Associate Director, Research & Quality

Salary range: $145,000 - $170,000

If hired, you must reside in the Chicagoland area.

Primary purpose: Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for SCCM’s research and quality improvement portfolio. Advances SCCM’s mission to improve healthcare outcomes through evidence generation, data-driven quality initiatives, and dissemination of best practices.

Responsibilities:

I. Strategic Leadership

• Supports the development and implementation of SCCM’s research and quality strategic plan in alignment with organizational goals.
• Identifies emerging trends, funding opportunities, and research priorities relevant to SCCM’s mission.
• Serves as a thought leader on quality, implementation science, and outcomes measurement.

II. Research Oversight

• Manages the implementation and management of multisite and sponsored studies, registries, and collaborative initiatives.
• Ensures adherence to ethical and regulatory standards (e.g., IRB, HIPAA, data use agreements).
• Supervises data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and white papers.
• Supports and guides internal and external investigators in proposal development, study design, and methodological approaches.

III. Quality Improvement and Measurement

• Leads development of metrics, dashboards, and benchmarking systems that assess clinical, educational, and organizational performance.
• Serves as a strategic partner for quality activities and supports processes of strategic planning and guidelines development and publication.
• Supports members, American College of Critical Care Medicine Board of Regents, and SCCM leadership and staff to implement guidelines process improvements.
• Supports the implementation of quality frameworks such as the Model for Improvement, Moore’s Outcomes Framework, and plan-do-study act cycles.
• Collaborates with member institutions on quality collaboratives, ICU Centers of Excellence programs, and national learning networks.

IV. Program and Staff Management

• Supervises research and quality staff.
• Manages budgets, timelines, and reporting for grant-funded and internal projects.
• Coordinates with cross-functional departments (education, policy, communications) to align initiatives and promote outcomes dissemination.
• Trains and mentors department staff to promote achievement of their full potential.

V. Stakeholder Engagement

• Serves as a liaison to academic, clinical, and industry partners on joint research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Represents SCCM in national coalitions, advisory groups, and committees related to research and quality improvement.
• Contributes to the development of educational resources, toolkits, and webcasts to support member engagement in research and quality improvement.
• Ensures that member communications are professional, accurate, and in compliance with SCCM policies.

Requirements:

• Clinical background such as physician, nurse, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, or related scientific field
• Formal training in quality improvement or successful research or quality projects that have received funding preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research or quality programs from design to dissemination
• Experience working in a professional association, academic medical center, or hospital quality department preferred
• Experience with federal or foundation funding mechanisms (AHRQ, NIH, HRSA, PCORI)
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) and quality dashboards
• Significant supervisory experience
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical, and organization skills
• Ability to work collaboratively

Why SCCM?

Flexible Work Options: With our generous remote work policy, much of your work will be from home. We value work-life balance, but you’ll need to be able to come into the office when required by your supervisor.

Generous Paid Time Off: Take advantage of paid vacation and 13 paid holidays each year, plus a summer hours program for that perfect work-life balance.

Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance coverage to keep you and your family protected.

Paid Parental Leave: Take the time you need to bond with your new addition to the family.

Matching 401(K): We invest in your future with a 401(K) matching program to help you save for retirement.

Educational Assistance: Continue learning and growing with educational assistance—we’re invested in your personal and professional development.

SCCM is an Equal Opportunity Employer