Director Clinical Research

About the role

The Director of Clinical Research is the senior executive responsible for the strategic, operational, and regulatory leadership of the Presbyterian Healthcare Services clinical research enterprise. Reporting to the delivery system Chief Medical Officer (CMO), this position provides executive oversight for all clinical research activities across the organization and serves as the subject matter expert for clinical research. The Director provides strategic leadership by ensuring alignment of research activities with Presbyterian Healthcare Services' mission, vision, strategic priorities, and organizational initiatives. The Director is responsible for the ongoing evaluation, development, monitoring, and continuous improvement of research operations and regulatory processes while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations governing human subjects research, protection of research participants, and adherence to the highest ethical and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Reports To: delivery system Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
• Directs HRPO Manager; Research Operations Managers/Supervisors (as applicable); Clinical Research Coordinators and research personnel (as applicable)
• Key Internal Relationships: CEO, Executive Leadership Team, PCLT, Medical Group Leadership, Hospital Leadership, Clinical Program Leadership, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Revenue Cycle, Pharmacy, Quality, Information Services, Population Health, Physician Investigators, Research Staff
• Key External Relationships: External IRBs (including WCG), Research Sponsors, CROs, Academic Institutions, Federal and State Regulatory Agencies, Industry Partners, Professional Research Organizations
• Strategic Leadership: Develops and executes the enterprise clinical research strategy; develops infrastructure supporting sustainable research growth; expands industry-sponsored, investigator-initiated, federally funded, and collaborative research; promotes innovation through emerging technologies and AI; represents Presbyterian in external collaborations; advises the CMO on research priorities, performance, and enterprise risks
• Research Governance: Provides leadership and administrative support for the PCLT Research Subcommittee and research governance committees; develops governance processes supporting prioritization, oversight, accountability, and enterprise decision-making; presents regular reports to executive leadership regarding research performance, compliance, finances, strategic initiatives, and risks
• Research Administration: Directs research administration, research operations, HRPP/HRPO, regulatory affairs, education, quality, infrastructure, and process improvement; develops standardized enterprise policies, SOPs, workflows, and quality systems; ensures all required approvals before study activation; collaborates across departments to remove barriers and improve research infrastructure
• Human Research Protection Program (HRPP): Provides executive oversight of the HRPP and HRPO; supervises the HRPO Manager responsible for determinations, reliance agreements, post-approval monitoring, policy development, education, and regulatory compliance; ensures compliance with FDA, OHRP, HIPAA, GCP, sponsor, and institutional requirements; oversees enterprise compliance, monitoring, auditing, corrective actions, and accreditation readiness
• Research Portfolio Management: Manages the research portfolio to align with organizational priorities and financial sustainability; expands the research portfolio through partnerships and investigator development; promotes equitable access and diversity in research participation
• Research Finance and Business Operations: Leads budgeting, contracts, billing compliance, resource allocation, and financial sustainability; manages departmental operating and capital budgets; collaborates with Finance, Legal, Compliance, Contracting, and Revenue Cycle
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: Ensures compliance with applicable regulations and policies; identifies and mitigates operational, regulatory, financial, legal, and reputational risks; serves as liaison with regulatory agencies, sponsors, auditors, and external IRBs
• Research Operations: Leads enterprise research staff; recruits, mentors, and retains research professionals; oversees study conduct, participant protections, monitoring, adverse event reporting, and research technology
• Investigator Development and Education: Develops physician investigators through mentorship and infrastructure; provides education and training for investigators and research staff
• Performance Improvement: Establishes enterprise metrics including study activation, enrollment, compliance, financial performance, investigator satisfaction, sponsor satisfaction, and operational efficiency; leads continuous quality improvement
• Enterprise Collaboration: Partners with operational, clinical, and administrative leaders to advance research initiatives and organizational priorities

Qualifications

• Master's degree required; doctoral degree (MD, DO, PhD, PharmD, DNP) preferred
• Minimum 8 years progressive research leadership and 5 years management in integrated healthcare research
• Additional Job Description: In-depth knowledge of GCP, FDA, OHRP, HIPAA, HRPP/HRPO, IRB reliance, strategic planning, finance, organizational leadership, communication, and change management

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of GCP, FDA, OHRP, HIPAA, HRPP/HRPO, IRB reliance, strategic planning, finance, organizational leadership, communication, and change management

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Full medical, dental and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Free wellness programs
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Retail plans, including matching employer contributions
• Continuing education and career development opportunities
• Life insurance and short/long term disability programs

About Us

Presbyterian Healthcare Services is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system of nine hospitals, a statewide health plan and a growing multi-specialty medical group. Founded in New Mexico in 1908, it is the state's largest private employer with approximately 11,000 employees. Presbyterian's story is really the story of the remarkable people who have chosen to work here. Starting with Reverend Cooper who began our journey in 1908, the hard work of thousands of physicians, employees, board members, and other volunteers brought Presbyterian from a tiny tuberculosis sanatorium to a statewide healthcare system, serving more than 700,000 New Mexicans. We are part of New Mexico's history - and committed to its future. That is why we will continue to work just as hard and care just as deeply to serve New Mexico for years to come.

About New Mexico

New Mexico's unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences contribute to a culturally rich lifestyle. Add in Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta, Los Alamos' nuclear scientists, Roswell's visitors from outer space, and Santa Fe's artists, and you get an eclectic mix of people, places and experiences that make this state great. Cities in New Mexico are continually ranked among the nation's best places to work and live by Forbes magazine, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, and other corporate and government relocation managers like Worldwide ERC. New Mexico offers endless recreational opportunities to explore, and enjoy an active lifestyle. Venture off the beaten path, challenge your body in the elements, or open yourself up to the expansive sky. From hiking, golfing and biking to skiing, snowboarding and boating, it's all available among our beautiful wonders of the west.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PHS is a drug-free and tobacco-free employer with smoke free campuses.