Director, Research Strategy & Partnerships

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 111,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Illinois seeks a Director of Research Business Operations to shape strategy for research commercialization, industry partnerships, and sponsored clinical trials. You will work with senior leaders to prioritize opportunities, manage contracts and budgets, and drive enterprise‑wide execution to advance patient outcomes.

The role involves cross‑functional leadership, financial strategy, and executive relationships with industry partners, academic centers, and SRAlab

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline required; MS or PhD strong plus.
• MBA preferred but not required.
• 7+ years in research business operations, partnerships, or sponsored research; 10+ preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a portfolio strategy for research commercialization and industry collaborations.
• Lead negotiations for clinical trial and research agreements with cross‑functional teams.
• Oversee budgets, pricing frameworks, and cost recovery plans for sponsored research.
• Establish governance, dashboards, and performance metrics for the portfolio.

Skills

Strategy

Negotiation

Partnerships

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

MBA preferred

Job description

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Illinois seeks a Director of Research Business Operations to shape strategy for research commercialization, industry partnerships, and sponsored clinical trials. You will work with senior leaders to prioritize opportunities, manage contracts and budgets, and drive enterprise‑wide execution to advance patient outcomes.

The role involves cross‑functional leadership, financial strategy, and executive relationships with industry partners, academic centers, and SRAlab