Research Principal, Real World Evidence

Cytel; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Cytel is seeking a senior scientific/strategic contributor to advance real-world evidence via trial emulation and external control arms. You will lead multiple projects across clients, serving as the primary contact and shaping engagement strategies while collaborating with RWE statisticians, epidemiologists, and health economists.

The role emphasizes business development, mentorship, and external dissemination, with responsibilities spanning technical leadership and innovative methods in

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Data Science, Mathematics, or related field; PhD highly desirable.
• 12–15 years of experience in real-world evidence (RWE) or health research in academic or consulting settings.
• Strong understanding of biopharmaceutical R&D with business acumen and client-facing experience.
• Excellent technical writing, oral communication and presentation skills in English.
• Expertise in causal inference methods for comparative effectiveness studies, including trial emulation and external controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead business development or project execution to grow a client portfolio.
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships and network with key contacts.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to scientific processes and internal tools.
• Identify opportunities for follow-on work and ensure on-time, on-budget deliverables.
• Represent Cytel in conferences, publications, and external engagement.

Skills

R programming

Causal inference

External control arms

Target trial emulation

Big data analysis

Scientific writing

Leadership

Client relationships

Education

Master’s degree in Epidemiology

Master’s degree in Biostatistics

Data Science

Mathematics

PhD

Tools

R

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

A scientific/strategic contributor with broad expertise and/or unique knowledge in a specific area, and an ability to achieve objectives in creative and effective ways. Typically manages multiple projects within a client or within a specialized area across several clients. Acts as the client's primary point of contact for engagements, developing mutually beneficial partnerships and taking ownership for the needs of the client.

Job Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION

A scientific/strategic contributor with broad expertise and/or unique knowledge in a specific area, and an ability to achieve objectives in creative and effective ways. Typically manages multiple projects within a client or within a specialized area across several clients. Acts as the client's primary point of contact for engagements, developing mutually beneficial partnerships and taking ownership for the needs of the client.

The successful candidate will work within a growing team of RWE statisticians, epidemiologists and health economists, and in collaboration with subject matter experts across Cytel to generate impactful real-world evidence for faster patient access to effective treatments, with a focus on real-world comparative effectiveness research (trial emulation, external control arms). The Principal/Associate Director will also contribute to external dissemination activities and research innovation strategy within the RWE team.

Responsibilities

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for business development and/or project execution leading to a client portfolio (in value and numbers) under direct management. In particular, the candidate should be able to:
  • Build and maintain successful long-term relationships with clients. Maintain existing network of client relationships.
  • Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise and works closely with business development team to support client work as a SME or senior lead
  • Routinely identify opportunities for follow on work.
  • Manage project to ensure specified deliverables are developed on budget and undergo appropriate review and sign off.
  • Act as a technical lead and support development of code for complex methods
• Responsible for the successful integration of the team on projects, quality of deliverables and the project team’s efficiency. This includes
  • Mentoring and training of junior staff. Responsible for junior staff meeting the technical aspects their career development goals
  • Leadership or significant contributions to scientific processes involved with client deliverables (e.g., report templates, analysis plans, development of internal software/tools)
  • Can identify independently relevant methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results
• Keep abreast with regulatory, reimbursement and other industry requirements and guidelines, including via active participation in scientific conferences and symposia.
• Identify and communicate recruitment needs. Lead or participate in hiring and training consultants as requested.
• Ensure company and business unit policies, standards, and procedures are met.
• Thought leader specifically, leading on external engagement in their topic area (conferences, publications, seminars) and internally through training, upskilling juniors.
  

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience:

• Education: Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Data Science, Mathematics or other relevant scientific field. PhD highly desirable.
• Experience: 12-15 years of experience in the RWE or health research, academic or consulting environment. May require additional experience depending on focus area.
• Skills:
  • Thorough understanding of the biopharmaceutical R&D process combined with business acumen.
  • Comfortable presenting and interfacing with senior executives within client companies. Strong technical-writing, oral communication and presentation skills, excellent use of the English language.
  • Curious, collaborative, entrepreneurial and self-motivated, without the need for significant infrastructure and support, and with an understanding of the dynamics of high-growth companies; the ability to work effectively in a demanding, challenging, rapidly changing environment.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to gain respect of and influence management team, board members, the customer and prospect communities, and personnel at all levels.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to execute in complex situations at the tactical level.
  • Subject matter expertise in causal inference methods for comparative effectiveness studies, including target trial emulation, and/or developing real-world external control arms for clinical trials
  • Extensive experience with large healthcare real-world databases (electronic health records, claims databases)
  • Strong programming in R
  • Experience, vision, creativity, scope, integrity, leadership skills, prestige and intellect to enhance the existing organization and constructively contribute to the strategic direction of Cytel.
  • Experience with AI/ML methods
  • Experience with Bayesian statistical methods