Investigator Initiated Trial Research Operations Project Manager

About the role

Research Administrators perform professional work with significant levels of independence, often supporting the day-to-day management of research portfolios and programs for a central office or one or more departments, centers, or business units. In this role, responsibilities include operational planning, study start-up coordination, and cross‑functional project management to support the development and execution of research studies. Their decision‑making has a significant impact on service delivery. Research Administrators typically report to a senior research administrator, manager, director, or PI, and work under the direction of a senior management position (Assistant/Associate Director/Dean). This position serves as a central point of coordination across multiple stakeholders to ensure studies are efficiently developed, activated, and conducted. Advanced skill level, works independently exercising discretion and good judgement in interpretation of policy. Minimal supervision required. Unit: Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center MBU; Department: Massey Clinical Trials Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced administrative support to a research enterprise, contributing to multiple aspects of research projects and programs such as infrastructure, personnel, policies, procedures, communications, information systems, budgeting, and compliance, with a focus on operational planning, study start‑up coordination, and execution of research studies.
• Serve as a resource to lower‑level staff and may supervise more junior staff.
• Act as a key point of contact between the university and the research sponsor, research project staff, and participants, ensuring effective coordination and communication across all stakeholders involved in study development and conduct.
• Maintain systems and processes for managing projects and programs, including development and tracking of project timelines, study start‑up activities, and key study milestones.
• Work closely with Principal Investigators (PI), study staff, unit administrators, and coordinate with central offices in pre‑ and/or post‑award stages of project management; provide research program‑level reporting and analytics to leadership while facilitating cross‑functional coordination (e.g., regulatory, data management, and clinical operations) to support study activation and ongoing execution.
• Support and coordinate study start‑up activities, including feasibility assessment, site readiness, and activation planning, ensuring studies are prepared for timely execution.
• Oversee and coordinate activities across participating sites or teams, ensuring consistency in study conduct and timely resolution of issues.
• Identify potential risks, delays, or gaps in project execution and proactively implement mitigation strategies.
• Track and report study progress, including key milestones such as activation, enrollment, and study completion, to support leadership oversight and decision‑making