sister, etc.).
• 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 Division and representing the Division/Department 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
• Will recruit, develop and retain top talent in key research programs
• Collaborate with multiple diverse 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.
• A commitment to uphold and further diversity, equity and inclusion in research
• Establish research infrastructure which will promote strategic research recruitments
• Elevate the quality of research publications and conference presentations
• Oversee the allocation of research and lab space and forecast the institutional need, as it relates to expansion, recruitment, and future scientific investments.
• Coordinate with facilities to ensure efficient and effective operation of labs and vivarium
• Oversee and direct the budget management of scientific research programs and allocation of resources.
• Oversee the overall operation and integration of scientific cores
• 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

• Implement and guide the strategic plan and direction for clinical and translational research. Oversees the infrastructure for clinical and translational research at MD Anderson.  Work closely with the SVP, Cancer Network, and faculty leadership to implement strategy, policy and management of resources for clinical and translational research.
• Plan with the SVP, Cancer Network, 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.

Clinical and Translational Research Policy and Compliance:

• Working with the Chief Compliance Officer and providing executive direction to the Office of Research Administration 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.
• 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 SVP, Cancer Network, the institutional priorities for clinical research at MD Anderson Cancer Network locations.
• 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 while adhering to the highest standards of clinical research compliance with federal regulations.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Required:         MD or MD/PhD with a minimum of 15 years academic and/or industry experience in both cancer research and translational medicine.

Experience: 

Required

• Must have demonstrated strong leadership skills with high degree of transparency within a complex, multi-cultural matrixed organization
• International reputation of leadership, innovation, science-driven clinical research and integrity commensurate with leading the most significant clinical and translational cancer research program in the world

Preferred  

• Track record of inspiring others in the pursuit of new ideas in the search for oncology cures.
• Demonstrated broad knowledge across R&D-related sciences and practices.
• Has built, led and developed high-performance, matrixed teams and structures the work accordingly to obtain critical contributions and milestones.
• Excellent writing, presentation, organizational and written/verbal communication skills.
• Will have an impeccable reputation and recognition in the oncology scientific and medical community.
• Demonstrated leadership skills for team building, facilitation, problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Ability to plan, identify risks, anticipate issues and outcomes and respond strategically, tactically and scientifically while balancing short-term and long-term strategic objectives.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple functions, at all levels of management; lead multidisciplinary project teams and maintain project schedules on multiple programs.
• Ability to work well in a team environment, with the ability to also work effectively independently.
• Strong established external network of academic and industry partners, corresponding to a collaborative publication track record.