Director of Research

To apply, send your resume, cover letter (INCLUDE POSITION NAME), and salary requirements to HR@cholangiocarcinoma.org. All applicants MUST submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to be considered.

Location: Virtual

Category: Full-time; salaried

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Chief Medical Officer

Position Overview

The Director of Research oversees Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation’s research, data, and

major programs. This role directly supports CCF's mission to enhance the quality of life for

individuals affected by cholangiocarcinoma and to find a cure. Additionally, the position

provides strategic oversight of the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network

(ICRN), including the research department's data management framework, which promotes

the reliable, consistent, and secure handling of critical research data.

About Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation

The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF) is the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization

solely focused on cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), a rare but aggressive disease that

affects approximately 15,000 people annually in the United States. Founded in 2006 in Salt

Lake City by a family who lost a loved one to this devastating cancer, CCF has grown into a

global leader in patient support, education, advocacy, and research funding.

Driven by its core values—patients first, collaboration, innovation, and urgency—CCF

operates in a fast-paced environment, mobilizing resources and expertise worldwide to

accelerate progress. As a virtual organization with team members across the U.S. and

internationally, CCF connects a global audience of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and

researchers through cutting-edge programs and partnerships. The Foundation is

recognized for advancing innovative research, championing patient-centered care, and

responding with urgency to the needs of a growing and underserved community.

Primary Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the

following areas:

Research Program Leadership

• Oversee the Foundation's scientific grants program (Fellowships, Career Development

Award, and Innovation Grants), including RFPs, appropriate peer review, contract

negotiation, grant monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

• Develop an Annual “Research Grants Program Impact Report”
• Facilitate all activities of the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network

(ICRN), including:

o Serving as primary staff contact and support for the ICRN leadership and all

ICRN committees.

o Planning and ensuring the successful execution of all ICRN meetings and

events.

o Developing and administering project plans for each functional area of the

ICRN

• Deliver key ongoing ICRN programming, including ICRN Translational Seminars and

the ICRN Mentorship Program.

• Ensure appropriate dissemination and recognition of meaningful data generated by

the Foundation's research activities, leveraging public data repositories and journal

publications.

• Manage the Foundation's Call for Abstracts and Poster Sessions for the CCFs Annual

Conference.

• Lead the implementation and maintenance of data management practices within

the research department to ensure data integrity, consistency, and secure handling.

• Assist other departments within the organization with data integration efforts,

fostering cross-functional collaboration and unified data strategies.

• Create dashboards to highlight the research department’s metrics for various

initiatives and key patient research data at a high level.

Collaboration & External Engagement

• Manage and supervise three research team members, including the Grants Manager

and the Senior Program Manager, with indirect oversight of the Data Scientist

through the Senior Program Manager.

• Collaborate with the CMO to evaluate and manage potential and ongoing Industry

relationships.

• Collaborate with the Foundation's patient advocacy, development, industry

engagement, and communications efforts to advance patient engagement in all

aspects of translational research and clinical trials.

• Represent the Foundation at medical/scientific conferences.
• Represent the Foundation at meetings with potential donors.
• Travel to external conferences and meetings (~15%)
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills, Qualifications, Requirements

• Master's Degree or higher.
• 8 - 10 years of experience with translational, clinical research and/or scientific research

programs.

• Experience with database management and data analysis.
• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to build and maintain

effective partnerships and earn the trust and cooperation of professionals in the

scientific and medical communities.

• Outstanding ability to communicate scientific concepts verbally and in writing for a

variety of audiences, including fellow scientists, funders, and the lay public.

• Strong writing skills; ability to communicate effectively and persuasively.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to

detail.

• A professional and collaborative style with an ability to proactively take the initiative

and manage multiple tasks/ projects simultaneously.

• Strong proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and openness to change.
• Successful completion of a background check..

Additional Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and provide actionable

insights for clinical or operational improvements.

• Deep knowledge of healthcare data standards, medical terminology, and compliance

regulations (e.g., HL7, HIPAA, ICD, FHIR).

• Familiarity with Tableau or other data visualization tools to support data

interpretation and reporting.

• Ability to work virtually - this is a full-time, work-from-home position. Experience

working in a virtual environment is preferred.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• This is a fully remote position that requires a dedicated and professional home office

environment with reliable internet access.

• Flexibility to accommodate urgent matters or attend evening and weekend events as

necessary.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced virtual environment.

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: $100,000 - $105,000; commensurate with experience

Benefits include Health insurance (medical, dental, vision), full-paid life and disability

insurance, a generous PTO package that provides for Summer Fridays and a paid Winter

Break, and a 401(k).

LOCATION

The Foundation is a virtual organization. Candidates must reside in the United States and be

authorized to work there. The selected candidate will be required to travel as needed.

To apply, send your resume, cover letter (INCLUDE POSITION NAME), and salary

requirements to HR@cholangiocarcinoma.org. All applicants MUST submit a cover

letter, resume, and salary requirements to be considered.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice. Nothing in this job description alters an employee's at-will status and is meant only as a guide, not a contract of employment. The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation's policy provides equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

December 2025