Senior Biomedical Research & Data Governance

At Sage Bionetworks, we are the architects of a more open, equitable, and data-driven scientific ecosystem. We believe that when we democratize access to information and break down the walls between disciplines, we accelerate the journey from raw data to life-changing insights.

In an era of rapid transformation, we don't just adopt modern tools, we interrogate and refine them. From leveraging advanced AI to navigating the complexities of large-scale data governance, our work is fueled by a restless curiosity and a commitment to innovative exploration. We are a high-agility team that thrives at the intersection of "what is" and "what if," navigating fluidly across roles to meet the challenges of a digital-first research landscape.

We recognize that the most innovative solutions emerge from a tapestry of diverse perspectives and a willingness to experiment. At Sage, your work transcends the traditional boundaries of science and technology. Join us in leaving a lasting imprint on human health by proving that when we share knowledge, and embrace the tools of the future, everyone wins.

The Opportunity

At Sage, the work of governance spans the full arc of biomedical research, from the ethical design and regulatory oversight of research activities, to the stewardship of scientific research communities and consortium relationships, and extending on to the responsible sharing of sensitive human data. As a Senior Biomedical Research and Data Governance analyst*, you’ll be a key driver of multiple Privacy and Compliance Office functions. You will lead research and scientific community governance processes across active biomedical research programs and advance Privacy and Compliance Office initiatives that ensure operational efficiency and compliance. You will design data governance approaches for research communities to share biomedical data, focusing on ethics, regulatory and legal compliance, and responsible stewardship of human subject research data.

* This is not a data engineering or analytics role. Candidates will not need primary expertise in data pipelines, SQL, programming languages, or statistical modeling.

We’re Looking for a Colleague Who: 

• The Mindset: You are an experienced collaborator who has demonstrated success working in interdisciplinary teams and willing to find creative pathways to comply with new laws, regulations, and policies. You enjoy engaging with diverse research communities to guide the adoption of governance frameworks. You have a process improvement mindset, allowing you to synthesize current procedures and offer solutions that increase efficiency and stability. You think ahead and seek to explore emerging technologies, including AI, to understand its impact on governance in biomedical research.
• The Skillset: You bring specialized expertise in stewarding human biomedical research data from professional settings. You apply deep knowledge of laws, regulations, ethical principles, and compliance processes to navigate complex governance topics and uphold research integrity. You have hands-on experience with IRB regulations for human subjects research data, HIPAA compliance, and data use agreements.
• The Tools: You will interpret current and emerging laws and regulations, use best practices, and negotiate institutional agreements to govern data transfer and sharing... You will apply self-motivation and collaborative skills to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders. You will exercise your knowledge and experience by developing and implementing governance frameworks, complete with robust documentation and training.

Key Capabilities

What you’ll do:

• Research Governance: Lead the development of policies, processes, and structures that guide and oversee activities such as research design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Scientific Community Governance: Collaborate with research consortia, scientific working groups, and institutional partners to ensure the ethical, responsible, and accountable conduct of research and data sharing. . Design, implement, and champion governance systems that protect the rights and welfare of research participants and preserve the integrity of the scientific process.
• Data Governance: Lead initiatives that enable responsible data sharing by evaluating data sensitivity, and designing and applying governance approaches, such as data access controls . Lead the assessment of emerging privacy considerations and develop or update compliance methods to address current needs. (This is not a data engineering or analytics role.)
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure adherence to ethical, legal, and institutional requirements. Contribute to incident investigations and the implementation of corrective actions/preventative action (CAPA) plans. Monitor activities and report to stakeholders.
• Integration of Emerging Technologies: Lead research, scientific community, and data governance initiatives addressing and enabling the responsible application of AI and other developing technologies. Promote the use of AI tools for documentation, process improvement, and novel uses within the governance field.
• Standards & Training: Lead the development and implementation of standards for data sharing and governance education. Develop and sustain new governance protocols and disseminate/socialize updated standards through training materials and presentations.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Lead governance partnerships with internal teams and external collaborators. Respond to data access requests and provide user support, as needed. Advise established research communities using standard or novel data sharing and governance framework approaches.

How you’ll do it: 

• Strategic Framework Leadership: Design and oversee the implementation of governance frameworks and data privacy guidelines, ensuring they remain resilient against evolving global regulations and emerging ethical challenges.
• Operational Excellence: Direct custom data governance systems and the end-to-end execution of complex data-sharing agreements. Lead internal and external investigations and contribute to high-level audit reporting.
• Stakeholder Management: Drive collaboration with internal and external partners to develop and negotiate data-sharing terms that empower data-sharing efforts while maintaining rigorous organizational compliance standards.
• Advanced Problem-Solving & Innovation: Proactively identify gaps across research, scientific community, and data governance. Leverage AI and other emerging technologies with curiosity to modernize governance workflows and documentation.
• Mentorship & Educational Strategy: Lead and champion comprehensive privacy and compliance training programs, serving as a primary subject matter expert to socialize new standards and ensure operational continuity.

Who You Are

The Essentials (Required): 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., life sciences, public health, public administration, social sciences)
• Experience: 
• 7+ years of professional experience in a research setting involving human biomedical data (e.g., clinical research within an academic, hospital, pharmaceutical industry, or related setting).
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the laws, regulations, and best practices related to working with human research data.
• Experience preparing materials and submitting to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), preferably including multi-site protocols. Human subjects research regulatory experience is foundational to the role.
• Experience with legal language or data sharing agreement review.
• Experience developing and/or improving Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or other process documentation for day-to-day tasks.
• Knowledge of incident investigation processes, root cause analysis, and Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) plans.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience with documentation/task management tools (e.g., Google Suite, MS Suite, Confluence, Jira).

• Skill Baseline: 
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills across various audiences and mediums in a professional setting, e.g., via emails, meeting participation, presentations, etc.
• Understand F.A.I.R. data sharing and ethical research principles as they pertain to human biomedical research.
• Strong digital literacy skills and eagerness to learn new software and apply new tools.
• Able to navigate ambiguity as project and business needs grow and change.
• Can sustain focus and concentration for extended periods while completing computer-based and reading-intensive tasks.

Job Functions and Physical Requirements

The following cognitive and physical activities outline the essential functions required for successful job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these functions.

Physical Demands

• Extended periods of sitting at a desk and using a computer.
• Repeated wrist, hand, and finger movements.
• Requires clear vision for tasks like data analysis, transcribing, computer use, and reading.
• Occasionally lifting or moving objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

Cognitive Demands

• Able to work effectively under deadlines.Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing environments, priorities and multitask.

Additional Requirements

• Travel is required a minimum of two times per year for on-site events in Seattle, WA. 
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Works well in a team and maintains professionalism.
• Follows company policies, procedures, and relevant laws and regulations.
• Note: This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to modification as job duties evolve.

Compensation & Total Rewards

Sage Bionetworks implements equitable workplace strategies to ensure fair pay. Actual compensation is determined by market data, specific experience, and internal parity.

• Job Level: Senior
• Annual Salary Range: $93,300 - 121,700
• Note: New hires typically receive an offer between the minimum and the midpoint of the range to allow for future growth within the role. Higher offers may be considered for exceptional experience or specific market conditions.

Comprehensive Benefits: We offer a package competitive with both commercial biotech and nonprofit sectors:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and long-term disability.
• Future Security: Robust retirement plan and flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Work-Life Harmony: Paid time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Learn more at: Benefits – Sage Bionetworks

Equal Opportunity & Inclusion

Sage Bionetworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Accommodation Request: If you require a  reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@sagebase.org.

Modern Hiring & Responsible AI

We value your talent and your time. To ensure a fair and inclusive experience, we operate with the following principles:

• Responsible AI in Recruiting: To help us find the best talent, we may utilize AI tools within our recruiting platforms. We use these technologies responsibly to avoid the pitfalls of bias and discrimination. We believe technology should enhance human judgment, not replace it, and we regularly audit our processes to ensure every candidate is evaluated fairly based on their unique skills.
• Work from (Almost) Anywhere: We are a distributed workforce and support remote or hybrid arrangements within the United States.
• Virtual-First Interviews: All interviews are conducted virtually to ensure accessibility and flexibility for all candidates.

About Sage Bionetworks: Science for the Common Good

At Sage Bionetworks, we believe the greatest barriers to medical progress aren't just biological—they are structural. Since 2009, our Seattle-founded nonprofit has been on a mission to tear down the "silos" of traditional science. We don’t just conduct research; we redefine how it’s done through open science, radical collaboration, and ethical data sharing.

When you join Sage, you aren't just taking a job; you’re joining a bold collective of scientists, engineers, governance experts, and visionaries. We empower patients to be partners, not just data points, and we provide the platforms that allow the global scientific community to accelerate life-saving discoveries.

The Sage Way: Our Core Values

We don’t just talk about change; we live it through these five pillars:

• Science Driven: We use data and evidence to ensure our work creates a measurable, positive impact on human health.
• Accountable: We deliver on our promises through a foundation of trust and radical transparency.
• Growth Oriented: We stay curious, seek out the hardest challenges, and constantly aspire to improve ourselves and our field.
• Empathetic + Inclusive: We embrace our differences and build environments where every voice is empowered.
• Radically Collaborative: We believe the best solutions come from teamwork and building diverse, global communities.