RWD Program Lead

(ID: 2026-1574)

Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research biomedical informatics and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science software engineering and program management we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Benefits We Offer:

• 100% Medical Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401K match up to 5%
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Healthcare (FSA)
  • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
  • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

The Real-World Data (RWD) Program Lead is accountable for the mission partner ecosystem governance and outcomes of a national-scale clinical data and analytics capability that enables high-impact translational research and evidence generation.

This leader partners with clients and stakeholder organizations (e.g. federal sponsors academic medical centers health systems research networks) to codefine and evolve the platforms:

• Multiyear strategy and operating model
• Outcome-based priorities and success measures (e.g. adoption time-to-access data quality study throughput)
• High level architecture and approach for the platform and its various components
• High level understanding of legal and regulatory hurdles of RWD programs
• Research enablement agenda (what types of evidence and capabilities the platform must support)

This role serves as the senior client-facing leader for a national-scale real-world data program. The role partners closely with clients sponsors and stakeholders to collaboratively define multi-year strategy outcome-based priorities success measures and governance approaches. Through these partnerships the role ensures alignment between stakeholder goals scientific impact trust and long-term platform sustainability.

The role leads the what and why of the platform translating client needs into clear strategic direction adoption goals and high-level architectural intent. The role works in close collaboration with senior technical delivery leaders architects and data science and engineering teams who own detailed design and implementation ensuring that execution remains aligned with client-defined priorities governance expectations and desired outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client partnership strategy and success measures

• Work with clients and stakeholder leaders to codefine and refresh a multiyear strategy for a national-scale RWD platform/program.

• Translate the jointly defined strategy into outcome-based priorities quarterly objectives and measurable success metrics.

• Facilitate decision-making on tradeoffs (scope speed risk cost) while maintaining stakeholder alignment and trust.

National stakeholder ecosystem leadership

• Serve as a senior strategic partner and trusted advisor to a nationwide community of stakeholders (executive leaders at partner institutions sponsors research community leaders).

• Act as the front door for the platform/program: establish credibility manage expectations and align priorities across diverse partners.

• Lead stakeholder communications: executive updates community-facing narratives and transparent change management.

Governance ethics privacy and compliance

• Establish and operate governance frameworks that enable compliant ethical use of patient data under standards such as HIPAA and the Common Rule (as applicable).

• Oversee and continuously improve data access and use processes (e.g. master data sharing terms data access committee review auditing and monitoring).

• Partner with privacy/security/legal teams to maintain a strong risk posture while enabling research speed and usability.

Program and product leadership (the what/why)

• With clients and internal leadership define the programs roadmap outcomes across:

  • data warehouse evolution and scalability

  • semantic layer and cohort discovery usability

  • data quality and completeness improvements

  • modernization priorities and technical debt reduction goals

• Partner with the senior technical delivery leader to ensure roadmap feasibility sequencing and delivery accountability.

Research enablement and scientific impact

• Shape (with clients and scientific leadership) the set of core analytical capabilities the platform must support (e.g. reproducible RWD workflows cohort definitions phenotyping causal inference methods).

• Ensure research outputs are operationally supported: study intake pathways reproducibility expectations and publication/communication readiness.

• Promote responsible innovation (including AI/automation) through clear governance transparency and evaluation.

Operating model and execution leadership

• Lead a cross-functional internal/external operating model (engineers scientists contractors operations) to deliver on outcomes.

• Establish a rhythm of business: steering cadence decision logs backlog governance status reporting and risk/issue management.

• Manage program-level dependencies vendor/contractor performance (as applicable) and budget/resource alignment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in health data research informatics clinical analytics RWD programs or related domains.

• Demonstrated success leading large multi-stakeholder programs or consortia (multi-institution national or enterprise-scale) including governance and operating cadence.

• Proven ability to partner with clients/sponsors to define strategy priorities and success measuresthen drive execution against them.

• Experience establishing or operating data governance and data access processes (e.g. data sharing terms access committees privacy review auditing).

• Comfort leading within regulated environments involving sensitive health data; working fluency with privacy and compliance concepts (HIPAA/Common Rule de-identification/limited datasets etc. as applicable).

• Strong communication skills: can translate complex topics into executive-ready narratives; credible with senior scientific and operational leaders.

• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams (internal and external) including conflict resolution and stakeholder alignment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with national or multi-site clinical data networks research consortia public-private partnerships or large-scale translational research programs.

• Working familiarity with common clinical data standards and interoperability concepts (e.g. OMOP FHIR PCORNet; terminology systems such as ICD-10 SNOMED LOINC RxNorm).

• Track record of enabling reproducible evidence generation (e.g. pragmatic trials target trial emulation observational causal inference high-impact RWE/RWD studies).

• Experience partnering with cloud/data platform teams and product organizations (even if not hands-on engineering).

• Experience implementing AI/automation governance for clinical or research analytics (model transparency evaluation safety review monitoring).

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (public health informatics biostatistics data science medicine or related) or equivalent experience.

Disclaimer: The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills responsibilities duties and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position job description or responsibilities as needed.

The diversity of Axles employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age race gender religion national origin disability marital status covered veteran status sexual orientation status with respect to public assistance and other characteristics protected under state federal or local law and to deter those who aid abet or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact:

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidates experience qualifications skills and location.

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