Director, Expert Insights and Delphi Methodology
RTI International
Summary
RTI Health Solutions (RTI-HS), a wholly owned subsidiary of RTI International, is an independent and internationally recognized research organization. We are seeking a Director to join our Expert Insights team within Medical Communications. As Director, Expert Insights and Delphi Methodology, you will join an experienced, collaborative team that helps clients obtain, interpret, and communicate insights from clinicians, payers, HTA experts, patients, and other stakeholders. You will provide senior methodological and project leadership across Delphi and other consensus-development studies, advisory boards, steering committees, expert panels, and qualitative research. You will translate complex stakeholder input into clear findings, implications, recommendations, and scientifically rigorous deliverables that support medical affairs, clinical development, evidence communication, market access, and related business decisions. This role is suited to an experienced leader who can quickly take ownership of active Delphi work and provide expert leadership across ongoing projects. This role’s location is flexible, and remote working options are available, with a preference for candidates located on the East Coast.
Job description
What You'll Do
- Independently design and lead modified and classic Delphi studies and other expert elicitation of consensus exercises from protocol development through expert recruitment, questionnaire development, iterative rounds, analysis, consensus interpretation, and final reporting
- Define and apply appropriate consensus criteria, stopping rules, analytical approaches, and methods for integrating quantitative results with qualitative rationale
- Design and lead virtual and in-person advisory boards, steering committees, expert panels, and other structured expert-engagement activities
- Facilitate or moderate discussions with clinicians, payers, patients, caregivers, health technology assessment stakeholders, and other experts
- Conduct and analyze qualitative interviews using rigorous, fit-for-purpose methods
- Advise clients and internal teams on the most appropriate methodology for insight-generation and consensus-development that is tailored to intended audiences
- Develop study protocols, analysis plans, interview and discussion guides, questionnaires, moderator materials, and other data-collection tools
- Translate stakeholder input and study findings into clear conclusions, implications, recommendations, and strategic narratives
- Develop and review scientifically accurate, audience-appropriate reports, executive summaries, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, congress materials, and client presentations
- Identify implications of expert insights for medical strategy, evidence communication, publication planning, stakeholder engagement, and market access
- Apply appropriate standards for scientific rigor, publication ethics, authorship, transparency, data integrity, and project documentation
- Manage complex, multidisciplinary projects to agreed scope, quality, timelines, and budgets, including development of workplans, cost estimates, and risk-mitigation approaches
- Serve as a senior client contact, build trusted relationships, anticipate needs, and provide clear methodological and strategic guidance
- Scope opportunities and develop proposals that align the research question, methodology, deliverables, schedule, and budget
- Contribute to business development through capabilities presentations, solution development, thought leadership, and expansion of client relationships
- Collaborate effectively with medical writers, scientific strategists, editors, project managers, analysts, and other cross-functional partners
- Build the team’s scientific profile through publication and presentation of work
What You'll Need
- Advanced degree and at least 5 years of experience in medical communications, clinical research, epidemiology, public health, outcomes research, health services research, health policy, qualitative research, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related scientific discipline
- Extensive, recent, hands-on experience independently designing and leading modified or classic Delphi studies, including protocol development, expert selection and recruitment, round development, analysis, consensus interpretation, and reporting all in adherence to current methodological guidelines
- Demonstrated ability to assume leadership of active Delphi projects with limited methodological oversight or onboarding
- Experience leading virtual and in-person advisory boards, steering committees, expert panels, or comparable structured expert-engagement programs
- Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing qualitative research, including development of protocols, analysis plans, interview guides, questionnaires, and reports
- Strong scientific writing, synthesis, and data-interpretation skills, with the ability to convert complex evidence and stakeholder input into concise, actionable communications
- Experience developing publication-quality reports, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, or presentations and familiarity with relevant ethical and reporting standards
- Experience working directly with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare clients and providing senior-level methodological and strategic counsel
- Demonstrated success managing complex projects, budgets, timelines, risks, and cross-functional teams
- Experience scoping opportunities, writing proposals, and presenting capabilities or recommended approaches to clients
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multitasking environment
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaborate across disciplines, and coach or mentor colleagues
- A record of peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation, or other relevant scientific thought leadership
Desirable, but not essential
- Experience engaging a range of stakeholder types, including clinicians, payers, patients, caregivers, and health technology assessment representatives
- Knowledge of US or international healthcare, health technology assessment, pricing, reimbursement, or market access environments
- Experience connecting expert insights to Medical Affairs strategy, integrated evidence communication, publication planning, or stakeholder-engagement planning
- Experience using virtual engagement platforms, digital collaboration tools, and emerging technologies to support expert panels, qualitative research, insight analysis, and scientific communication
- Experience supporting health technology assessment, reimbursement, regulatory, or evidence-submission activities
- Experience with additional research approaches, such as literature reviews, observational or retrospective analyses, patient-reported outcomes, utility assessment, or quality-of-life research
Requirements
- Advanced degree and at least 5 years of experience in medical communications, clinical research, epidemiology, public health, outcomes research, health services research, health policy, qualitative research, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related scientific discipline
- Extensive, recent, hands-on experience independently designing and leading modified or classic Delphi studies, including protocol development, expert selection and recruitment, round development, analysis, consensus interpretation, and reporting all in adherence to current methodological guidelines
- Demonstrated ability to assume leadership of active Delphi projects with limited methodological oversight or onboarding
- Experience leading virtual and in-person advisory boards, steering committees, expert panels, or comparable structured expert-engagement programs
- Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing qualitative research, including development of protocols, analysis plans, interview guides, questionnaires, and reports
- Strong scientific writing, synthesis, and data-interpretation skills, with the ability to convert complex evidence and stakeholder input into concise, actionable communications
- Experience developing publication-quality reports, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, or presentations and familiarity with relevant ethical and reporting standards
- Experience working directly with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare clients and providing senior-level methodological and strategic counsel
- Demonstrated success managing complex projects, budgets, timelines, risks, and cross-functional teams
- Experience scoping opportunities, writing proposals, and presenting capabilities or recommended approaches to clients
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multitasking environment
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaborate across disciplines, and coach or mentor colleagues
- A record of peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation, or other relevant scientific thought leadership
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- 401(k) plan
- Paid parental leave
- Adoption expense assistance
- Infertility treatment assistance
- Education reimbursement
- Employee assistance program
- Paid time off
- Bonus opportunities
- Recognition program
Company overview
RTI International is a leading nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Founded in 1958 as the Research Triangle Institute, the organization conducts research and provides technical services in areas including health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory and chemistry services. With headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, RTI employs over 5,000 staff members worldwide who work across more than 75 countries. The institute is known for its rigorous scientific approach to solving complex problems and has established itself as a trusted partner for government agencies, foundations, and private sector clients seeking evidence-based solutions to global challenges. RTI's work spans from basic scientific research to applied policy analysis, with a strong emphasis on translating research findings into practical applications that benefit society.