Senior Director of Research Operations

This role leads enterprise clinical research groups and sets the overall direction for research initiatives within assigned areas.

About the role

Oversees day-to-day research operations, including supervision of research operational leaders across the enterprise, financial performance of each research group, and support for grant-funded projects, investigator-initiated studies, and clinical trials. Ensures appropriate staffing, alignment of skills to the research portfolio, and regular review of goals and KPIs with supervisors. Serves as a member of the Executive Committee for Research, assists the Research Leadership Team in developing robust research programs, and provides strategic, expert-level leadership across major research operations groups, including Acute Care (Pulmonary/Critical Care, ID, Transplant, etc.), Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Women and Newborns, Pediatrics, and Independent Research teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage large research operations teams responsible for the compliant execution of research study protocols.
• Develop and oversee the departmental annual budget, capital expenditures, and resource allocation.
• Develop annual goals and actively participate in strategic planning as a member of the Executive Committee for Research.
• Build, develop, and sustain high-performing teams and a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence in support of the Office of Research mission.
• Ensure timely deployment of applications for new studies and required lifecycle reporting to sponsors and the IRB.
• Coordinate and allocate resources needed for multicenter clinical studies, including receipt and review of clinical protocols, budget initiation, evaluation and approval, regulatory requirements and submissions (IRB/Privacy), and study coordinator assignments, training, education, auditing, and monitoring.
• Oversee monthly financial reporting and study financial management.
• Collaborate with colleagues in writing and maintaining standard operating procedures and policies for the enterprise, identify and implement best practices across research programs, and develop procedures and policies to ensure program success.
• Act as a liaison between sponsors/collaborators, Principal Investigators, the IRB, and other departments involved in clinical studies.
• Work closely with regulatory teams and the IRB to incorporate guidelines ensuring research programs are fully compliant.
• Ensure research employees are adequately supported through training, performance management, coaching, and career development.
• Oversee appropriate employee training and education for all assigned duties.
• Participate in supporting internal and collaborative research initiatives for pragmatic clinical trials.
• In conjunction with the AVP, represent the Office of Research in collaborative committee work with internal and external agencies, such as other healthcare systems and academic or government agencies.
• Represent the organization at local and national committees and conferences related to clinical studies and research operations.

Skills

• Clinical trial operations
• Leadership
• Employee engagement, mentoring, and performance management
• Cross-functional collaborative leadership in a matrixed environment
• Research projects/programs
• Change management
• Financial analysis
• Strategy planning, development, and implementation
• Regulatory requirements
• Budgeting
• Grant management
• Project management
• Writing standard operating procedures
• Process improvement
• Policy development
• Stakeholder engagement
• Business operations
• Human resources
• External relationship development

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a clinical or life science field, business, or healthcare operations. Degree must be obtained through an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated experience leading clinical research teams in a healthcare/academic/industry research setting.
• Research and collaboration experience to interact effectively in academic, corporate, and clinical cultures on a national/international basis.
• Experience leading complex projects in research or healthcare operations, including planning, implementation, stakeholder engagement, resource coordination, and successful delivery of operational outcomes.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leaders, physicians, investigators, sponsors, regulatory bodies, and cross-functional teams, including conveying complex operational, regulatory, and strategic information to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Twelve years (six years if the candidate has a master’s degree) of clinical research experience.
• Experience in managing grant-funded research projects.
• Experience in a role requiring proficiency with Microsoft 365, clinical trial management systems, and REDCap.
• Experience with AI-enabled tools to enhance workflow efficiency and operational decision-making.
• Experience in regulatory affairs.
• Experience working within a hospital clinical area or an understanding of workflows and hospital processes.

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need to see and read information, documents, monitors, identify equipment and supplies, and assess customer needs.
• Frequent interactions with providers, colleagues, customers, patients/clients, and visitors requiring verbal communication as well as hearing and understanding spoken information, needs, and issues quickly and accurately.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy, including frequent computer use for typing and accessing needed information.
• May have the same physical requirements as those of clinical or patient care jobs when the leader takes clinical shifts.
• For roles requiring driving: expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing, and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Pay

The hourly range for this position is $68.42 - $105.62. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience. Eligible to participate in the Annual Pay for Performance (AP4P) Plan, which provides an additional performance compensation opportunity calculated as a percentage of base salary and paid out based on attainment of selected Board-approved goals.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package covering a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness, including:

• Mind, body, and spirit well-being programs
• Living healthy initiatives
• Happiness and security programs
• Connected and engaged community support

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40