Project Director

About Us DLH delivers improved health and national security readiness solutions for federal programs through science research and development, systems engineering and integration, and digital transformation. Our experts in public health, performance evaluation, and health operations solve the complex problems faced by civilian and military customers alike by leveraging advanced tools – including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud enablement, modeling, and simulation, and more. DLH is dedicated to the idea that “Your Mission is Our Passion” and brings a unique combination of government sector experience, proven methodology, and unwavering commitment to innovation to improve the lives of millions. Overview DLH seeks a dynamic, scientific, and operational leader for a pivotal role in our Public Health & Scientific Research operating center with both client-facing responsibilities and internal corporate oversight. The client-facing role is a Project Director (PD) for a major, long-standing federally funded cohort study investigating environmental and genetic risk factors for cancer and other chronic diseases. The PD responsibilities will be approximately 40% level of effort; the PD is responsible for end-to-end contract execution: leading multidisciplinary teams, collaborating directly with government Principal Investigators, and ensuring delivery of complex, protocol-driven research activities across participant engagement, biospecimen management, data operations, and outcome validation. The PD works closely with the study Program Manager and Scientific Advisor to guide study strategy, operational excellence, and scientific contribution throughout all phases of this nationally recognized research program. The PD role is coupled with internal responsibilities within DLH (60% LOE) to provide thought leadership in the public health research sphere, mentor junior staff, develop new business, and serve as a primary interface with DLH leadership, ensuring strong contract stewardship across financial performance, staffing, and coordination with Finance, HR, and Contracts. Leadership Expectations Successful leadership and strategic visionare exemplifiedby: Providing direction to internal and external teams Maintaining mature, collaborative relationships with federal stakeholders Communicating effectively and authoritatively with senior agency executives, scientific partners, and internal leadership to align project execution with evolving research objectives Driving operational excellence, ensuring complex study deliverablesare met, and resolving challenges to achieve high performance, data integrity, and participant retention Primary Project Director Responsibilities (40%) Oversee all aspects of daily contract operations, acting as the executive liaison and primary representative to federal clients and agency leadership Proactively communicate project status, risks, issues, and mitigation strategies to ensure transparency and accountability across all contract activities Lead and supervise multidisciplinary teamsresponsible for the following: Design, implementation, and analysis of detailed follow-up protocols, multi-mode survey data collection, and preparation of analytic datasets Developmentand implementation ofculturally competent participant retention and engagement strategies to sustain high response rates and maximize longitudinal follow-up Data cleaning, quality assurance, and management of multiple concurrent data streams Biospecimen collection, processing, tracking, and repository operations in partnership with laboratory leadership, ensuring compliance with all safety and quality regulations Health outcome validation activities, including medical record abstraction and procurement of pathology reports Collaborate withScientificSubject Matter Expert to operationalizescientificinitiativesand epidemiologic guidance across all phases of cohort study operations, including study design, protocol development, and field execution Ensure compliance with all federal research regulations (IRB, HIPAA, Certificates of Confidentiality), as well as rigorous adherence to confidentiality, data privacy, and ethical standards Lead strategic planning and process improvement initiatives to drive continuous operational innovation and contract performance Oversee Program Manager’s execution ofproject budgetdevelopment and adherence, staffing plans, schedules, and resource allocation for optimization and sustainability of contract deliverables Primary Internal Responsibilities (60%) Represent DLH at scientific conferences, on committees, and through authorship of manuscripts and presentations to enhance organizational visibility and scientific reputation Maintain situational awareness of advancements in epidemiology, biomedical research, and data science to ensure the programremainsat the forefront of the field Recruit, mentor, and guide staff, fostering a culture of professional growth, operational excellence, and adherence to the highest ethical standards Support business development byidentifyingnew contract and grant opportunities,leading or contributing toproposal development, and positioning DLH as a leader in cohort-based public health research Provide epidemiologic or management support to otherpublic health programsas needed Qualifications 10–15 years’ progressively responsible experience (post-training) as a Principal Investigator, Project Director, or equivalent leadership on complex epidemiologic or public health research programs, with demonstrated success in longitudinal study design, execution, and operations Doctorate (PhD, DrPH, ScD) in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, or a closely related discipline.Individuals with aMaster’sdegree in these fields will be considered if sufficient experiencewith programmaticleadership is clearlydemonstrated. Subject matterexpertiseinchronic disease(e.g.,cancer, cardiovascular disease, aging)required;additionalsubject matterexpertisedesiredinenvironmental health,genetics, or omics. Direct experience in federal research contract management and client interaction at the senior level Demonstrated ability to mentor, supervise, and inspire multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment Exceptional strategic planning, executive communication, and scientific writing skills Demonstrated record ofpeer-reviewed publications, presentations, and involvement in scientific societies or national associations Project management certification (PMP or equivalent) United States citizenshiprequiredper federal contract terms Location: Research Triangle area preferred but notrequired. Willingness to travel isrequiredif outside the preferred geographic location. Benefits Personal Time Off (PTO) medical dental vision supplemental life with AD&D short and long-term disability flexible spending accounts parental leave legal services and more 401(k) Retirement Plan, which includes a matching component training to help drive success, with access to our best-in-class e-learning suite for formal and informal learning, professional and technical certification preparation, and education assistance at accredited institutions #LI-PG1 EEO DLH Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. DLH will provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities and disabled Veterans who need assistance to apply. DLH is committed to maintaining a fair and authentic interview process #J-18808-Ljbffr