Associate Director, Clinical Research - Colorectal Medical Oncology

Associate Director, Clinical Research

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is dedicated to eliminating cancer through integrated programs in patient care, research, prevention, and education. Within the Department of Colorectal Medical Oncology in GI Medical Oncology, the Associate Director, Clinical Research provides leadership for complex clinical and translational research programs that support innovative cancer therapies and improved patient outcomes. The department manages a portfolio of investigator-initiated, cooperative group, and industry-sponsored clinical trials focused on advancing treatment options for patients with colorectal cancers.

The Associate Director, Clinical Research is responsible for directing clinical research operations, research infrastructure, quality assurance activities, and multidisciplinary research teams. The Associate Director, Clinical Research serves as a strategic partner to faculty and institutional leadership while ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and successful execution of clinical research initiatives. The Associate Director, Clinical Research plays a key role in advancing the mission of UT MD Anderson through oversight of clinical trial implementation, personnel management, and research program development.

The ideal candidate will possess a Master's Degree and extensive experience in clinical research, including protocol management, regulatory compliance, data management, and leadership of multidisciplinary research teams. Candidates should hold a professional certification such as CCRA, CHRC, CCRP, or CRA and demonstrate success managing large-scale clinical research operations and strategic research initiatives.

Minimum $53.37/hour - Midpoint $66.83/hour - Maximum $80.29/hour

Work Location: 3 days per week onsite

Typical Work Schedule: Days

Why Us?
UT MD Anderson offers an opportunity to lead innovative clinical research programs that directly contribute to advancements in cancer care and scientific discovery. This role provides meaningful leadership responsibilities, collaboration with world-renowned investigators, professional development opportunities, and the ability to make a measurable impact on patient outcomes while benefiting from a flexible hybrid work environment.
• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Responsibilities
Clinical Research Operations
• Provide staff support to faculty members involved in developing clinical research trials and external collaborations.
• Assist with protocol creation.
• Assist with development of agreements.
• Assist with collection of data.
• Integrate cross-institutional information.
• Oversee ongoing operations of clinical and translational research studies.
• Oversee study start-up activities.
• Oversee site initiation visits.
• Oversee IRB submissions.
• Oversee study amendments.

Regulatory Compliance & Protocol Oversight
• Oversee audits and monitor findings.
• Perform protocol process analyses.
• Evaluate resources and obstacles to protocol activation.
• Advocate for safe, efficient, effective, timely, and patient-centered care for research study patients.
• Ensure compliance with institutional guidelines and regulatory requirements for sponsored research studies.
• Partner with the Lead PI to evaluate protocol feasibility.
• Oversee trial implementation across multiple institutional departments, centers, and Houston Area Locations.
• Initiate standard operating procedures.
• Design standard operating procedures.
• Implement standard operating procedures.

Research Planning & Program Development
• Serve as a liaison between investigators, institutional officials, sponsors, and partner sites.
• Direct tracking of research activities.
• Direct reporting of research activities.
• Direct evaluation of research activities.
• Act as an information resource for investigators and staff.
• Prioritize studies with the greatest impact.
• Identify low-accruing studies.
• Resolve issues related to studies placed on hold.
• Oversee implementation of new Beacon treatment plans through the clinical content template build process.
• Oversee implementation of amended Beacon treatment plans through the clinical content template build process.

Strategic Leadership
• Provide recommendations to the Department Chair regarding research policies and procedures.
• Provide resource information for long-term strategic planning of research initiatives.
• Identify funding sources for research initiatives.
• Evaluate feasibility of strategic research initiatives.
• Facilitate consistency in regulatory compliance across the department.
• Support integration of departmental goals.
• Provide administrative oversight for large programmatic contracts and agreements.
• Participate in strategic planning committees.
• Participate in program retreats.
• Prepare and deliver formal presentations.

People Leadership & Quality Management
• Lead development of methodologies to properly resource industry-sponsored clinical trials and laboratory studies.
• Oversee research nursing teams.
• Oversee clinical study coordinator teams.
• Oversee GI translational teams and phlebotomy teams.
• Oversee data coordinator teams.
• Monitor workload distribution, attendance, performance, and productivity.
• Conduct coaching, recruitment interviews, and annual performance evaluations.
• Establish performance and productivity standards for staff.
• Coordinate staff education, training, counseling, staffing, selection, and development activities.
• Manage multi-site research activities, drug accountability, quality assurance, electronic patient data submissions, billing issue resolution, audit readiness, and research nurse coverage as needed.

EDUCATION

• Required: Bachelor's Degree
• Preferred: Master's Degree

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Required: Seven years of experience in clinical research including protocol management, regulatory compliance and data management, to include three years of management experience or five years of experience in clinical research including protocol management, regulatory compliance and data management, to include three years of management experience with preferred degree.
• 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.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Required: CCRA - Cert Clin Research Assoc or
• Required: CHRC - Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance or
• Required: CCRP - Certified Clinical Research Professional or
• Required: CRA - Cert Research Administrator

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.