Director, Research & Registry

Director, Research & Registry

Exempt 

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director, Research & Registry is a role requiring advanced quantitative research and statistical expertise to lead, execute, and elevate research initiatives that drive the mission of the Cancer Support Community (CSC). The Director will report to the Vice President, Research and lead multiple psychosocial oncology research projects, from study conceptualization and design to data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. The candidate will have experience in survey and questionnaire design, sampling, and statistical analyses of survey or behavioral data. A core responsibility of this position is overseeing the Cancer Experience Registry (CER)—CSC's flagship, longitudinal research initiative aimed at understanding the emotional, physical, practical, and financial impact of cancer on patients, survivors, and caregivers. The Director will lead the day-to-day operations of CER, ensure data integrity and relevance. This requires expert knowledge of SPSS for data management and analysis, including proficiency with SPSS syntax. The Director will serve as a thought leader in evolving the Registry to better inform programming, policy, and funding priorities. This includes regularly assessing and enhancing the content, structure, and research methodologies to strengthen its value to funders, partners, and other stakeholders.

The candidate should be able to manage their research plans through fast-changing environments, align and efficiently execute critical insights and work with a large group of external and internal partners. The Director will work closely with funding partners and researchers to ideate and define research questions and deliver generative and evaluative research. The candidate must be skilled at collaborating with researchers and non-research partners to achieve project goals, including industry sponsors and collaborators. The Director will also work with other CSC departments, including Program and Health Equity, Education, and Policy and Advocacy to develop research questions and protocols to understand needs for educational materials and programs, in addition to evaluating the efficacy of these programs. The Director will develop, recommend, and lead program evaluation, including material development and testing, such as analyzing and collecting data through surveys. 

The Director, Research & Registry will also lead formal analysis, and reporting, such as drafting abstracts, manuscripts, and presentations for academic, industry, and policy audiences. The ideal candidate will possess highly effective interpersonal and collaborative skills, excellent writing, and verbal communication skills. Communication skills should include the ability to translate complex concepts to non-methodologically expert audiences and to pitch research projects to potential funders. The candidate should also be able to develop persuasive and scientifically sound grant proposals. This person will collaborate effectively with investigators from other specialties and outside institutions on joint research initiatives, and will engage diverse stakeholders, study sponsors, professional advisory committees, and other departments within the CSC organization. This role is a fit for highly organized individuals who have the ability to complete multiple tasks and deliverables within tight timeframes and to plan ahead for periods with competing priorities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead quantitative research initiatives from study conceptualization through dissemination, including survey design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Oversee and manage day-to-day operations of the Cancer Experience Registry (CER), including content development, data quality monitoring in SPSS, and regular updates to ensure scientific and strategic relevance.
• Oversee the process of onboarding new and potential CER recruitment partners, including hospitals and community organizations; work with Research Operations to coordinate the creation of unique recruitment URLs and materials.
• Oversee the process to generate tailored reports for CER recruitment partners, including Commission on Cancer (CoC) accrual numbers as applicable; regularly update internal dashboards to track and reflect enrollment activity across sites.
• Identify research needs and generate quantitative research questions aligned with organizational priorities and stakeholder interests.
• Develop IRB protocols, literature reviews, analytic plans, recruitment strategies, and quantitative instruments (e.g., surveys, questionnaires).
• Conduct advanced statistical analysis of survey and behavioral data (e.g., regression, longitudinal analysis, mediation/moderation) to inform project reports and dissemination.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams (e.g., Education, Programs, Policy & Advocacy, Health Equity) to design and execute research and program evaluation initiatives.
• Partner with external collaborators, including academic institutions, industry sponsors, and advocacy groups, to co-develop research projects and execute joint studies.
• Translate complex research findings into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences through written reports, presentations, and visualizations.
• Draft abstracts, manuscripts, position papers, and other deliverables for academic, industry, and policy dissemination.
• Serve as a thought leader in evolving the CER, including modernizing our statistical analysis platform, and other research initiatives to enhance patient-centered relevance and value to funders and partners.
• Support development of research proposals and grant applications in partnership with the Executive Director, Senior Director, and other departments.
• Present research findings at academic conferences, policy summits, and public forums to advocate for CSC's mission and promote the impact of its research.
• Maintain data integrity through testing, response monitoring, participant eligibility review, and appropriate handling of incomplete or invalid responses.
• Provide consultation on quantitative methods and research design across the organization, contributing to capacity building and internal training efforts.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects in fast-paced environments, ensuring timely execution of critical research milestones.

Performs other duties as requested by management

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• PhD in applied social sciences or human behavior fields such as psychology, behavioral science, sociology, health services research, industrial/organizational psychology, patient preference and decision-making theory, health outcomes research, or related disciplines.
• 8–10 years of experience preferred in quantitative research leadership, advanced analytics, study design, and execution.
• Proven expertise in survey design, participant recruitment, sampling strategies, and sample stratification.
• Strong skills in cleaning, managing, and analyzing large quantitative datasets (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) using SPSS statistical software, including proficiency in SPSS syntax. Ability to oversee transition of Registry data from an SPSS platform to another more modern platform such as R.
• Experience with advanced statistical methods, including descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.
• Proficiency programming surveys and collecting data using platforms like Qualtrics and/or VOXCO.
• Ability to create clear, audience-tailored data visualizations—leveraging existing templates or designing custom displays based on data structure and context.
• Up-to-date CITI training for conducting behavioral research involving human participants.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for diverse audiences, including industry partners, researchers, patient advocates, healthcare providers, and laypersons.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and reference management software such as EndNote.
• Highly detail-oriented and process-driven, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Strong skills in cleaning, managing, and analyzing large quantitative datasets (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) using SPSS statistical software, including proficiency in SPSS syntax. Ability to oversee transition of Registry data from an SPSS platform to another more modern platform such as R.
• Proficiency programming surveys and collecting data using platforms like Qualtrics and/or VOXCO.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and reference management software such as EndNote.

EDUCATION:

PhD in applied social sciences or human behavior fields such as psychology, behavioral science, sociology, health services research, industrial/organizational psychology, patient preference and decision-making theory, health outcomes research, or related disciplines.

EXPERIENCE:

8–10 years of experience preferred in quantitative research leadership, advanced analytics, study design, and execution.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES/REGISTRATIONS:

Up-to-date CITI training for conducting behavioral research involving human participants.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Dependent on experience. In addition to a competitive base salary, we offer statutory benefits required by law.

WORK LOCATION

CSC has offices located in Washington D.C. and offers in-person, hybrid, or fully remote work for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit an original cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please tell us why you are interested in this opportunity and include your qualifications and potential start date.

*Applications are accepted and considered on a rolling basis.

*Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

ABOUT CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY

The mission of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, CSC offers a menu of personalized services and education for patients and families affected by all types of cancer. CSC provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of over 200 locations in 50 markets worldwide, including CSC and Gilda's Club centers as well as healthcare partnerships. These locations, along with a toll-free helpline, digital services, and award-winning education materials, provide more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families each year.

We believe in equity for all, including in health care, and fight every day to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect and have the opportunity to live healthy and safe lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

For more information, visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org

Cancer Support Community is an Equal Opportunity Employer