Director, Data Infrastructure

About Us

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.

Position Summary

The Director, Data Infrastructure, will report to the CIO and will partner and collaborate with all teams at PCORI to strategize, define, and implement data and analytics infrastructure, products, and solutions that enable PCORI's mission.

The Director, Data Infrastructure is responsible for architecting, building, and leading the organization's data platform and analytics infrastructure. This leader will drive the development of scalable, resilient, and secure data systems that enable advanced analytics, AI, and data-driven decision-making across the business. The role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and strong leadership to foster innovation and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Infrastructure Leadership: Architect, implement, and optimize a scalable, enterprise-wide data platform that meets evolving business needs and supports advanced analytics, reporting, and AI initiatives
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams in data engineering, analytics, and data science, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture
• Data Architecture: Develop and maintain robust data architecture, ensuring data quality, consistency, security, and compliance with regulations
• Data Governance: Develop and maintain robust data governance, Master Data Management and Data Quality for the organization
• Technology Evaluation & Integration: Select, integrate, and manage cutting-edge data technologies (e.g., cloud platforms, data lakes, ETL tools) to support business objectives
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders across business, product, and engineering to align data solutions with organizational goals and drive data literacy
• Operational Excellence: Oversee day-to-day operations of the data infrastructure, ensuring high availability, performance, and reliability of data products and services
• Strategic Data Management: Develop and execute strategies for managing large volumes of internal and third-party health data, ensuring data integrity and accessibility
• Innovation & Automation: Drive automation, self-service analytics, and the adoption of Data and AI technologies to enhance efficiency and unlock business value
• Financial & Resource Management: Oversee project timelines, budgets, and resources, ensuring delivery within scope and on schedule

Incumbent(s) in this position may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above.

Statements outlined in this section are designated as essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience (> 5 years) in building and leading data infrastructure or engineering teams in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Deep technical expertise in data architecture, cloud platforms, and data engineering tools (e.g., SQL, Microsoft Azure, Snowflake etc.)
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, and compliance best practices
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into scalable data solutions and drive data-driven culture across the organization
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience managing large-scale projects, budgets, and cross-functional teams
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture standards and practices used to guide technical decision making
• Ability to manage multiple large scale, strategic projects and effectively triage priorities consistent with an organization's strategy and goals
• Expertise in business modeling, requirements gathering, agile execution, portfolio management, and change management
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; ability to be disciplined, dynamic, and flexible and to work effectively in a rapidly changing environment including meeting ongoing and overlapping deadlines
• Ability to go deep on technology trends, architectural questions, stack control points, roadmaps, and managing development life cycle
• Ability to lead a varied team of resources in support of strategic alignment and execution; strong leadership, relationship building, and decision-making skills with an ability to influence progress
• Effective communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment in the context of scaling and accelerating growth and adapting to change
• Effective verbal and written communication skills

Required Experience

• A master's degree from an accredited institution
• At least 5 years of leadership experience working on data infrastructure
• At least 5 years of people manager experience
• Proven leadership skills, both in direct management and matrix influence capacities
• Certification and experience in Azure, Snowflake, AWS, and others related areas
• Certification or working knowledge in Data Governance (e.g., DAMA)

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $190,000 - $230,000

The above range represents the salary range expected for the position; however, final offers are based on several factors such as the position's responsibilities; the candidate's experience, education, and skills; location; travel required; and current market conditions.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, eligible employees may participate in PCORI-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee's eligible dependents.

Conflict of Interest.

PCORI wants to ensure that prospective employees are aware of its conflict-of-interest policies so that employment deliberations take into consideration this aspect of PCORI employment. PCORI requires all PCORI employees to disclose upon commencement of their employment and on an annual basis all individual and close relatives financial, business, and personal association with the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one's decisions relating to PCORI. All disclosures made by employees are made publicly available on PCORI's website. Disclosures must include all financial and business and personal associations with any health or healthcare-related organizations and include all associations with any other organizations that have the potential to bias or that have the appearance of biasing one's decisions relating to PCORI, including but not limited to vendors or other third parties with whom PCORI has a contract or that PCORI has funded. For more information please visit PCORI-Conflict-of-Interest-Policies-Outside-Employment-Policy.pdf

PCORI conducts reference and background checks on all applicants.