Head of Research and Scientific Communication

Responsibilities

• Lead and nurture Virta’s team of experienced clinical researchers conducting virtual clinical trials and collaborating with academic investigators on sponsored and collaborative research leading to peer-reviewed publication.
• Build a network of key investigators interested in collaborating with Virta researchers on trials that extend the impact of the Virta program.
• Partner closely with Commercial Marketing and Sales to define the evidence, proof points, claims, stories, and external-facing assets needed to educate the market, support enterprise growth, and position Virta as the evidence-based leader in metabolic health.
• Strategically align Virta’s scientific work with key national and international conferences, meetings, and symposia.
• Represent Virta’s science on the podium at scientific meetings, in calls and presentations with Virta’s clients and sales prospects, and at internal meetings.
• Participate as an active member of the Virta Medical Group leadership team, representing the scientific point of view and leading/collaborating on evidence-based clinical initiatives.
• Develop and advance a real world evidence program, leveraging sources of data both within and outside of Virta.
• Work cross functionally to inject evidence into Virta processes - from clinical care to coaching to product development.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, MD, PharmD, or equivalent research doctorate) in HEOR, clinical outcomes research, health economics, health services research, pharmacoepidemiology, epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, quantitative social sciences, clinical research methodology, or a related quantitative health research discipline.
• At least two years of experience working with patients directly in a clinical or research setting.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with commercial, marketing, or go-to-market teams to translate clinical evidence, outcomes research, or HEOR findings into market-facing narratives, thought leadership, sales enablement, and executive/customer communications.
• Experience developing and executing KOL engagement strategies, including formal KOL mapping, identification and prioritization of key stakeholders, advisory board planning, scientific communications, and ongoing external relationship management.
• Familiarity with the process of generating real-world evidence leveraging multiple data sources.
• Demonstrated people leadership with at least five years of experience building, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• At least five years of business experience working in a start-up or related high-growth organization.
• Outstanding scientific writing skills with multiple peer-reviewed publications as first and senior author.
• Firm, innate understanding of trial design.
• Direct experience working with IRBs and the compliance side of research.
• Poise and comfort presenting in front of audiences with authority.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in metabolic health.
• Experience with health economics (HEOR).
• Strong point of view on how to communicate science to different audiences outside of the typical presentation/publication pathway.