Cancer Institute Director and Chief Research Officer – Senior Vice President

Summary:

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) seeks an accomplished and visionary physician-scientist to serve as Director of the UTMB Comprehensive Cancer Institute. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead an institution-wide effort to transform cancer care, research, and education across UTMB’s integrated academic and community network, encompassing campuses in Galveston, League City, Clear Lake, and Angleton Danbury. The Director will serve as the strategic and operational leader of all oncology services and programs, spearhead efforts to achieve National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, and catalyze innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration. This individual will be a visible institutional leader, deeply engaged in advancing translational discovery, expanding access to high-quality, patient-centered cancer care, and driving UTMB’s regional and national impact in oncology.

This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer of the UTMB Health System.

Chief Research Officer

As the Chief Research Officer for the Academic Enterprise, this individual will provide executive level leadership to the Animal Research Center, Office of Regulated Non-human Studies, Office of Clinical Research, Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Analytics, Data and Systems, Grants and Contracts Accounting, Office of Research Outreach, Learning and Engagement, Animal Welfare Office--Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Office of Biosafety--Institutional Biosafety Committee, Research Integrity and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Scientific Integrity, Human Research Protection Program--Institutional Review Board, and the Responsible Official Program. The Chief Research Officer is the Institutional Official as it relates to Human Subjects and Laboratory Animal Research University-wide.

The Chief Research Officer will also lead the development and implementation of standards to advance the Academic Enterprise research community and define the composition of all university-wide research committees. This position oversees all university medical center-wide research-related activities and is responsible for developing and implementing service-oriented processes and a robust infrastructure in support of UTMB’s rapidly expanding research programs.

The Chief Research Officer works closely with the Deans of all five schools (John Sealy School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Public and Population Health) and the John Sealy School of Medicine’s clinical and basic science Chairs and departments. This role is also responsible for ensuring that a comprehensive, strong, efficient, and streamlined research infrastructure exists to support individual researchers, departments, and all five schools that will enhance UTMB’s research activity and preserve working and financial integrity. This individual helps develop and sustain an appropriate balance between high levels of client service and exceptional operational efficiency while fostering a culture of informed, self-directed compliance with institutional and sponsor-initiated regulations. The Chief Research Officer will create synergy through innovation aligned with the Institute’s strategic plan and oversee the UTMB Off

This position reports to the President

Scope: Academic Enterprise

Responsibilities for Cancer Institute Director:

Strategic and Operational Oversight

• Develop and execute a forward-looking vision and long-term strategic plan for the UTMB Comprehensive Cancer Institute in alignment with institutional goals.
• Lead the enterprise-wide effort to achieve NCI designation.
• Oversee budget development, personnel strategy, space utilization, and capital project planning to ensure programmatic growth and operational sustainability.
• Align Cancer Institute strategies with institutional priorities in clinical care, research, education, health equity, and fiscal responsibility.

Clinical Leadership

• Provide executive oversight for the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, multidisciplinary cancer care across all UTMB campuses and affiliated community sites.
• Implement integrated service line models and disease-specific care pathways in collaboration with leaders in Medical, Surgical, and Radiation Oncology.
• Develop innovative clinics with integrated concepts for prevention and maintenance.
• Expand specialized programs and centers of excellence (e.g., breast, gastrointestinal, hematologic malignancies).
• Partner with the Chief Medical Officer’s office to maintain standards of care, define oncology-specific quality metrics, and implement data-driven approaches to value-based care.
• Ensure clinical alignment across nursing, support services, and patient navigation to optimize outcomes and the care experience.
• Lead the strategic growth of UTMB’s cancer research portfolio, spanning basic, translational, and clinical.
• Oversee development, compliance, and execution of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials.
• Promote integration of precision oncology and clinical trials into routine practice to ensure access and innovation at the point of care.
• Drive collaboration between clinical researchers and the newly formed Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research and the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hub, strengthening implementation science and real-world evidence efforts.
• Foster innovation and commercialization by supporting the development of intellectual property (IP), novel therapeutics, diagnostics, and cancer-related technologies. Partner with UTMB’s Office of Technology Transfer to protect, license, and translate discoveries into patient benefit.
• Develop timeline to pursue/secure NCI designation.

Academic and Educational Mission

• Ensure delivery of high-quality, interdisciplinary education and training for medical students, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals.
• Foster a vibrant academic environment by mentoring faculty and supporting scholarly development and promotion.
• Collaborate with the John Sealy School of Medicine to enhance oncology curricula, interprofessional learning, and pipeline programs for future cancer researchers and clinicians.
• Attract and retain top-tier clinical and scientific talent to build a high-performing academic oncology team.

Institutional Advancement, Philanthropy, and Partnerships

• Serve as a lead ambassador and advocate for the Cancer Center in philanthropic activities, partnering with the UTMB Development Office to cultivate donors, secure major gifts, and steward long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Engage with grateful patients, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners to build an enduring base of support for research, clinical programs, facilities, and faculty recruitment.
• Represent UTMB in state, national, and system-wide oncology initiatives, consortia, and advocacy efforts.
• Strengthen partnerships with other University of Texas institutions, cancer research networks, and industry collaborators to elevate UTMB’s visibility and collaborative reach.

Responsibilities for Chief Research Officer:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for research administration to meet the needs of multiple constituencies.
• Provide executive leadership for research infrastructure and services including the following units: Team Science; Innovation, Technology Development and Transfer; Research Administration; Animal Resource Center; Office of Clinical Research; Office of Non-Clinical Regulated Studies; Office of Sponsored Programs; Research Education; Grants & Contracts Accounting; and Office of Strategic Research Development.
• Oversee key committees: Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and Responsible Official Program.
• Serve as the Institutional Official for Human Subjects and Laboratory Animal Research University-wide.
• Serve as an active member or Executive Sponsor of Chief Research Office sponsored committees. Continuously monitor processes to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Develop and implement service-oriented processes and infrastructure to support UTMB’s growing research programs.
• Ensure a comprehensive, efficient, and streamlined research infrastructure to support researchers, departments, and schools.
• Establish a strong culture within the Chief Research Office of a customer-focused approach to investigators that balances proactive outreach, responsiveness and sound fiscal management.
• Establish approaches for identifying new research programs and improving funding opportunities for faculty members.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with external stakeholders and potential partners (UT-System components and elsewhere) to improve efficient research development and ensure strategic alignment.
• Balance high levels of client service with operational efficiency, fostering self-directed compliance with regulations.
• Identify and work with respective leaders to address unfunded research programs and plan the strategic direction using benchmark data aligned with research goals and strategic vision.
• Work with Executives, Chairs, and Investigators to facilitate development and maintenance of research programs.
• Function as an advocate for UTMB research programs.
• Ensure appropriate data and reports are provided to support research faculty and strategic institutional planning for research activities.
• Oversee and coordinate research space allocation and assignments for the Academic Enterprise.
• Develop and monitor the annual fiscal year budget for the Chief Research Office.
• Oversee the recruitment, retention, and development of research staff.
• Oversee and advance UTMB’s clinical trials programs in support of advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care through rigorous scientific evaluation.
• Oversee the UTMB Office of Innovation and the Chief Innovation Officer. Align innovation efforts with the Institute’s strategic plan.
• Maintain a continuing knowledge of scientific advances occurring within academia.
• Lead efforts to disseminate research findings through publications, presentations, and other media.
• Maintain a well-trained and service-oriented staff.
• Monitor and respond to customer needs.

Compliance Functions

• Develop and implement policies, procedures and systems that ensure the integrity of the institution, protect the safety and welfare of employees and research subjects, and promote compliance with all regulations governing the research process.
• Share Conflict of Interest responsibilities with the Office of Institutional Compliance.
• Maintain appropriate accountability in managing research spending to ensure financial compliance in sponsored projects in conjunction with the Executive Vice President and Provost, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer - Academic Enterprise and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Helps investigators identify and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Identify appropriate internal controls and provide mechanisms to monitor and enforce compliance.
• Adhere to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MD/PhD degree plus ten (10) years of relevant experience in a related field (e.g., oncology, cancer research).
• Proven track record of managing complex teams, including both clinical and research staff, successful innovation, a demonstrated ability to lead teams effectively.
• Demonstrated scholarship through cancer research programs, teaching awards, publications and extramurally-funded research.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant involvement in national or international oncology organizations, such as ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) or AACR (American Association for Cancer Research).
• Experience in the development of NCI-designated cancer care programs that include integrated clinical and research components.
• Demonstrated success in securing significant research funding, particularly in cancer research.
• Leadership in designing and implementing cutting-edge cancer treatment protocols, research initiatives, or cancer prevention programs.
• Oversight and leadership of research operations within a large and complex academic medical center.