Canning Thoracic Institute Program Director-Translational Research Unit (TRU)

Northwestern Medicine; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine seeks a high‑caliber Program Director for the Translational Research Unit at CTI. This leadership role oversees clinical trial strategy, research infrastructure, quality, and financial management across clinical and translational studies.

You will manage a diverse team, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster valuable vendor and sponsor relationships. The ideal candidate holds a master’s degree or higher, with extensive clinical research experience and proven leadership,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher with substantial clinical research leadership experience.
• Bachelor’s degree with 8–10 years industry experience or Master’s with 3+ years experience; strong PM skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large teams, manage budgets >$1M, and collaborate across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to an assigned portfolio of translational research projects with NM Executives and stakeholders.
• Oversee project proposals, budgets, resource allocation, and progress reporting.
• Communicate status clearly to executives and partners; drive timely, on‑budget delivery.
• Demonstrate knowledge of operational, program, and project goals; support sponsor/user needs.
• Mentor teams and develop programs to enhance execution-focused culture.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Education

Master’s degree or higher

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Job description

Description

TheCanning Thoracic Institute Program Director - Translational Research Unit (TRU)reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Program Director of the Translational Research Unit (TRU) at the Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing clinical trial strategy, research infrastructure, quality, and financial management of clinical and translational studies. This role involves managing a diverse team, ensuring regulatory compliance, fostering stakeholder relationships, and leading clinical technology development and innovations. The Director will also oversee sponsored projects, manage industry partnerships, and collaborate with the Northwestern Medicine Ventures and Innovations team. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, financial management, operational logistics, stakeholder engagement, data coordination, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a master's degree or higher, over 10 years of clinical research experience, and strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for providing Leadership to an assigned portfolio of projects/ initiatives through active engagement of NM Executives and all stakeholders.
• Lead activities including project proposal/ charter definition, budget development, resource allocation, management, information distribution and meeting facilitation.
• Provide proactive, clear, concise and timely communications regarding status of all initiatives and overall performance reporting among team members, NM Executives and vendor partners. Facilitate continuous exchange of ideas, information and developments.
• Demonstrated Knowledge of Operational, Program and Project Goals:Recommends solutions that add value, strengthen project or operational outcomes, exhibits and understanding of Sponsor or user needs.
• Achieves Results: Accountable for delivering projects and operational initiatives on-time and on-budget including successful execution/ activation, closeout and stabilization that meet stated Sponsor and stakeholder outcomes.
• Leads in organizational development and enhancement of management competence. Develop educational, coaching and mentoring programs necessary to support the evolution as an execution-centered organization.
• Sets explicit priorities, establishes effective action plans, and anticipates obstacles and alternatives for challenging but realistic work goals.
• Demonstrated ability to direct and mobilize an organization by strategic thinking, decisiveness, enthusiasm, competence and integrity.
• Demonstrate the ability to deal with the changing environment and to lead/facilitate and manage change efficiently and effectively where appropriate.
• Unquestionable integrity, credibility and character with demonstrated high moral, ethical behavior.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 8-10 years industry experience or Master’s degree and minimum 3 years experience.
• Strong Knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point, Project
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills, demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills, excellent oral and communication skills, demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent capability to lead projects with budgets in excess of $1,000,000.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated strong leadership capabilities.
• Strong skills in working with and negotiating with external vendors.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in related field preferred.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.