Clinical Protocol Administration Manager - Pediatrics Research

The Pediatrics Research department at MD Anderson Cancer Center is dedicated to advancing innovative clinical research that improves outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. Working in close collaboration with physicians, researchers, and multidisciplinary teams-including partners at Texas Children's Hospital-the department manages a robust portfolio of pediatric clinical trials designed to bring promising new therapies to patients. This collaborative research environment is committed to accelerating scientific discovery while ensuring the highest standards of patient safety, and operational excellence.

This Clinical Protocol Administration Manager position offers the opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership for a growing pediatric clinical research program. The role is ideal for an experienced clinical research leader with a strong background in pediatric oncology research trials, who is passionate about building high-performing teams, optimizing research operations, and expanding access to innovative therapies for pediatric patients.

In this role, you will lead the administration and operational management of the pediatric clinical research portfolio by developing operational strategies, implementing standardized processes, monitoring key performance indicators, and driving initiatives that improve study activation, patient enrollment, operational efficiency, and research quality. You will collaborate with investigators, faculty, institutional leadership, and external partners to support strategic growth while developing dashboards, performance metrics, and operational reports that guide data-driven decision-making.

You will manage pediatric clinical research operations, oversee study execution while ensure compliance with institutional policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), sponsor requirements, and federal and state regulations. Responsibilities include workforce planning, staffing optimization, resource allocation, performance management, and operational oversight of clinical research personnel. As a key liaison between MD Anderson and Texas Children's Hospital, you will help align research priorities, standardize processes, and facilitate the successful execution of collaborative pediatric research initiatives.

A major component of this position is people leadership and professional development. You will recruit, mentor, coach, and develop clinical research staff while creating educational programs, competency assessments, cross-training initiatives, and career development opportunities that strengthen workforce capabilities and promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.

You will also champion quality, compliance, and continuous improvement by overseeing quality assurance initiatives, preparing teams for sponsor audits, monitoring protocol compliance, implementing corrective and preventive action plans (CAPAs), evaluating quality metrics, and leading operational improvements that enhance research performance and regulatory readiness. Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex research operations are essential to success in this leadership role.

The ideal candidate will have progressive leadership experience in pediatric clinical research, with a strong background in pediatric oncology research. Experience managing research operations, leading multidisciplinary teams, and driving operational improvements within an academic medical center or comprehensive cancer center is highly preferred. Candidates who are passionate about advancing pediatric cancer research while developing high-performing research teams will find this opportunity especially rewarding.

MD Anderson offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including paid medical benefits, generous paid time off, retirement plans, tuition assistance, professional development opportunities, and additional benefits, along with the opportunity to build a rewarding leadership career at one of the world's leading cancer centers while helping shape the future of pediatric oncology research and bringing innovative therapies to children and young adults facing cancer.

**This position is hybrid and the exact details will be discussed more in the interview process**

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

1. Administration and Management

Provides comprehensive planning, coordination, and operational support to advance the pediatric clinical research portfolio.

Develops and executes operational plans to support growth, sustainability, and performance of pediatric research programs.

Collaborates with faculty, investigators, team members, and external stakeholders to promote clinical trial development, enrollment growth, and research excellence.

Develops, implements, and evaluates policies, procedures, and operational standards to ensure efficient and effective research operations.

Establishes, monitors, and reports Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to clinical trials portfolio growth, patient accrual, study activation timelines, operational efficiency, workforce effectiveness, quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Leads initiatives to improve clinical trial access, enrollment performance, and operational effectiveness across pediatric research programs.

Develops operational dashboards and performance reporting mechanisms to support data driven decision making and resource allocation.

Identifies opportunities for process optimization and leads continuous improvement initiatives to enhance research productivity and reduce study activation timelines.

Collaborates with leadership on workforce planning, operational forecasting, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives that support organizational goals and clinical research portfolio growth.

2. Research Operations Management

Provides operational leadership and oversight for the successful execution of pediatric clinical research studies and programs.

Ensures compliance with institutional policies, sponsor requirements, federal and state regulations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards, and applicable research guidelines.

Oversees operational performance of the pediatric clinical research portfolio and monitors achievement of enrollment, study activation, quality, and compliance objectives.

Evaluates clinical research performance metrics and trends to identify operational risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.

Maintains effective communication with investigators, clinical teams, regulatory personnel, and research stakeholders regarding ongoing and upcoming protocols.

Develops and manages staffing models, workforce planning strategies, and resource allocation processes to support research portfolio demands.

Provides leadership and supervision for pediatric clinical research personnel, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, succession planning, and professional development.

Ensures effective resource utilization through staffing optimization, workload management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Implements best practices and standardized research processes to support operational consistency and program effectiveness.

Serves as an operational liaison between UT MD Anderson and Texas Children's Hospital to promote alignment of research priorities, standardization of processes, and successful execution of collaborative pediatric research initiatives.

3. Education, Training, Development and Mentoring

Identifies training and development needs and provides guidance on policies, procedures, and best practices related to clinical research operations and patient management.

Participates in the orientation, training, and ongoing professional development of pediatric clinical research personnel.

Plans, develops, and delivers educational programs, training sessions, presentations, and written communications to support protocol compliance and operational excellence.

Completes performance evaluations and provides coaching, mentoring, and feedback to personnel under direct supervision.

Develops workforce capability strategies that support organizational growth, employee engagement, and long-term operational excellence.

Establishes team development goals and monitors progress through competency assessments, certification attainment, training compliance, and career development planning.

Promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth.

Uses performance metrics, competency assessments, and employee feedback to identify development opportunities and implement targeted improvement plans.

Develops cross training programs to ensure operational continuity and workforce resilience.

Encourages team members' participation in professional organizations, educational activities, conferences, committees, and other career development opportunities.

4. Quality, Compliance and Continuous Improvement

Oversees quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives across pediatric clinical research operations.

Establishes quality and compliance standards and monitors performance through audits, protocol deviation reviews, corrective action plans, and quality assessments.

Leads operational readiness and preparation for internal, sponsor, regulatory, and external audits and inspections.

Monitors compliance with institutional, sponsor, federal, state, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements.

Develops and implements Corrective and Preventive Action plans (CAPAs) to mitigate compliance risks and improve operational effectiveness.

Reviews quality indicators, audit outcomes, performance metrics, and operational trends to drive continuous improvement and research excellence.

Identifies areas of risk and develop strategies that promote a culture of quality, accountability, and clinical compliance.

Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

Required: Bachelor's Degree Science, Healthcare, Nursing or related field.

Preferred: Master's Degree Science, Healthcare, Nursing or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required: 6 years Extensive research administrative experience in a biotechnology or academic setting to include two years experience with research protocols, grants and contracts and 2 years Supervisory/management experience.

May substitute additional experience for required education (or vice versa) on a one to one year basis.

Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover programs may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience. Completion of both programs can be substituted for a maximum of two years of supervisory or management experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 182366
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Days
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 95,000
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 118,500
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 142,000
• FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Soft
• Work Location: Onsite
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes

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