Associate Director, Postmortem Tissue Collection Program

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

 

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

 

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

 

Operating as part of the Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute, the Associate Director - Postmortem Tissue Collection Program will oversee a comprehensive array of program activities including strategy, regulatory, and scientific operations, in support of the Postmortem Tissue Collection Program ‘Hope for Others’. This position involves directing the acquisition of peripheral blood, soft tissue, bone biopsies, and urine specimens from recently deceased individuals in a morgue setting, as well as the processing and storing of the specimens according to protocol. The Associate Director possesses independent judgment, leadership, and expert knowledge of research laboratory operations to effectively facilitate the workflows and promote a collaborative work environment. The position will maintain dynamic communication with the study investigators, research staff, Cancer Consortium members, federal agencies, and industry partners.

Leadership:

• ​Lead day-to-day operations of Postmortem Tissue Collection Program ‘Hope for Others’ with input from the Scientific Director and oversee a team of laboratory and autopsy technicians.
• ​Develop strategic goals for the resource in collaboration with the Scientific Director. 
• In conjunction with the Scientific Director, delegate tasks and monitor output quality and provide support and feedback. 
• Proactively identify problems and opportunities for improvement and provide actionable solutions.
• Contribute to the overall program direction by working with Principal Investigators (PIs) and directing operations to ensure strategic goals and extramurally funded awarded aims are met.
• Responsible for determining and advising PIs on the viability of proposed research activities to ensure lack of conflict between funding sources and availability of adequate effort and resources.
• Additional actions include, but are not limited to, performance evaluations, performance management, disciplinary actions, hiring and layoff or termination decisions as appropriate. 

Program Management Oversight:

• Build and manage the “Hope for Others” program of clinically annotated samples as well as provide guidance for the developing Oncology Biobank.
• Expand Program operations including addition of new disease types and investigator base.
• Remain up to date on developments in postmortem collection procedures, instruments, and technologies as well as current research methodologies to ensure samples are collected in an appropriate manner.
• Program fiscal management and oversight of laboratory inventory (e.g., monitoring expenses, assisting with FTE budgets, supplies, annual budget proposals).
• Perform activities related to IRB protocols: 1) Develop new protocols, 2) Submit amendments and renewals, 3) Ensure investigators and staff are compliant with training regulations, 4) Track & report adverse events, 5) Act as liaison and subject matter expert for IRB related inquiries at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
• Oversee grant support activities for the program including grant preparation and budget development/management.
• Oversee financial operations for the program including forecasting, management, reporting, reconciliations, purchasing and vendor contract management.
• Facilitate morgue utilities planning and implementation, including equipment ordering.
• Ongoing involvement in daily space management, and future space planning enhancements.

Communication/ Collaboration:  

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with program sponsors, leadership, research administration, administrative departments, and peers.
• Work with collaborators and stakeholders to develop study protocols.
• Work with the research team to facilitate & ensure protocol adherence and quality assurance activities to achieve study goals.
• Ensure research activities are optimally integrated with clinical activities of disease-specific clinics at multiple sites, to ensure recruitment goals are met.
• Communicate with patients, their family, and their clinical care team to facilitate seamless transition between clinical care, research, and final disposition.
• Develop and maintain close relationships with both internal and external partners, providing updates on program status and changes.
• Work with stakeholders to develop presentations, abstracts, manuscripts, and grant proposals.

Regulatory Oversight:

• Interpret, monitor, analyze and implement federal, state, institutional and industry laws and policies as they apply to administrative and research operations.  Integrate knowledge of compliance policies into operations, communicate necessary procedural or policy changes.
• Act as gatekeeper/honest broker for requests of samples and data, ensuring samples and data are distributed in a timely and appropriate manner.       
• Oversee data/biospecimen collection, storage, and management procedures and review instruments to ensure quality control.

People/Interpersonal Skills:  

• ​Encourage continuous improvement and learning for staff to maintain and expand scientific and technical expertise to nurture career growth opportunities. 
• ​Model successful research practices and establish collaborative relationships. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant management experience AND  
  
  • PhD and 3 years of relevant scientific experience OR  
  • Master’s degree and 6 years of relevant scientific experience OR  
  • Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of relevant scientific experience OR    
  • Associate degree and 18 years of relevant scientific experience OR 
  • GED/ High School Diploma 20 years of relevant scientific experience   .
  • Field of Education: Biological Sciences or related field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• 3-5 years of experience in supporting faculty in an academic environment.
• Experience working with clinical databases and/or EPIC systems.
• Experience in the processing of tissues.
• Experience with laboratory techniques such as tissue sectioning and staining.
• Demonstrated success managing and engaging diverse stakeholders across a complex research portfolio.
• Experience with translating science into strategy in creating and executing strategic plans.
• Strong communication and budgetary skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills needed to work with human subjects and patients in an end-of-life setting.
• Must be able to maintain strict protocols of all confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve objectives.
• Ability to perform basic data management tasks (data entry, data cleaning, retrieval) and data analysis and reporting (in words, numbers and graphics).
• Willingness and ability to learn new systems and to implement new processes in response to changes.

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The annual base salary range for this position is from $133,328 to $210,725, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. This position may be eligible for a sign-on bonus.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.