Director, Epidemiology & Methodological Innovation

Tempus AI, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Tempus AI, Inc. is seeking a senior leader in HEOR/RWE to drive methodological innovation and oversee retrospective database analyses within oncology-focused research programs. You will craft study protocols, mentor scientists, and advise biopharma clients on complex designs.

Collaborate across Data Science, Biostatistics, and Product teams to productize novel methods, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely delivery in a fast-growing environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Epidemiology/Biostatistics/Health Economics or related quantitative field required or preferred.
• 7+ years in HEOR/RWE with leadership experience.
• Deep oncology expertise and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience with real-world data (EHR, claims, genomic data) and advanced methods.
• Ability to translate complex methods into actionable strategic plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of novel HEOR/RWE methods (e.g., trial emulation, causal inference).
• Oversee end-to-end retrospective database analyses and study protocols.
• Serve as SME to biopharma clients; contribute to publications and conferences.
• Partner with sales, BD to identify opportunities for methodology innovations.
• Bridge Data Science, Biostatistics, and Product teams for scalable solutions.
• Ensure research meets regulatory and ethical standards (GEP, HIPAA).

Skills

HEOR/RWE leadership

Oncology expertise

Statistical methods

R

SAS

Education

PhD in Epidemiology/Biostatistics/Health Economics

Tools

R

SAS

Job description

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Methodological Innovation: Lead the development of novel approaches for RWE, including the use of external control arms (ECA), causal inference in high-dimensional data, and the integration of longitudinal clinical data with molecular/genomic signatures.
• Research Design & Implementation: Oversee the end-to-end execution of retrospective database analyses. You will act as the primary architect for study protocols, ensuring they push the boundaries of current HEOR/RWE standards while maintaining scientific rigor.
• Scientific Thought Leadership: Serve as a subject matter expert for biopharma clients, advising them on "first-in-kind" study designs. You are expected to contribute to the broader scientific community through high-impact publications and presentations at conferences like ISPOR, ISPE, and ASCO.
• Client Strategy & Partnership: Partner with Key Account Directors and Business Development to identify opportunities where novel methodology can solve "unsolvable" client problems (e.g., rare disease characterization or complex biomarker validation).
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Bridge the gap between Data Science, Biostatistics, and Product teams to productize successful novel methods, ensuring they are scalable across the Tempus ecosystem.
• Project Management & Quality: Ensure all innovative research meets stringent regulatory and ethical standards (e.g., GEP, HIPAA), delivering high-quality results on timelines that match the pace of the biopharma industry.

Qualifications

• Education: PhD (preferred) or PharmD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience: 7+ years in HEOR/RWE, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity. Deep expertise in oncology is required.
• Methodological Mastery: Proven track record of developing or implementing advanced methods (e.g., target trial emulation, propensity score applications in complex cohorts, or machine learning-augmented epidemiology).
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in R or SAS. Experience working with "messy" real-world data (EHR, claims, and/or genomic data) is essential.
• The "Consultant" Mindset: Exceptional ability to walk into a room of biopharma executives and simplify complex methodological hurdles into a clear strategic roadmap.
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience mentoring junior scientists and leading cross-functional squads in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Compensation and Benefits

CHI: $170,000-$230,000 NYC/SF: $180,000-$250,000

The expected salary range above is applicable if the role is performed from California and may vary for other locations (Colorado, Illinois, New York). Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience.

• Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position.
• Additionally, for remote roles open to individuals in unincorporated Los Angeles - including remote roles- Tempus reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: engaging positively with customers and other employees; accessing confidential information, including intellectual property, trade secrets, and protected health information; and appropriately handling such information in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
• Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Company Culture

Tempus was founded in August of 2015 by Eric Lefkofsky, after his wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Shortly after he founded the company in an effort to bring the power of technology and artificial intelligence to cancer care, he convinced Ryan Fukushima to join as the company’s first employee.

Ryan and Eric began assembling a world class team, focused on building the first version of a platform capable of ingesting real time healthcare data in an effort to personalize diagnostics.

We built the platform for oncology and have expanded it to neuropsychiatry, cardiology, infectious disease (through COVID), and radiology.

Despite our rapid growth, our mission remains the same—to help make sure patients are on the right drug at the right time, so they can live longer and healthier lives.

We're looking for people who can change the world. Who question the status quo and don't shy away from tough problems. For the builders who are never done building and the learners who are never done learning. We're looking for passionate people with undying curiosity. Those who want to attack one of the most challenging problems mankind has ever faced. Head on.