Medical Director – Seattle Vaccine Trials Unit (VTU)

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.

 

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division (VIDD) is a recognized leader in translational and “bench-to-bedside” science. VIDD integrates the expertise and creativity of scientists in basic, translational and clinical research to prevent, treat and cure infectious diseases, including known and emerging infections of major global health importance such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and cancer-related infectious diseases. Applying an innovative multidisciplinary approach, VIDD houses three formal research programs that systematically pursue explicit goals aimed at eliminating the burden of death and disease from infection. These programs include Immunology and Vaccine Development; Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology; and Infectious Disease Sciences.

 

The Seattle Vaccine Trials Unit (VTU) at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is seeking a Medical Director to lead clinical oversight for a high-impact clinical research site focused on infectious diseases, with an emphasis on HIV vaccine development and safety.

 

As a part of the Vaccine & Infectious Disease Division (VIDD) and in existence since 1987, the VTU has conducted an array of studies investigating human immunology and prevention of HIV, malaria, COVID, and other viral diseases. Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Julie McElrath and co-PI Dr. Adrienne Shapiro, the VTU conducts clinical trials and observational studies. The clinical trials are mainly performed at the VTU located on First Hill. The COVID Cohort and other observational studies are based on the Fred Hutch main campus in South Lake Union. 

 

The Medical Director will provide clinical leadership, supervise clinical staff, guide study and site operations, and partner with principal investigators and external collaborators, while fostering an inclusive and mission-driven culture.

Physician Leadership & Oversight

• Provide onsite medical oversight for all clinical trials and observational studies conducted within the VTU.
• Ensure participant safety, protocol compliance, and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), FDA, National Institutes of Health, and institutional requirements.
• Supervise and mentor clinical staff, including but may not be limited to clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners, research nurses).
• Serve as the medical authority for eligibility determinations, adverse event and reactogenicity assessment, and protocol deviation management.
• Serve as the contact physician for research study participants and their clinical care providers.

Clinical & Study Operations

• Partner with site leadership to ensure efficient, compliant, and high-quality clinical trial operations.
• Oversee clinical workflows, resource allocation, and continuous performance improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with regulatory, pharmacy, laboratory, and data teams to ensure seamless study execution.
• Support readiness for protocol monitoring, and audits and inspections from federal, industry sponsors, and regulatory authorities.

Scientific Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with the VTU Principal Investigator, Site PIs, and collaborating clinical and research investigators to implement scientific priorities.
• May be designated to serve as local PI on select protocols.
• Contribute to protocol development, feasibility assessments, and study design.
• Potential participation in leadership activities within NIH-funded research networks (e.g., HVTN), including protocol teams lead, committees, working groups and publication preparation.
• Serve as a liaison with external partners, including academic collaborators, industry sponsors (e.g., IAVI, VIR, Janssen, Merck, Gilead), and public health stakeholders.

Program Development & Strategy

• Help shape the strategic direction of clinical research activities.
• Identify opportunities to expand the clinical research portfolio, including investigator-initiated studies, network, biotech and industry collaborations.
• Support and contribute to grant applications, including NIH network funding and other sponsored research initiatives.

 

Culture & Community

• Foster a clinical and research environment that values a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing clinical staff.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, scientific rigor, and participant-centered research.
• Work with site investigators, the VTU’s community education and recruitment group, and other site staff to keep the VTU’s Community Advisory Board informed of scientific progress and research directions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• MD or DO (or equivalent) with board certification in Infectious Diseases or a related field.
• Active or eligible for Washington State medical licensure.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical research and clinical trials (preferably Phase I–III).
• Experience supervising clinical teams.
• Deep knowledge of GCP, regulatory environments, and human subjects research.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with HIV research and/or vaccine trials.
• Prior involvement in NIH-funded clinical research networks (e.g., HVTN, DAIDS).
• Experience serving as PI, sub-investigator, or medical monitor.
• Track record of collaboration across academic, industry, and public sector partners.
• Strong interest in advancing health equity and inclusive research practices.

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The annual base salary range for this position is from $150,010 to $299,998, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.

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 (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), 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.