Director of Clinical Operations

About Us: At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All Job Postings will close at 12:01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated). If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page. Job Posting Title: Director of Clinical Operations Position Type: Professional / Unclassified Department: LSUPBRC ExD - Core Resources Services (Jennifer Rood (00000102) (Inherited)) Work Location: LSU - Pennington Biomedical Pay Grade: Professional Job Description Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Director of Clinical Operations in the Clinical Trials Unit. The Director of Clinical Operations serves as the senior operational leader for the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), providing strategic, operational, financial, and administrative oversight for a comprehensive clinical research enterprise. This role is responsible for ensuring the efficient, compliant, and high-quality execution of clinical research activities across the study lifecycle while aligning operations with institutional priorities and growth objectives. The Director leads a multidisciplinary team and oversees workforce planning, resource management, financial performance, operational excellence, quality improvement, and clinical research infrastructure. Working closely with investigators, research teams, clinical partners, sponsors, and institutional leadership, the Director ensures research programs are effectively supported and positioned for success. As a key strategic partner, the Director advances the clinical research mission through process optimization, capacity planning, stakeholder collaboration, and organizational development. The ideal candidate is an experienced clinical research or healthcare operations leader with a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, manage complex operations, and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Major Responsibilities Direct and oversee the operations of the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), ensuring the safe, efficient, compliant, and high-quality execution of clinical research activities across the study lifecycle. Provide strategic leadership for clinical research operations, including study feasibility, implementation, resource planning, operational infrastructure, and organizational growth. Lead and develop a multidisciplinary workforce, including organizational design, staffing, employee development, succession planning, performance management, and engagement initiatives. Establish and optimize operational processes, systems, and performance metrics to support consistent study execution, operational excellence, service quality, and continuous improvement. Oversee departmental budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of financial, personnel, technology, facility, and operational resources. Monitor operational, quality, and compliance performance; identify risks and opportunities; and implement corrective actions to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and Good Clinical Practice standards. Collaborate with investigators, institutional leadership, sponsors, and research partners to support study operations, strategic initiatives, capacity planning, and sustainable program growth. Provide leadership in the development and implementation of new research programs, services, and infrastructure that enhance organizational capabilities and research support. Represent the CTU in institutional, academic, industry, and community partnerships, fostering relationships that advance the clinical research mission and expand organizational opportunities. Prepare and present operational, financial, workforce, and performance reports and recommendations to executive leadership to support strategic decision-making. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in clinical research, healthcare administration, nursing, public health, business administration, life sciences, or a related field. Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research, clinical operations, research administration, or a closely related field, including experience leading clinical research operations. Demonstrated experience leading clinical research programs, clinical trials operations, or complex healthcare operations in a clinical or research environment. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple priorities, resources, and projects in a complex, fast-paced setting. Strong knowledge of clinical research operations, regulatory requirements, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and applicable research quality standards. Experience developing and implementing operational processes, performance metrics, resource management strategies, and continuous quality improvement initiatives. Demonstrated ability to analyze operational and performance data, identify risks and opportunities, and implement data-driven solutions to improve outcomes. Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in clinical research, healthcare administration, public health, business administration, nursing, life sciences, or related discipline. Experience leading a Clinical Trials Unit, Clinical Research Unit, academic research center, hospital-based research program, or similar research operation. Experience overseeing both inpatient and outpatient clinical research operations. Experience supporting investigator-initiated, federally funded, and/or industry-sponsored clinical trials. Experience with study start-up, feasibility assessment, contract and budget coordination, recruitment operations, monitoring visits, audits, and study closeout. Experience developing clinical research infrastructure, standard operating procedures, performance metrics, and quality management programs. Professional certification such as CCRP, CCRC, or equivalent clinical research certification. Experience working in an academic medical center, biomedical research institution, university, hospital, or other research-intensive environment. Additional Job Description Competencies: None Posting Information Posting Date: August 25, 2026 Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified): September 21, 2026 Additional Position Information Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-arc research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC. Contact Information Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to View email address on click.appcast.io. Background Check An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Benefits Health, life, dental, and vision insurance flexible spending accounts retirement options various leave options paid holidays wellness benefits tuition exemption for qualified positions training and development opportunities employee discounts; and more! Employment Outside Louisiana Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement. Equal Opportunity Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional Contact Questions or concerns can be directed to PBRC Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. University Overview LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide-range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land-, sea- and space-grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (“LSU”), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges. #J-18808-Ljbffr Louisiana State University