Description
President, Sanford Research
Sanford Health – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sanford Health invites applications and nominations for the position of President, Sanford Research. This is an outstanding opportunity for a distinguished physician-scientist to lead a large, multidisciplinary research enterprise embedded within the nation’s largest rural health system. The President will provide strategic, scientific, and administrative leadership for Sanford Research, which encompasses the Sanford Research Institute (SRI) and the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute (MCRI), representing nearly 500 scientists and research personnel and a portfolio of approximately 1,100 active clinical studies.
The Organization
Sanford Health is an integrated, nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serving over 2 million patients across the Upper Midwest. The research enterprise spans biomedical discovery, clinical and translational science, population health, precision medicine, biobehavioral research, and early-phase clinical trials. With multiple NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBREs), state-of-the-art core facilities, an accredited animal research program, and extensive data and biospecimen resources—including the Sanford BioBank and rare disease registries- Sanford Research provides exceptional infrastructure to support investigator-initiated and system-aligned research.
The Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, incorporated into Sanford Health in 2024, further strengthens rural research capacity by offering epidemiologic, population health, precision medicine, and multispecialty clinical research programs supported by longitudinal EMR databases and biorepositories.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Sanford Health, the President of Sanford Research will serve as the senior executive responsible for defining, implementing, and assessing the strategic vision for research across the enterprise. The President provides leadership for scientific advancement, ensuring resource stewardship, faculty development, external partnerships, and research integration with clinical operations.
Major responsibilities include:
- Strategic Leadership: Developing long-range goals, research priorities, operational plans, and investment strategies aligned with Sanford Health’s mission and strategic direction.
- Scientific Vision: Advancing a culture of innovation, discovery, and translational impact across biomedical, clinical, and population health domains.
- Research Administration: Overseeing research infrastructure, compliance, integrity, financial operations, and regulatory alignment, ensuring adherence to institutional and federal standards.
- Collaboration & Partnerships: Strengthening interdisciplinary research across Sanford Health, fostering collaborations with academic institutions, government agencies, foundations, and industry partners.
- Clinical Research Expansion: Supporting and expanding clinical trials across rural and underserved communities, including early-phase and precision-medicine programs.
- Faculty & Workforce Development: Ensuring appropriate mentoring of emerging investigators, fostering team-science models, and recruiting exceptional physician-scientists and research leaders.
External Representation: Serving as a visible advocate for research at regional, national, and international levels, promoting the unique role of rural research innovation.
Institutional Environment
Sanford Research offers a uniquely supportive environment for physician-scientists seeking to advance discovery and improve health outcomes for rural and underserved populations. Research is closely integrated with Sanford’s clinical enterprise, allowing for exceptional opportunities to translate scientific breakthroughs into patient care.
Sioux Falls—home to Sanford Health’s flagship campus—offers a nationally recognized quality of life, low cost of living, vibrant cultural amenities, strong educational systems, and abundant outdoor recreation. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Application Process
Applicants should submit:
- A cover letter addressing qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for Sanford Research.
- A current curriculum vitae.
- Names and contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without prior approval).
All materials should be submitted electronically to: Research Recruitment at researchrecruitment@SanfordHealth.org; Please copy Mike Quick at michael.quick@sanfordhealth.org
Sanford Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Requirements
Candidates must possess:
- An MD or DO degree (MD/PhD or DO/PhD preferred).
- A record of sustained extramural funding and high-impact scholarly contributions.
- Demonstrated success in research leadership within a large health system, academic medical center, or major research institution.
- Experience overseeing complex research operations, including regulatory compliance, financial management, and strategic planning.
- Ability to articulate and implement a unifying scientific vision.
- Skills in negotiation, communication, decision-making, and building collaborative partnerships.
Preferred attributes include:
- Experience advancing clinical research infrastructure, translational science initiatives, or precision medicine programs.
- A leadership style grounded in humility, service, stewardship, and organizational excellence.
- Ability to effectively communicate with scientific, clinical, operational, and community stakeholders.
