Associate Director, Research & Quality

Salary range: $145,000 - $170,000
If hired, you must reside in the Chicagoland area.

Primary purpose: Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for SCCM’s research and quality improvement portfolio. Advances SCCM’s mission to improve healthcare outcomes through evidence generation, data‑driven quality initiatives, and dissemination of best practices.

• Supports the development and implementation of SCCM’s research and quality strategic plan in alignment with organizational goals.
• Identifies emerging trends, funding opportunities, and research priorities relevant to SCCM’s mission.
• Serves as a thought leader on quality, implementation science, and outcomes measurement.

• Manages the implementation and management of multisite and sponsored studies, registries, and collaborative initiatives.
• Ensures adherence to ethical and regulatory standards (e.g., IRB, HIPAA, data use agreements).
• Supervises data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings through peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations, and white papers.
• Supports and guides internal and external investigators in proposal development, study design, and methodological approaches.

• Leads development of metrics, dashboards, and benchmarking systems that assess clinical, educational, and organizational performance.
• Serves as a strategic partner for quality activities and supports processes of strategic planning and guidelines development and publication.
• Supports members, American College of Critical Care Medicine Board of Regents, and SCCM leadership and staff to implement guidelines process improvements.
• Supports the implementation of quality frameworks such as the Model for Improvement, Moore’s Outcomes Framework, and plan‑do‑study‑act cycles.
• Collaborates with member institutions on quality collaboratives, ICU Centers of Excellence programs, and national learning networks.

• Supervises research and quality staff.
  Manages budgets, timelines, and reporting for grant‑funded and internal projects.
  Coordinates with cross‑functional departments (education, policy, communications) to align initiatives and promote outcomes dissemination.
  Trains and mentors department staff to promote achievement of their full potential.

• Serves as a liaison to academic, clinical, and industry partners on joint research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Represents SCCM in national coalitions, advisory groups, and committees related to research and quality improvement.
• Contributes to the development of educational resources, toolkits, and webcasts to support member engagement in research and quality improvement.
• Ensures that member communications are professional, accurate, and in compliance with SCCM policies.

• Clinical background such as physician, nurse, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, or related scientific field
• Formal training in quality improvement or successful research or quality projects that have received funding preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research or quality programs from design to dissemination
• Experience working in a professional association, academic medical center, or hospital quality department preferred
• Experience with federal or foundation funding mechanisms (AHRQ, NIH, HRSA, PCORI)
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) and quality dashboards
• Significant supervisory experience
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical, and organization skills
• Ability to work collaboratively

With our generous remote work policy, much of your work will be from home. We value work‑life balance, but you’ll need to be able to come into the office when required by your supervisor.

Take advantage of paid vacation and 13 paid holidays each year, plus a summer hours program for that perfect work‑life balance.

Enjoy medical, dental, short‑ and long‑term disability, and life insurance coverage to keep you and your family protected.

Take the time you need to bond with your new addition to the family.

We invest in your future with a 401(K) matching program to help you save for retirement.

Continue learning and growing with educational assistance—we’re invested in your personal and professional development.

SCCM is an Equal Opportunity Employer