Director of Operations and Strategy (Chief of Staff)

Company: Veterans Research & Education Foundation of St
Location: Saint Louis
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description THE OPPORTUNITY The Clinical Epidemiology Center (CEC) at the VA St. Louis Health Care System is one of the country’s most productive research groups using large-scale health data to answer urgent public health questions — from Long COVID outcomes to the effectiveness and risks of GLP-1 drugs. Our work is published in Nature, Science, The BMJ, and the New England Journal of Medicine, and has been covered by the AP, Reuters, NPR, CNN, NYTimes, and National Geographic. We are looking for a Director of Operations and Strategy to serve as Chief of Staff and run the engine behind this work. You will oversee budget, operations, and strategy. You will be responsible for managing and growing a multidisciplinary team and helping shape the Center’s strategic direction as we scale. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on making complex operations run smoothly, communicates clearly across audiences, and wants their work to have a direct impact on public health evidence and policy. WHAT YOU’LL DO Project and Operations Leadership - Own the Center’s budget — develop annual budgets, track expenditures, forecast funding needs, and ensure responsible stewardship of research funds. - Drive day-to-day operations of the Center, establishing workflows, tracking milestones across concurrent projects, and ensuring deliverables meet timelines and regulatory requirements. - Manage all personnel operations including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and team development for a multidisciplinary staff of researchers and support professionals. - Oversee resource planning including physical space, IT systems, equipment, and infrastructure — anticipating needs and solving problems as the Center scales. - Identify and cultivate new funding sources and donor relationships to expand the Center’s resource base and support its growing research portfolio. Team and Talent Development - Supervise, mentor, and support CEC staff, building a high-performing team and fostering professional growth. - Lead recruitment and onboarding of new team members, contributing to hiring decisions and team composition. Communications and Visibility - Develop, grow, and maintain the Center’s web presence and social media channels to communicate our research to broad audiences. - Organize and run various engagement activities including a monthly lecture series, research seminars, and an annual summit, coordinating speakers, content, and logistics. - Proactively develop an internal and external communications strategy to advance the Center’s strategic goals and elevate its public profile. Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement - Contribute to the Center’s strategic planning — helping prioritize projects, allocate resources, and plan for growth. - Form, staff, and maintain a strategic advisory board and a stakeholder engagement board to guide the Center’s direction and deepen external partnerships. - Serve as a key liaison among investigators, project teams, and internal and external stakeholders. WHO YOU ARE Required - 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience managing operations in a research, academic, or public health environment. - Demonstrated budget management experience: developing annual budgets, tracking expenditures, and forecasting funding needs. - Supervisory experience including hiring, performance management, mentoring, and developing a multidisciplinary team. - Experience with fundraising, donor cultivation, or grant development to expand an organization’s resource base. - Strategic communications ability: experience developing and executing internal and external communications strategies, not just producing content. - Strong organizational and interpersonal skills with a track record of working across disciplines, levels, and external partners. - A builder mentality: comfort standing up new processes, systems, and governance structures rather than maintaining established ones. - A track record of independently identifying problems, proposing solutions, and driving them to completion without waiting for direction. Preferred - Experience forming (not just supporting) advisory boards, committees, or similar governance structures. - Familiarity with research regulations, IRB processes, and compliance requirements in clinical or public health research. - Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday, MS Project), Microsoft Office, web content management systems, and social media platforms. - PMP certification or equivalent project management credential. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS - Competitive salary commensurate with experience (range: $170,000 – $180,000). - 30% fringe benefit paid directly to the employee, in addition to base salary. - Employee is responsible for purchasing their own health insurance. - Position is renewable annually. - This position is employed through the Veterans Research and Education Foundation (VREF) of St. Louis, the nonprofit research corporation affiliated with the VA St. Louis Health Care System. START DATE Immediate / Open (flexible for the right candidate). This is not a remote, virtual, or telework position. Daily on-site presence is required. HOW TO APPLY Submit your resume, a cover letter describing your relevant experience, and contact information for at least three professional references.

Keywords: Veterans Research & Education Foundation of St, St. Louis , Director of Operations and Strategy (Chief of Staff), Administration, Clerical , Saint Louis, Missouri