Principal Research Scientist – Pharmaceutical Pricing and Industry Practices, Policies, and Research - Hybrid or Remote - U of C NORC

JOB SUMMARY:

NORC at the University of Chicago seeks an experienced Principal Research Scientist to direct program and policy projects, with an emphasis on those related to pharmaceutical drug pricing practices and costs.

NORC recognizes that talented and skilled researchers live throughout the U.S. and actively supports remote work arrangements.

DEPARTMENT:

NORC’s expertise and ongoing work in health care delivery and financing — including access to insurance, payment and delivery-system reform, benefit design, and quality measurement — advance stakeholders’ understanding of policies and programs, facilitate implementation, and contribute to important improvements in cost and quality.

NORC’s expert staff has extensive knowledge of all aspects of health care delivery, from private marketplaces and employer-sponsored insurance to Medicare and Medicaid; from large health care systems to small clinics; and from the needs of children to those of older adults, people with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minorities. Our expert team includes social scientists that acquire, collect, and analyze data from health care organizations and patients; evaluators; health services researchers; health-policy analysts; and professionals with first-hand experience running and supporting health care programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Play a lead role in growing NORC’s portfolio in pharmaceutical and prescription drug policy, including pricing practices for commercial and government entities


• Provide consultative policy analysis, evaluation expertise, and operational and technical support for federal clients


• Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research studies, evaluations, and analyses; develop structured interview protocols and content; and lead stakeholder interviews


• Independently draft and manage contract proposals and grant applications, communicating effectively with clients, consultants, and members of the policy and research community


• Participate in and contribute to internal discussions and strategic thinking concerning future research opportunities and the implications of ongoing policymaking for NORC


• Manage contracts and work closely with clients to ensure that contractual requirements (deliverables and timelines) and client expectations are met using the highest standards of quality and collegiality


• Monitor and oversee the financial and administrative aspects of ongoing projects.


• Manage multiple project teams of senior, mid-level, and junior staff, and bring in experts as needed, to meet client expectations and contractual requirements


• Supervise and mentor junior staff.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Master or Doctoral degree in public policy or related fields (training in an array of social science disciplines will be considered). PhD or PharmD preferred


• At least 12 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in evaluation research, policy analysis, survey research or related field (or equivalent education) including at least 5 years of policy project management


• Five (5) to ten (10) years of experience with work directly related to the pharmaceutical industry one or more areas of portfolio management, pricing, R&D costing, and regulatory compliance


• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of the Medicare prescription drug coverage and payment policy rules, regulations, and guidelines.


• Expert knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial drug policies including manufacturer pricing strategies.


• Expert knowledge about the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on Medicare and drug benefit programs.


• Knowledge of pharmaceutical and biosimilars therapy for chronic and high-cost conditions, including clinical outcomes, trends, and shifts in clinical standards


• Monitor and oversee the financial and administrative aspects of ongoing projects


• Experience analyzing pharmaceutical costs and pricing, utilization, and quality outcomes using relevant administrative data sets such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Medicaid data as well as commercial data


• Research productivity in peer-reviewed publications and/or grey literature, desired


• A strong foundation in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, and demonstrated experience designing and leading research studies


• Managerial, leadership, and interpersonal skills to lead inter-disciplinary, cross-national project teams.


• Experience with conducting policy analysis in a government or professional services environment.


• Experience with estimating project and proposal costs and managing project budgets.


• Excellent oral and written communication skills and aptitude in leading and working with project teams, coordinating multiple projects (including those run by others within NORC).


• Occasional travel for site visits and meetings may be required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The pay range for this position is $168,000 to $257,000.

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:  

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment 

  
  


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  Dental and vision insurance  

  
  


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  A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program  

  
  


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  Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance 

  
  


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  Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

  
  

 NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency  

Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC). 

WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT: 

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.

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