Program Administrator

Overview

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), with more than 58,000 members residing in 135 countries, is the first and largest organization in the world dedicated to advances in all areas of high-quality, innovative cancer research.  Its mission is to prevent and cure all cancers.  The programs and activities of the AACR foster the exchange of new knowledge among scientists and physicians in cancer research as well as in related sciences.  The AACR publishes ten peer-reviewed scientific journals and an award-winning magazine for cancer patients and their loved ones; convenes topical scientific conferences and an annual meeting that draws more than 22,500 participants; offers educational workshops that train young investigators in a variety of scientific and clinical areas; funds research fellowships, career development awards, and research grants for both senior and junior investigators; raises public awareness of the progress in the biology, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer; engages actively in advocacy for increased federal research funding and other national policies that accelerate progress against cancer; and interacts with regulatory agencies to support regulatory science and policy.

Summary:

The Program Administrator, Scientific Programs Department, will be responsible for the management of an annual multidisciplinary educational workshop and mentoring program for physicians who are early-stage investigators (as defined by the NIH) underrepresented in medicine, or physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in clinical research to the principles of good clinical trial design. The workshop will provide the educational foundation and the tools needed to conduct clinical trials that will yield definitive results and have the potential to impact patient care as well as increase the participation of diverse populations in clinical trials for oncology, benign hematologic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. A unique aspect of the workshop is the focus on addressing the frequent disconnect between communities and clinical trialists by teaching effective methods that create structures for communities to help refine clinical questions and trials for improved patient benefit. Bridging the gap between clinical investigators and the communities they serve by utilizing highly innovative approaches to clinical research will be a unique and key component of the program. The workshop is developed in support of a broader project focused on mentoring, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in biomedical research and will require extensive external communication and collaboration. This position will be responsible for coordinating at least four (4) post-workshop virtual events and closely collaborating with external scientific advisors on content development, evaluation metrics, and delivery methods; and external partners on cohesive mentoring programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for developing the content for the annual Diversity in Clinical Trials (DICT) workshop and post-workshop mentoring program for 50-75 early-stage investigators.
• Work with staff across multiple functional areas (internally and externally) to successfully administer the workshop and mentoring program. 
• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of clinical research, clinical trial design, and community engagement and implementation for oncology, benign hematologic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases, identify future trends that may impact the educational content and format of the workshop, and analyze obstacles and opportunities to improve community engagement in underserved populations.
• Responsible for all record-keeping associated with the program, including progress reports for internal and external stakeholders and data pertaining to the long-term evaluation of the program.

Qualifications

• BA or BS required, advanced scientific degree with expertise in clinical research, and clinical trial design and implementation (PhD, MD, and MD/PhD, or equivalent) preferred
• Five (5) years of project management experience in a healthcare or biomedical research related field
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues related to health care and biomedical research
• Clinical trial experience preferred in oncology, benign hematologic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and/or autoimmune diseases
• Experience with community outreach and engagement initiatives in clinical research settings
• Experience with multi-stakeholder (internal and external) projects
• Experience with educational program data collection, evaluation, and reporting
• Ability to interact with diverse external constituencies
• Ability to work on several simultaneous projects independently and in collaborative groups across functional areas
• Ability to travel 10%-15% per year; including 5-6 consecutive days for the workshop and 2-3 consecutive days for administrative meetings
• Experience in scientific writing or grant writing required
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of project management principles and CRM a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, Canvas, Salesforce a plus

How to Apply:

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, one writing sample, and salary expectaions.

Equal Opportunity Employer