Job Title: Director of Real-World Evidence and Implementation Science Research
Location: Remote (U.S.); preference for candidates in the Southeast/Florida region
Organization: Cardiovascular Associates of America (CVAUSA)
Job Type: Full-time
Travel: Periodic travel to practices and partner sites
Reports to: VP of Research
Cardiovascular disease is the single largest contributor to premature death and disability in the world.
Cardiovascular Associates of America (CVAUSA) is a national network of community cardiology practices spanning eight states, with approximately 500 cardiologists and more than one million active patients. At CVAUSA, we are dedicated to delivering the highest quality cardiovascular care and to advancing scientific discovery through clinical research, including randomized trials and observational and health outcomes research. The scale, continuity, and clinical depth of the network create an exceptional platform for generating rigorous real-world evidence (RWE) and for closing the gap between evidence and everyday cardiovascular care.
Position Summary
The Director of Real-World Evidence and Implementation Science Research will develop and lead CVAUSA's program of observational and pragmatic research using the network's clinical, imaging, and administrative claims data assets. This individual will be responsible for forging partnerships with research sponsors, developing CVAUSA’s RWE and implementation science research portfolio, overseeing the design of RWE studies to ensure that they are methodologically sound and advance cardiovascular science and support the network’s research, quality, and clinical care delivery objectives.
The Director will report to the Vice President of Research and will partner closely with the Chief Research Officer, quality and clinical leadership, analytics teams, and others to build an RWE and observational research function that is scientifically credible, operationally durable, and aligned with CVAUSA's clinical and strategic priorities.
This is a builder's role for an experienced research leader who combines research development and execution with program management and a commercial mindset. The successful candidate will be capable of taking research from concept through protocol development, feasibility assessment, IRB review, study activation, execution, analysis and dissemination, while simultaneously building the operational and commercial infrastructure necessary to scale CVAUSA’s RWE and observational research portfolio. This leader will also manage relationships with external vendors and technology partners (including AI-enabled data and analytics platforms), organize and support business development activities, and act as the day-to-day leader accountable for the service line's growth, quality, and financial performance.
Key Responsibilities
RWE Service Line Strategy & Development
Partner with the Chief Research Officer and VP of Research to develop and refine the strategic vision, roadmap, and growth targets for the RWE and observational research service line.
Assess the market landscape—sponsors, competitors, data assets, and emerging methods—to identify differentiated opportunities where CVAUSA's national footprint and clinical data are uniquely valuable.
Contribute to the business case, operating model, and resourcing plan required to scale the service line, including staffing, infrastructure, and technology investments.
Lead end-to-end execution of the service line strategy, converting priorities into a managed portfolio of RWE engagements, observational studies, and registries.
Establish scalable, repeatable processes, standard operating procedures, and quality controls that enable strong, responsible growth.
Research Development & Scientific Operations
Lead the development and operationalization of real-world evidence (RWE), implementation science, and investigator-initiated research studies across the CVAUSA network.
Partner with research leadership, investigators, sponsors, and other stakeholders to translate clinical and business questions into well-defined research concepts, study objectives, endpoints, populations, and research methodologies.
Develop and write (alone or in partnership with clinicians and sponsor partners) research protocols for prospective and retrospective observational studies, registries, chart reviews, database studies, and other real-world evidence initiatives.
Lead study feasibility assessments, including evaluation of eligible patient populations, available data sources, practice and site capabilities, staffing requirements, technology needs, data abstraction requirements, statistical support, timelines, and study costs.
Develop study-specific operational plans, including research workflows, resource requirements, timelines, milestones, roles and responsibilities, data collection processes, and activation requirements.
Lead or oversee research start-up activities from concept through study activation, including protocol finalization, budget development, contracting coordination, IRB submission, data-use requirements, site/practice readiness, training, and study launch.
Prepare and/or oversee IRB and research compliance submissions, including initial applications, protocol amendments, consent and HIPAA authorization materials, requests for waivers of consent or authorization, and other required study documentation.
Partner with Privacy, Compliance, Legal, IT, and research leadership to establish appropriate data access, data-use agreements, privacy protections, governance requirements, and security controls for research involving clinical and real-world data.
Establish and maintain research documentation standards, study files, protocol templates, feasibility tools, start-up checklists, standard operating procedures, work instructions, and other infrastructure necessary to support a scalable observational research program.
Oversee study conduct following activation, including adherence to approved protocols, study milestones, data collection and abstraction activities, issue resolution, protocol deviations, quality review, and study closeout.
Coordinate appropriate scientific and analytic resources, including biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, clinical expertise, and external partners, to support study design, statistical analysis plans, data interpretation, and research deliverables.
Support development of abstracts, manuscripts, presentations, sponsor reports, and other scientific outputs arising from CVAUSA observational and real-world evidence research.
Data, Technology & Vendor Management
Structure, and then manage, relationships with external vendors and partners, including vendors to assist with chart abstraction and data cleaning and organization. Manage the negotiation of contracts while liaising with other departments, ensuring compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Manage contracts, statements of work, budgets, timelines, and deliverables with partners, and serve as the primary escalation point when issues arise.
Business Development & Partnerships
Support and organize business development activities, including opportunity identification, sponsor outreach, and pipeline management for the service line.
Coordinate proposals, capabilities materials, and budgets for prospective sponsors and partners.
Help represent the service line in meetings with prospective and current partners, and translate scientific capabilities into compelling, commercially viable offerings.
Partner with research and finance leadership on pricing, contracting, and revenue tracking.
Service Line Leadership and Operational Management
Serve as the overall day-to-day leader and manager for the RWE and observational research service line, accountable for its operations, quality, and results.
Coordinate and, over time, build and manage a cross-functional team supporting RWE work.
Foster strong working relationships with CVAUSA clinicians, practices, and internal stakeholders whose participation and data are central to the service line's success.
Champion a culture of scientific integrity, operational excellence, and partner responsiveness.
Qualifications
Required
Master’s degree in a relevant field (health sciences, epidemiology, public health, life sciences, data science, business, or related) with demonstrated experience developing research programs; terminal degree PhD, PharmD, or equivalent strongly preferred.
10+ years of experience in real-world evidence, observational/epidemiologic research, health outcomes research, clinical research operations, or a closely related field, including experience leading studies or programs end to end.
Demonstrated experience independently developing and operationalizing research studies, including protocol development and writing, study feasibility and resource assessment, IRB/regulatory submission, study start-up and activation, research conduct, and study closeout.
Strong working knowledge of real-world data sources (EHR, claims, registry, and clinical data), and familiarity with the methodological and regulatory considerations that govern RWE.
Demonstrated program or project management skills, with a track record of delivering complex initiatives on time and on budget.
Experience managing external vendors, partners, or consultants, including contracting and budget oversight.
Strong commercial acumen and comfort supporting business development, proposals, and sponsor relationships.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate between scientific, operational, and commercial audiences.
Preferred
Experience in cardiovascular medicine, cardiology, or a related therapeutic area.
Familiarity with AI/ML-enabled research platforms and their application to real-world data (cohort identification, phenotyping, natural language processing, and analytics).
Experience working with pharmaceutical, medical device, or diagnostics sponsors on RWE or observational studies.
Prior experience securing and managing multi-year contracts and grants.
Has managed a research program P&L of at least $10M.
Understanding of IRB processes, HIPAA, data governance, and Good Clinical Practice standards.
Experience in a physician practice, health system, or research network environment.
Core Competencies
Hands-on execution and managerial acumen paired with strategic thinking
Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management
Commitment to operational excellence
Commercial and partnership orientation
Comfort operating in a fast-growing, evolving environment
Why Join Cardiovascular Associates of America
At CVAUSA, you'll build a real-world evidence capability from the ground up at a national scale, as part of the nation's largest network of cardiovascular care professionals. You'll work closely with and learn from physician, research, and quality leaders, and your work will directly shape how evidence is generated and used to improve patient care. You'll join a mission-focused organization dedicated to excellence in cardiovascular care and clinical research.
