The Position:
The Director is a tenure-eligible faculty leader responsible for the overall scientific direction, strategic leadership, operational performance, financial stewardship, organizational development, and continued growth of the Utah Data Coordinating Center (DCC). The Director ensures that the DCC conducts high-quality, large-scale clinical and health research while maintaining rigorous standards for scientific quality, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and service.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of University of Utah Health, the Director works closely with faculty investigators, institutional leaders, federal agencies, industry and philanthropic sponsors, research networks, regulatory agencies, and other external collaborators. Working with and through a talented and experienced team of faculty, staff and organizational leaders, the Director will create the conditions for continued excellence while ensuring that the DCC is positioned to respond effectively to emerging opportunities in clinical research.

Responsibilities:
Strategic and Scientific Leadership

• Develop and execute the long-term strategic direction and priorities of the DCC.
• Assess emerging opportunities in clinical research, data science, technology, research infrastructure, and funding, and determine their strategic fit.
• Work with investigators and sponsors to develop new studies and research initiatives.
• Advise investigators and study teams regarding study design, feasibility, statistical considerations, operational strategy, and regulatory approach.
• Provide executive oversight of protocol development, statistical analysis plans, data and safety monitoring activities, endpoint adjudication processes, analysis, and publication strategy.
• Serve as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on selected studies and initiatives, as appropriate.
• Ensure scientific quality and rigor across the DCC portfolio.
• Establish priorities for organizational investment, including personnel, technology, infrastructure, and other capabilities needed to support DCC’s strategic direction.
• Monitor changes in the external research and funding environment and position the DCC to respond effectively.

Business Development and Partnerships

• Lead the identification and development of new opportunities with NIH and other federal agencies, industry, foundations, investigators, research networks, and other partners/organizations.
• Partner with investigators and DCC leaders in the development of competitive grant proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and other sponsored research opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing sponsors and collaborators while developing new partnerships.
• Negotiate scientific and operational expectations with sponsors and collaborators.
• Evaluate prospective projects based on scientific fit, resource requirements, organizational capacity, operational feasibility, and financial considerations.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration across University of Utah Health and the broader University.

Operational and Financial Leadership

• Chair the DCC Executive Committee and provide executive oversight of the research portfolio.
• Monitor project performance, including timelines, enrollment, budgets, staffing, deliverables, quality, sponsor expectations, and operational risks.
• Promote effective and consistent processes and infrastructure across studies and programs.
• Develop annual operating budgets and monitor revenue, expenses, staffing costs, indirect cost recovery, and overall financial performance.
• Approve major expenditures and resource commitments within established University policies and authority.
• Provide overall financial leadership and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Utah DCC.

People and Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, retain, develop, and mentor faculty, senior leaders, and staff.
• Lead and supervise senior leaders responsible for operations, biostatistics, informatics and technology, project management, finance, administration, and other key functions.
• Ensure clear expectations and accountability across the leadership team.
• Oversee performance evaluation, professional development, and succession planning.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture.

Regulatory, Quality, Technology, and Innovation

• Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, ICH-GCP standards, NIH requirements, HIPAA, institutional policies, and other relevant regulatory requirements and standards.
• Provide executive oversight of quality management systems, significant quality issues, regulatory inspections, and sponsor audits.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits and regulatory reviews.
• Set strategic direction for clinical research technology and oversee major data and technology platforms supporting DCC research.
• Ensure that research technology is secure, scalable, compliant, reliable, and responsive to scientific and operational needs.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and approaches, including decentralized clinical trial capabilities, artificial intelligence-assisted workflows, and automation, where appropriate.
• Continuously evaluate and improve the DCC operating model, processes, and reusable infrastructure.

Institutional and External Leadership

• Represent the DCC within University of Utah Health and the University of Utah and collaborate with institutional research leadership.
• Build collaborations across departments, schools, colleges, institutes, and centers to support multidisciplinary research.
• Contribute to institutional strategic planning, initiatives, and committees related to clinical research and research infrastructure.
• Maintain requirements associated with UACI-approved Center status and the enhanced F&A return model to Health Sciences.
• Represent the DCC with federal agencies, industry sponsors, research networks, collaborators, professional organizations, and other external partners.
• Participate in and provide leadership to relevant national professional, scientific, and research bodies including steering committees, executive committees, data and safety monitoring boards, and scientific advisory boards to strengthen the DCC’s relationships and contributions to the clinical research community.
• Present the DCC’s capabilities and expertise to potential collaborators and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders.

Decision Authority
Consistent with University policies and the Director’s reporting relationship, the Director provides primary leadership for decisions related to:

• Strategic direction, organizational and scientific priorities.
• Evaluation and acceptance of new projects.
• Organizational structure, workforce planning, and senior personnel.
• Resource allocation.
• Financial oversight and major investments.
• Sponsor and strategic partner relationships.
• Technology and infrastructure priorities/investments.
• Quality standards and operational policies.

Key Interfaces
The Director works closely with University of Utah and U of U Health leadership; deans, department chairs, and faculty investigators; DCC scientific, operational, and administrative leaders; NIH and other federal agency staff; pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors; research networks and collaborators; CRO partners; FDA and other regulatory agencies; Institutional Review Boards; clinical investigators and research sites; and University offices supporting finance, contracting, and research administration.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will combine scientific credibility with demonstrated leadership of complex research programs, organizations, or infrastructure.

• MD or PhD in a field relevant to the work of the DCC.
• Academic record appropriate for a tenure-eligible faculty appointment at the University of Utah.
• Significant leadership experience within a complex clinical research, biomedical research, academic, industry, or comparable research environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of multicenter clinical research and the scientific, operational, regulatory, statistical, and data considerations involved in conducting high-quality research.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing significant programs, organizational resources, or research activities.
• Strong communication, judgment, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with scientific, institutional, government, and industry stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

• Leadership experience within a data coordinating center, academic research organization, clinical trials center, research network, academic medical center, or similar research enterprise.
• Success in leading through senior scientific, operational, technical, and administrative leaders.
• Leadership overseeing substantial budgets, externally funded portfolios, or complex organizational resources.
• Demonstrated success developing research programs, grant proposals, contracts, partnerships, or other sources of sponsored support.
• Experience building relationships with federal agencies, industry sponsors, investigators, research networks, or other external partners.
• Record of accomplishment with federally sponsored and/or industry-supported clinical research.
• Prior responsibility for building, growing, scaling, or transforming a research organization, program, or infrastructure.
• Success in recruiting, developing, mentoring, and retaining faculty, staff, or organizational leaders.
• Knowledge of large-scale research data systems, technical assistance programs, research platforms, or emerging clinical research technologies.

About the Utah Data Coordinating Center:
Founded in 2001, the Utah Data Coordinating Center (DCC) is a full-service academic research organization (ARO) that combines the scientific rigor and collaborative spirit of an academic research center with the operational and technological capabilities required to conduct complex, large-scale research. The DCC has provided data, statistical, and clinical coordinating center support for 15 national research networks and implemented more than 225 active or completed multicenter studies, contributing to more than 1,100 publications. Its work encompasses clinical trials, observational studies, registries, national research networks, technical assistance centers, and other federally sponsored programs with a growing portfolio of industry partnerships.

The DCC’s strength lies in the depth and breadth of its people and capabilities. Nearly 150 staff and faculty bring expertise across research design, biostatistics, clinical and project operations, regulatory affairs and quality, data management and analysis, and publication support. Its robust technology capabilities span software and data engineering, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, and secure research environments. Particularly deep expertise in biostatistics and research technology, coupled with highly experienced project and operational teams, enables the DCC to support investigators and sponsors from study concept through execution, analysis, and dissemination.

Just as important is the culture in which that work occurs. The DCC is a high-performing, highly collaborative organization whose people take pride in delivering exceptional work and in helping one another succeed. Its reputation has been built on scientific excellence, accountability, trusted partnerships, and an ability to get complex work done. The next chapter is therefore one of evolution rather than reinvention: building on a successful trajectory while thoughtfully growing and diversifying the portfolio, expanding partnerships, strengthening national visibility, and continuing to advance scientific and technological capabilities. The opportunity for the next Director is to pair ambition with stewardship, preserving the quality, organizational health, and collaborative culture that have driven the DCC’s success while creating the capacity for even greater impact.

For more information, view the DCC’s Impact Report.

National Data Infrastructure at Scale
The DCC operates the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS), a national data infrastructure program that brings together EMS information from across the United States and its territories. The system supports timely surveillance and analysis through national dashboards addressing issues including drug overdoses, heat-related emergencies, influenza-like illness, and other EMS and public-health trends. NEMSIS reflects DCC’s distinctive ability to combine technology, data management, analytics, operational expertise, and long-term government partnerships on a national scale. Building on this expertise, the DCC sees additional large-scale technical assistance and data infrastructure programs as an important avenue for future growth.

About University of Utah Health:
University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is Utah’s only academic health care system and a major health care, research, and education resource for the Mountain West with an annual budget of $7 billion. Its referral area encompasses approximately 10 percent of the United States (including Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, western Colorado, and much of Nevada), and its integrated enterprise includes five hospitals, 12 community health care centers, the University of Utah Medical Group, U of U Health Plan, ARUP Laboratories, and numerous nationally recognized institutes and centers. More than 27,000 employees support this broad mission, while U of U Health serves as a training ground for the majority of Utah’s physicians and thousands of scientists and other health professionals.

Research and innovation are central to U of U Health’s identity. Health Sciences research funding reached a record of $567 million in FY2026, more than doubling over the past decade. Areas of strength span genetics and genomic medicine, oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, biomedical informatics, population health, precision medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, mental health, and other fields. U of U Health has a sustained national reputation for excellence, including 16 consecutive years of recognition in Vizient’s Quality Leadership Award and inclusion on Forbes’ America’s Best Employers 2025 list. Significant investments in research infrastructure, technology, innovation, and new facilities are further strengthening the connections among discovery, education, and patient care.

Leadership
Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD
This position reports directly to Dr. Carter, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of University of Utah Health. He joined the University of Utah in 2025 after serving as the William and Elizabeth Sweet Endowed Professor in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Mass General Brigham. A neurosurgical oncologist and accomplished physician-scientist, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024 and is internationally recognized for contributions to brain tumor genetics, gene and cell therapies, and liquid biopsy techniques for glioblastoma. Dr. Carter is focused on bringing teams together, empowering others, and building for long-term institutional success. His “Build to Last” philosophy emphasizes a strong culture, sustainable growth, and creating the conditions for people and programs to thrive as U of U Health expands its impact locally, nationally, and globally. 

About the University of Utah:
The University of Utah (the U) is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and more than 200 graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,500 students. In Fall 2025, the U welcomed its largest class of incoming first-year undergraduates: 6,513. The student body includes students representing all 50 states and 108 countries. Twenty-five percent of undergraduates identify as first-generation students.

In 2019, the University joined the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success, and securing resources in support of core missions focused on serving the increasingly diverse student population at the U.

In 2024, President Taylor R. Randall launched a strategic planning process resulting in Impact 2030, a pathway to the future of higher education and health care. This ambitious vision is centered on inspiring student success, innovating and generating discoveries through research, and serving the state to make an impact on its 3.5 million residents. The plan acknowledges the state’s evolving needs and challenges it to become a top 10 university.

The U is located in Salt Lake City, one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing, economically and culturally, metropolises in the U.S. The city is uniquely situated to offer both unmatched outdoor and exciting urban experiences, with mountain vistas only a few steps away and vast red-rock desert landscapes within reach of a scenic afternoon drive. Students attending the Utah Asia Campus in South Korea find the same world-class U.S. academic experience offered at the campus in Salt Lake City.

The U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation, and the world. The U’s reputation for excellence draws top-tier faculty and attracts motivated students nationally and internationally. Students bring diverse experiences and outlooks, representing traditional and nontraditional students alike, thereby enhancing the U's exceptional educational experience.

Learn more at utah.edu.

Why Consider this Opportunity?

• Lead at the Intersection: Operate where data, technology, operations, and strategy converge, with the scope to shape how complex research work gets done.
• Accelerate Discovery: Multiply impact by enabling investigators, research networks, and partners to accomplish more than any single research program could achieve alone.
• Build the Network: Forge connections across U of U Health, the University, federal agencies, industry, and other research partners to create new pathways for collaboration, funding, and high-impact science.
• Empower Great People: Lead a deeply committed, high-performing team and create the resources, capacity, and environment that allow talented people to do their best work.
• Advance the Model: Help shape what a leading academic research organization can be by bringing together academic rigor, advanced technology, multidisciplinary expertise, and national-scale infrastructure.
• Create Capacity: Build the sustainability and organizational capacity to pursue the most compelling opportunities while continuing to deliver research that can change clinical practice, inform public health, improve lives, and expand knowledge.

To Apply:
The qualifications outlined in this profile are intended to convey the scope of the role and the experience that may prepare a candidate for success. U of U Health recognizes that no candidate will bring every qualification or be equally proficient in every aspect of the position on day one. Candidates are encouraged to highlight their experiences, skills, and perspectives most relevant to the role and how their background would contribute to advancing the DCC’s mission and priorities.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by November 11, 2026, will receive first consideration. Candidates should submit a CV/resume and a cover letter describing their interest in the opportunity and how their leadership experience aligns with the role. All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.

To apply online: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su527

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Karen Pedersen, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 719-747-2545
kpedersen@summitsearchsolutions.com

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patient populations.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources office at 801-581-6500. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/. Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu/.

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The Position:
The Director is a tenure-eligible faculty leader responsible for the overall scientific direction, strategic leadership, operational performance, financial stewardship, organizational development, and continued growth of the Utah Data Coordinating Center (DCC). The Director ensures that the DCC conducts high-quality, large-scale clinical and health research while maintaining rigorous standards for scientific quality, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and service.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of University of Utah Health, the Director works closely with faculty investigators, institutional leaders, federal agencies, industry and philanthropic sponsors, research networks, regulatory agencies, and other external collaborators. Working with and through a talented and experienced team of faculty, staff and organizational leaders, the Director will create the conditions for continued excellence while ensuring that the DCC is positioned to respond effectively to emerging opportunities in clinical research.

Responsibilities:
Strategic and Scientific Leadership

• Develop and execute the long-term strategic direction and priorities of the DCC.
• Assess emerging opportunities in clinical research, data science, technology, research infrastructure, and funding, and determine their strategic fit.
• Work with investigators and sponsors to develop new studies and research initiatives.
• Advise investigators and study teams regarding study design, feasibility, statistical considerations, operational strategy, and regulatory approach.
• Provide executive oversight of protocol development, statistical analysis plans, data and safety monitoring activities, endpoint adjudication processes, analysis, and publication strategy.
• Serve as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on selected studies and initiatives, as appropriate.
• Ensure scientific quality and rigor across the DCC portfolio.
• Establish priorities for organizational investment, including personnel, technology, infrastructure, and other capabilities needed to support DCC’s strategic direction.
• Monitor changes in the external research and funding environment and position the DCC to respond effectively.

Business Development and Partnerships

• Lead the identification and development of new opportunities with NIH and other federal agencies, industry, foundations, investigators, research networks, and other partners/organizations.
• Partner with investigators and DCC leaders in the development of competitive grant proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and other sponsored research opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing sponsors and collaborators while developing new partnerships.
• Negotiate scientific and operational expectations with sponsors and collaborators.
• Evaluate prospective projects based on scientific fit, resource requirements, organizational capacity, operational feasibility, and financial considerations.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration across University of Utah Health and the broader University.

Operational and Financial Leadership

• Chair the DCC Executive Committee and provide executive oversight of the research portfolio.
• Monitor project performance, including timelines, enrollment, budgets, staffing, deliverables, quality, sponsor expectations, and operational risks.
• Promote effective and consistent processes and infrastructure across studies and programs.
• Develop annual operating budgets and monitor revenue, expenses, staffing costs, indirect cost recovery, and overall financial performance.
• Approve major expenditures and resource commitments within established University policies and authority.
• Provide overall financial leadership and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Utah DCC.

People and Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, retain, develop, and mentor faculty, senior leaders, and staff.
• Lead and supervise senior leaders responsible for operations, biostatistics, informatics and technology, project management, finance, administration, and other key functions.
• Ensure clear expectations and accountability across the leadership team.
• Oversee performance evaluation, professional development, and succession planning.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture.

Regulatory, Quality, Technology, and Innovation

• Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, ICH-GCP standards, NIH requirements, HIPAA, institutional policies, and other relevant regulatory requirements and standards.
• Provide executive oversight of quality management systems, significant quality issues, regulatory inspections, and sponsor audits.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits and regulatory reviews.
• Set strategic direction for clinical research technology and oversee major data and technology platforms supporting DCC research.
• Ensure that research technology is secure, scalable, compliant, reliable, and responsive to scientific and operational needs.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and approaches, including decentralized clinical trial capabilities, artificial intelligence-assisted workflows, and automation, where appropriate.
• Continuously evaluate and improve the DCC operating model, processes, and reusable infrastructure.

Institutional and External Leadership

• Represent the DCC within University of Utah Health and the University of Utah and collaborate with institutional research leadership.
• Build collaborations across departments, schools, colleges, institutes, and centers to support multidisciplinary research.
• Contribute to institutional strategic planning, initiatives, and committees related to clinical research and research infrastructure.
• Maintain requirements associated with UACI-approved Center status and the enhanced F&A return model to Health Sciences.
• Represent the DCC with federal agencies, industry sponsors, research networks, collaborators, professional organizations, and other external partners.
• Participate in and provide leadership to relevant national professional, scientific, and research bodies including steering committees, executive committees, data and safety monitoring boards, and scientific advisory boards to strengthen the DCC’s relationships and contributions to the clinical research community.
• Present the DCC’s capabilities and expertise to potential collaborators and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders.

Decision Authority
Consistent with University policies and the Director’s reporting relationship, the Director provides primary leadership for decisions related to:

• Strategic direction, organizational and scientific priorities.
• Evaluation and acceptance of new projects.
• Organizational structure, workforce planning, and senior personnel.
• Resource allocation.
• Financial oversight and major investments.
• Sponsor and strategic partner relationships.
• Technology and infrastructure priorities/investments.
• Quality standards and operational policies.

Key Interfaces
The Director works closely with University of Utah and U of U Health leadership; deans, department chairs, and faculty investigators; DCC scientific, operational, and administrative leaders; NIH and other federal agency staff; pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors; research networks and collaborators; CRO partners; FDA and other regulatory agencies; Institutional Review Boards; clinical investigators and research sites; and University offices supporting finance, contracting, and research administration.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will combine scientific credibility with demonstrated leadership of complex research programs, organizations, or infrastructure.

• MD or PhD in a field relevant to the work of the DCC.
• Academic record appropriate for a tenure-eligible faculty appointment at the University of Utah.
• Significant leadership experience within a complex clinical research, biomedical research, academic, industry, or comparable research environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of multicenter clinical research and the scientific, operational, regulatory, statistical, and data considerations involved in conducting high-quality research.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing significant programs, organizational resources, or research activities.
• Strong communication, judgment, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with scientific, institutional, government, and industry stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

• Leadership experience within a data coordinating center, academic research organization, clinical trials center, research network, academic medical center, or similar research enterprise.
• Success in leading through senior scientific, operational, technical, and administrative leaders.
• Leadership overseeing substantial budgets, externally funded portfolios, or complex organizational resources.
• Demonstrated success developing research programs, grant proposals, contracts, partnerships, or other sources of sponsored support.
• Experience building relationships with federal agencies, industry sponsors, investigators, research networks, or other external partners.
• Record of accomplishment with federally sponsored and/or industry-supported clinical research.
• Prior responsibility for building, growing, scaling, or transforming a research organization, program, or infrastructure.
• Success in recruiting, developing, mentoring, and retaining faculty, staff, or organizational leaders.
• Knowledge of large-scale research data systems, technical assistance programs, research platforms, or emerging clinical research technologies.

About the Utah Data Coordinating Center:
Founded in 2001, the Utah Data Coordinating Center (DCC) is a full-service academic research organization (ARO) that combines the scientific rigor and collaborative spirit of an academic research center with the operational and technological capabilities required to conduct complex, large-scale research. The DCC has provided data, statistical, and clinical coordinating center support for 15 national research networks and implemented more than 225 active or completed multicenter studies, contributing to more than 1,100 publications. Its work encompasses clinical trials, observational studies, registries, national research networks, technical assistance centers, and other federally sponsored programs with a growing portfolio of industry partnerships.

The DCC’s strength lies in the depth and breadth of its people and capabilities. Nearly 150 staff and faculty bring expertise across research design, biostatistics, clinical and project operations, regulatory affairs and quality, data management and analysis, and publication support. Its robust technology capabilities span software and data engineering, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, and secure research environments. Particularly deep expertise in biostatistics and research technology, coupled with highly experienced project and operational teams, enables the DCC to support investigators and sponsors from study concept through execution, analysis, and dissemination.

Just as important is the culture in which that work occurs. The DCC is a high-performing, highly collaborative organization whose people take pride in delivering exceptional work and in helping one another succeed. Its reputation has been built on scientific excellence, accountability, trusted partnerships, and an ability to get complex work done. The next chapter is therefore one of evolution rather than reinvention: building on a successful trajectory while thoughtfully growing and diversifying the portfolio, expanding partnerships, strengthening national visibility, and continuing to advance scientific and technological capabilities. The opportunity for the next Director is to pair ambition with stewardship, preserving the quality, organizational health, and collaborative culture that have driven the DCC’s success while creating the capacity for even greater impact.

For more information, view the DCC’s Impact Report.

National Data Infrastructure at Scale
The DCC operates the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS), a national data infrastructure program that brings together EMS information from across the United States and its territories. The system supports timely surveillance and analysis through national dashboards addressing issues including drug overdoses, heat-related emergencies, influenza-like illness, and other EMS and public-health trends. NEMSIS reflects DCC’s distinctive ability to combine technology, data management, analytics, operational expertise, and long-term government partnerships on a national scale. Building on this expertise, the DCC sees additional large-scale technical assistance and data infrastructure programs as an important avenue for future growth.

About University of Utah Health:
University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is Utah’s only academic health care system and a major health care, research, and education resource for the Mountain West with an annual budget of $7 billion. Its referral area encompasses approximately 10 percent of the United States (including Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, western Colorado, and much of Nevada), and its integrated enterprise includes five hospitals, 12 community health care centers, the University of Utah Medical Group, U of U Health Plan, ARUP Laboratories, and numerous nationally recognized institutes and centers. More than 27,000 employees support this broad mission, while U of U Health serves as a training ground for the majority of Utah’s physicians and thousands of scientists and other health professionals.

Research and innovation are central to U of U Health’s identity. Health Sciences research funding reached a record of $567 million in FY2026, more than doubling over the past decade. Areas of strength span genetics and genomic medicine, oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, biomedical informatics, population health, precision medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, mental health, and other fields. U of U Health has a sustained national reputation for excellence, including 16 consecutive years of recognition in Vizient’s Quality Leadership Award and inclusion on Forbes’ America’s Best Employers 2025 list. Significant investments in research infrastructure, technology, innovation, and new facilities are further strengthening the connections among discovery, education, and patient care.

Leadership
Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD
This position reports directly to Dr. Carter, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of University of Utah Health. He joined the University of Utah in 2025 after serving as the William and Elizabeth Sweet Endowed Professor in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Mass General Brigham. A neurosurgical oncologist and accomplished physician-scientist, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024 and is internationally recognized for contributions to brain tumor genetics, gene and cell therapies, and liquid biopsy techniques for glioblastoma. Dr. Carter is focused on bringing teams together, empowering others, and building for long-term institutional success. His “Build to Last” philosophy emphasizes a strong culture, sustainable growth, and creating the conditions for people and programs to thrive as U of U Health expands its impact locally, nationally, and globally. 

About the University of Utah:
The University of Utah (the U) is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and more than 200 graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,500 students. In Fall 2025, the U welcomed its largest class of incoming first-year undergraduates: 6,513. The student body includes students representing all 50 states and 108 countries. Twenty-five percent of undergraduates identify as first-generation students.

In 2019, the University joined the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success, and securing resources in support of core missions focused on serving the increasingly diverse student population at the U.

In 2024, President Taylor R. Randall launched a strategic planning process resulting in Impact 2030, a pathway to the future of higher education and health care. This ambitious vision is centered on inspiring student success, innovating and generating discoveries through research, and serving the state to make an impact on its 3.5 million residents. The plan acknowledges the state’s evolving needs and challenges it to become a top 10 university.

The U is located in Salt Lake City, one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing, economically and culturally, metropolises in the U.S. The city is uniquely situated to offer both unmatched outdoor and exciting urban experiences, with mountain vistas only a few steps away and vast red-rock desert landscapes within reach of a scenic afternoon drive. Students attending the Utah Asia Campus in South Korea find the same world-class U.S. academic experience offered at the campus in Salt Lake City.

The U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation, and the world. The U’s reputation for excellence draws top-tier faculty and attracts motivated students nationally and internationally. Students bring diverse experiences and outlooks, representing traditional and nontraditional students alike, thereby enhancing the U's exceptional educational experience.

Learn more at utah.edu.

Why Consider this Opportunity?

• Lead at the Intersection: Operate where data, technology, operations, and strategy converge, with the scope to shape how complex research work gets done.
• Accelerate Discovery: Multiply impact by enabling investigators, research networks, and partners to accomplish more than any single research program could achieve alone.
• Build the Network: Forge connections across U of U Health, the University, federal agencies, industry, and other research partners to create new pathways for collaboration, funding, and high-impact science.
• Empower Great People: Lead a deeply committed, high-performing team and create the resources, capacity, and environment that allow talented people to do their best work.
• Advance the Model: Help shape what a leading academic research organization can be by bringing together academic rigor, advanced technology, multidisciplinary expertise, and national-scale infrastructure.
• Create Capacity: Build the sustainability and organizational capacity to pursue the most compelling opportunities while continuing to deliver research that can change clinical practice, inform public health, improve lives, and expand knowledge.

To Apply:
The qualifications outlined in this profile are intended to convey the scope of the role and the experience that may prepare a candidate for success. U of U Health recognizes that no candidate will bring every qualification or be equally proficient in every aspect of the position on day one. Candidates are encouraged to highlight their experiences, skills, and perspectives most relevant to the role and how their background would contribute to advancing the DCC’s mission and priorities.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by November 11, 2026, will receive first consideration. Candidates should submit a CV/resume and a cover letter describing their interest in the opportunity and how their leadership experience aligns with the role. All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.

To apply online: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su527

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Karen Pedersen, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 719-747-2545
kpedersen@summitsearchsolutions.com

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patient populations.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources office at 801-581-6500. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/. Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu/.

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.