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The Robert J. Margolis, MD, Center for Health Policy at Duke University seeks to address critical health policy challenges and deliver practical, innovative, and evidence-based solutions to improve health and the value of health care. The interdisciplinary nature of Duke-Margolis brings together policy experts, researchers, health care professionals, and students from across Duke’s schools of medicine, nursing, law, public policy, business, and engineering, and fosters extensive relationships with stakeholders both internal and external. These relationships span foundations, private sector organizations, state and federal governments, and global entities. The Center fosters excellence, leadership, and scholarship at every level.

Duke-Margolis has an opening for a Managing Associate to develop and manage major components of the Center’s research and policy analysis related to biomedical research, regulatory science, and clinical trials. The individual in this role will manage day-to-day activities of projects related to biomedical research with a goal to modernize the clinical trial enterprise and improve our nationwide system of evidence generation for medical products (drugs, vaccines, devices, and diagnostics). To support broad impact, the Managing Associate will engage with state and Federal governments, researchers, key stakeholder and patient groups, and private-sector entities. The Managing Associate will collaborate with research staff and faculty to write white papers, peer-reviewed publications, policy memos, and other related research deliverables. This role is actively involved in portfolio development and regularly interacts with project funders, collaborators, stakeholders, and senior Duke-Margolis leadership to develop the strategic plan for the portfolio.

The worksite for this position is the Duke-Margolis office (currently working virtually) in Washington, DC. This position will require approximately 10% travel between Duke-Margolis offices in Washington, DC and Durham, NC (when travel restrictions are lifted) to collaborate across Center faculty and research staff.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Research and Content Development

• Leads research, writing, and analyses related to a content-specific portfolio of Duke-Margolis policy and research activities.
• Provides substantial expertise and skill in design and conduct of qualitative and quantitative analyses.
• Interacts with internal and external collaborators, including government agencies, research and/or policy organizations, and health systems.
• Collaborates with senior staff, faculty, and external subject matter experts to write white papers, peer-reviewed publications, policy memos, and other related research deliverables.
• Provides guidance to research teams’ work in research, outlining, drafting, and editing of project materials. Ensures quality and accuracy of project deliverables.
• Represents the Duke-Margolis Center at events and conferences to disseminate research findings. 

Project Management and Coordination

• Develops plans for project-related events, including identification of proposed speakers or panelists, content, work plans, and meetings.
• Tracks and manages day-to-day activities, all project milestones, deliverables, and timelines through collaboration with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Interacts with sponsors to advance project deliverables and maintain positive relationships.
• Oversees the development and planning of meetings.
• Works with Center Research Directors, executive leadership, project Principal Investigators, and financial staff to monitor budgets; ensures project staffing and activities are within budget projections and scope and meet contractual obligations. Demonstrates fiscal responsibility.
• Coordinates internal and external communication as needed for team projects.
• Collaborates with Center executive leadership, faculty, and other senior staff to develop and implement work plans, deliverable content, research agendas, and timelines; coordinates execution of work by project teams.
• Works collaboratively with events and communication teams to direct communication strategies and event management and planning.               

Portfolio Development

• Collaborates with Duke-Margolis leadership to identify and select priority research areas and projects as part of the strategic planning of the Center.
• Provides project leadership to oversee efforts to identify financial support and prepare grant proposals for the successful development, planning and execution of these projects.
• Formulates and organizes opportunities for faculty to collaborate on specific research projects.
• Liaises with external funders, collaborators, and Duke-Margolis leadership to develop project proposals.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Minimum education/ work experience requirements:
• Advanced degree (e.g., PhD, MD, PharmD) and at least three years of relevant work experience, OR
• Master’s degree with training in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., biochemistry, biomedical engineering, statistics), policy area (e.g., health policy, health economics, public health), or other relevant field, and at least six years of relevant work experience.
• Strong scientific background and training or experience in health policy, public policy, or public health strongly preferred.
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with varied responsibilities, preferably with prior experience in a government, non-profit, or policy-focused organization.
• Demonstrated proficiency in policy research, including the ability to synthesize content from a broad range of sources.
• Demonstrated proficiency in qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Proven competence in leading and managing research projects.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of medical product development, payment, and/or policy, including clinical trial design and execution.
• Proven record of publication in peer-reviewed journals and/or impactful policy-relevant publications is preferred. 

Knowledge/Skills Requirements:

• Excellent organizational and communication skills. 
• Ability to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously and manage a project team effectively.
• Ability to exercise good judgement and initiative.
• Able to function independently, with experience collaborating with diverse teams.
• Strong research, writing, analytical, and project management skills.
• Proven ability to plan and organize content with creativity and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and regulations relevant to clinical trials, biomedical research, and biomedical product regulation.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and relevant research and analytic software.
• Ability to travel 10% when appropriate (Duke travel is currently restricted).

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work to be performed in this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.