Director Research & Evaluation

Director, Research & Evaluation

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a national non-profit, headquartered in Hampton, VA, has been solving insurance and healthcare problems since 1996. Our mission is to provide case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses. To read more about us, please visit our website at

The Opportunity

PAF is currently seeking a Director, Research & Evaluation to join our team. This role leads the design, execution, and management of mixed methods research initiatives, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to generate actionable insights across a broad range of health services topics. Working collaboratively with organizational leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, the Director will oversee research projects utilizing primary and secondary data sources in areas including financial toxicity, medical debt, transportation barriers, insurance navigation, access to care, patient perceptions of costs, benefits and value, patient-reported outcomes, treatment adherence, health literacy, and quality of life.

This position is eligible for remote work, and we are considering candidates primarily within the Eastern Time Zone, which includes Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Florida.

The Ideal Candidate will:

Provide supervision, mentorship, and professional development support to research, evaluation and dissemination staff, including research managers, coordinators, and interns

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research initiatives aligned with organizational priorities
• Oversee all phases of research projects, including study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings
• Develop research proposals, grant applications, and partnership opportunities with nonprofit, academic, healthcare, and industry stakeholders
• Lead the development of research deliverables including peer-reviewed publications, white papers, policy briefs, presentations, abstracts, and public-facing materials
• Partner with the Chief Science Officer to advance strategic publication and dissemination efforts that elevate organizational research and patient insights
• Build and maintain collaborative academic partnerships to support research innovation, evidence generation, and health equity initiatives
• Present research findings at conferences, workshops, panels, and stakeholder meetings
• Support the development of the Patient Insight Congress research agenda and initiatives integrating patient voice into research activities
• Contribute to strategic planning, fundraising, and business development efforts, including grants and research partnerships
• Develop and maintain project management systems, workflows, timelines, and documentation to support Patient Insight Institute research activities

Education and/or Experience:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Public Health, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Health Policy, Economics, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research in healthcare, public health, or related settings (PhD may substitute for 3 years of experience)
• 3+ years of experience managing research staff and cross-functional projects
• Experience using qualitative and quantitative analysis software such as STATA, R, NVivo, SAS, or similar tools

To Apply:

This is an incredible opportunity to join an organization that makes a difference! To apply, please send your resume through our PAF Career Center.

Our Core Values: Passion for Patients, Kindness, Equity, Accountability, Respect & Excellence

PAF is an Equal Opportunity Employer