Program Officer, Strategy

About Us

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is authorized by Congress to conduct research to provide information about the best available evidence to help patients and their health care providers make more informed decisions. PCORI's research is intended to give patients a better understanding of the prevention, treatment and care options available, and the science that supports those options.

Position Summary

The primary objectives of the Program Officer position on the Evaluation & Analysis (E&A) team are to:

• Lead evaluation projects that generate evidence about PCORI's progress toward organizational goals, with particular focus on the uptake and impact of PCORI's funded research.
• Facilitate PCORI's use of evidence for strategic decisions about programs and processes.
• Coordinate high profile projects that communicate results from evaluation projects to key audiences, such as the PCORI Board of Governors (Board) and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The Program Officer uses extensive technical expertise, understanding of PCORI's mission and activities, and active collaboration to support E&A's key function areas:

• Supporting PCORI to operate as a learning organization.
• Assessing the impact of PCORI's research and policies.
• Analyzing PCORI's research portfolio.

• Informing PCORI process improvement (e.g., application, review, and award processes).
• Understanding the science of engagement (i.e., study of the methods and impact of engaging patients and stakeholders as partners in the research process).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Recognize organizational needs for evaluation, set internal research agendas, and generate evaluation plans to answer key questions about PCORI processes and progress toward organizational goals.
• Work with people from multiple PCORI teams to seek and maintain insights into all aspects of the organization to support cross-cutting evaluation activities, identify and address collaborative goals, incorporate multiple viewpoints, and meet the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Oversee and conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses, interpret and synthesize results, prepare high-quality, tailored disseminations for a range of internal and external audiences, and generate recommendations to inform PCORI decision-making
• Coordinate and oversee a complex set of evaluation projects.
• Provide rigorous and efficient consultation to support other departments' evaluation needs. Provide guidance to develop individual staff members' skills and PCORI's capacity to operate as a learning.
• Effectively supervise and develop staff.

Incumbent(s) in this position may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above.

Statements outlined in this section are designated as essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Required Skills

• Expertise in a range of evaluation concepts such as research design; data management; quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methods analysis techniques; survey design; and/or research ethics.
• Experience or leadership potential in assessing program and organizational impact and contributing to E&A's other key function areas.
• Expertise with dashboards, including data visualization and performance metrics.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills; able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, awardees, consultants, external funders, and others who contribute to program development and management.
• Project and staff management, including managing matrixed teams.
• Sound judgment and maturity; ability to make decisions and justify recommendations.
• Able to synthesize material and focus quickly on the essence of an issue; able to attend to details and see the big picture;
• Flexibility and high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through our work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Facility with PowerPoint, Excel and Microsoft Office Products required; knowledge of statistical and/or qualitative analysis software desirable.
• Experience and comfort working with boards, executive committees, or government agency leaders is preferred.

Required Experience

• Applicants with advanced academic or professional credentials, extensive years of relevant health research experience and experience working in a funding organization/agency may be considered for Senior Program Officer roles. A combination of education and experience may be substituted for the education for both the Program Officer and the Senior Program Officer
• Doctoral degree plus minimum of two (2) years of experience in a research discipline relevant to patient-centered outcomes research (e.g., evaluation, epidemiology, health services research, sociology, psychology, health policy, biostatistics, economics, health education. OR master's degree in relevant field (e.g., MPH, MSc) plus minimum of seven (7) years of experience preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The above range represents the salary range expected for the position; however, final offers are based on several factors such as the position's responsibilities; the candidate's experience, education, and skills; location; travel required; and current market conditions.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, eligible employees may participate in PCORI-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee's eligible dependents.

Conflict of Interest.

PCORI wants to ensure that prospective employees are aware of its conflict-of-interest policies so that employment deliberations take into consideration this aspect of PCORI employment. PCORI requires all PCORI employees to disclose upon commencement of their employment and on an annual basis all individual and close relatives financial, business, and personal association with the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one's decisions relating to PCORI. All disclosures made by employees are made publicly available on PCORI's website. Disclosures must include all financial and business and personal associations with any health or healthcare-related organizations and include all associations with any other organizations that have the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one's decisions relating to PCORI, including but not limited to vendors or other third parties with whom PCORI has a contract or that PCORI has funded. For more information please visit PCORI-Conflict-of-Interest-Policies-Outside-Employment-Policy.pdf

PCORI conducts background checks on all applicants.

PCORI recommends all members of the PCORI workforce adhere to the CDC recommendations regarding staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.

PCORI's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

PCORI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity both internal and external to the workplace. You can learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.