Head of Epidemiology

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States, +1 more country.

📋 Description

• Provide scientific oversight for the most intricate or high-risk epidemiology programs.

• Support key strategic client relationships and initiatives.

• Cultivate senior leaders within the field of epidemiology.

• Direct priorities related to methods, quality, talent, and service offerings in epidemiology.

• Collaborate with leaders across Fortrea Consulting and the organization on epidemiology, RWE, and Consulting projects.

• Contribute to the growth strategy of epidemiology and lead selected key initiatives.

• Sponsor or offer senior scientific approval for high-value epidemiology initiatives and client partnerships.

• Provide epidemiology insights for commercial objectives, opportunity-pipeline assessments, and key-account prospects.

• Establish and nurture external scientific partnerships and alliances.

• Shape the scientific vision and the roadmap for epidemiology capabilities.

• Lead initiatives for methods, technology, data partnerships, talent development, quality assurance, and scalable service delivery.

• Set up governance for scientific standards, review processes, risk management, reproducibility, transparency, and regulatory preparedness.

• Enhance Fortrea’s external scientific presence through thought leadership and professional engagement.

• Act as the senior scientific sponsor for selected complex or high-risk epidemiology projects.

• Ensure that epidemiology strategies and deliverables align with Fortrea’s standards for credibility, relevance, transparency, and defensibility.

• Advise senior stakeholders on epidemiology and RWE strategies, evidence gaps, and implications related to regulatory, payer, or HTA considerations.

• Provide senior-level escalation and decision support for significant scientific and quality risks in epidemiology.

• Ensure the proper application of epidemiologic and causal inference methodologies, complex applications, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines.

• Lead senior epidemiology leaders and oversee leadership development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.

• Manage workforce planning, senior hiring, promotions, performance evaluations, and deployment decisions.

• Foster an inclusive and accountable culture within the epidemiology team.

• Exemplify Fortrea's culture, business ethics, scientific integrity, and responsible decision-making practices.

• Perform additional duties as required or assigned.

• Travel both domestically and internationally, with occasional driving to site locations.

⛳️ Requirements

• Doctoral-level degree in a relevant discipline such as epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, public health, or a related quantitative health science; Fortrea may accept a graduate-level degree such as MS/MPH with relevant experience and successful project outcomes in place of formal educational requirements.

• Established scientific and strategic leadership in epidemiology and real-world evidence (RWE), encompassing advanced methodologies, regulatory-grade evidence, program governance, and capability enhancement.

• Proven success in strengthening an epidemiology capability, managing complex program portfolios, or fostering strategic client relationships while maintaining scientific quality and client trust.

• Demonstrated experience in developing senior scientific leaders and guiding multidisciplinary teams through periods of growth and transformation.

• Exceptional communication, judgment, influence, and relationship-building skills at the senior level, interacting with scientific, commercial, and client stakeholders.

• Strong grasp of epidemiological guidelines such as STROBE/RECORD and ISPE/ENCePP, along with major regulatory RWE principles including the FDA RWE Framework, ICH E6(R3), and ICH M14.

• 15 years of relevant experience, or a doctoral-level degree with at least 12 years, including extensive leadership of complex portfolios, major client relationships, business development, scientific strategy, and senior leader oversight.

• 10 years of experience in leading cross-functional teams and developing staff members.

• Practical experience utilizing secondary real-world data sources like claims, EHR, and registries.

• Experience representing an epidemiology or RWE capability to senior clients, regulatory bodies, payers, HTA, industry, and scientific communities.

• Familiarity with external control arms/synthetic controls, natural history studies, and HEOR deliverables such as comparative-effectiveness studies, payer evidence, and indirect treatment comparisons.

• Proven track record of originating or expanding strategic client relationships and multidisciplinary programs.

• History of creating new offerings, markets, partnerships, or delivery models that yield measurable organizational impact.

• Experience in shaping strategy for an epidemiology or RWE capability while integrating scientific, commercial, personnel, technology, quality, and delivery priorities.

• Acknowledged external influence through scientific leadership, participation in professional organizations, guidance development, publications, or senior advisory roles.

• Ability to challenge conventional wisdom to address client issues and devise innovative solutions.

• Proficient in accessing and utilizing a variety of software applications, both custom-built and off-the-shelf.

• Consistent and reliable attendance.

• Flexible hours may be necessary.

• Willingness to travel internationally to support business needs as required.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Life insurance

• Short-term disability (STD)

• Long-term disability (LTD)

• 401(K)

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

• Paid time off (PTO) or Flexible time off (FTO)

• Company bonus where applicable