Operational Director, Clinical Trials & Research
Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. With more than 15 main sites—including hospitals, centres, and clinics—we provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people, alongside a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff focus on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive.
Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service, and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.
About the role
The Operational Director, Clinical Trials & Research provides strategic and operational leadership for research governance, clinical trials, Sponsor Office functions, research quality systems, and research partnerships across Bayside Health – Alfred Care Group. Reporting to the Executive Director of Research, the role ensures compliance with national and international research, ethical, and regulatory frameworks while strengthening the organisation’s position as a leading centre for clinical trials and research excellence.
A key priority is establishing and leading the Sponsor Office, creating a contemporary governance framework that supports high-quality, compliant, and efficient sponsored clinical trials. The role also oversees research funding and financial sustainability, supports the development of a skilled and agile research workforce, and drives initiatives that enhance research quality, patient outcomes, operational performance, and strategic growth.
Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the Operational Director plays a key role in advancing organisational research strategy and influencing precinct-wide and national research initiatives. This role will have one direct report.
Responsibilities
- Institutional research governance and regulatory compliance
- Establishment and oversight of the Sponsor Office
- Research strategy, sector leadership, and precinct partnerships
- University and Precinct partner relationship oversight
- Performance, safety, quality, and risk management
- Consumer and community engagement
- Strategic planning and executive engagement
- Research promotion, communications, and capability building
- Workforce, culture, and sustainable workforce development
- Financial oversight and research financial stewardship
Requirements
Essential
- Relevant tertiary qualification in health, biomedical science, clinical research, or a related discipline
- Extensive experience in research governance, clinical trials operations, and institutional compliance in a large health service
- Expertise in ICH GCP E6 (R3) and sponsor-level responsibilities
- Demonstrated capacity to establish and manage advanced research quality management systems
- Strong understanding of accreditation frameworks (NSQHS Standards, NCTGF)
- Demonstrated experience in financial governance of research portfolios
- High-level leadership and change management capability in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Exceptional interpersonal, stakeholder management, negotiation, and written communication skills
- Experience managing risk, audit, regulatory inspections, and performance oversight
- Demonstrated experience developing teams, uplifting capability, and building sustainable workforces
Desirable
- Experience establishing or leading a Sponsor Office or equivalent function
- Strong understanding of academic–health service partnership governance
- Knowledge of digital research platforms (ethics/governance systems, monitoring tools)
- Postgraduate qualifications in health administration, research management, public health, or a related field
Schedule
Permanent ongoing, full-time – 76 hours per fortnight
Pay
Managers and Administrative Workers Grade 7 (HS7) - Competitive remuneration package
Benefits
- Influence clinical trials, research governance, and research capability
- Work within a highly regarded health and research sector alongside other leaders, researchers, and clinicians
- Opportunities for ongoing learning and development
- Salary packaging and employee benefits