Associate Director - Clinical Research Operations

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At Ochsner, whether you work with patients every day or support those who do, you are making a difference and that matters. Come make a difference at Ochsner Health and discover your future today!

The Associate Director, Oncology Trial Activations & Research Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the end-to-end activation of oncology clinical trials across industry, cooperative group, investigator-initiated, and translational research portfolios.
This role oversees critical startup functions including research finance coordination, budget development, coverage analysis alignment, contract execution workflows, regulatory compliance, CTMS optimization, and research systems integration. The Associate Director is accountable for reducing activation timelines, improving operational efficiency, maximizing financial performance, and building scalable oncology research infrastructure aligned with institutional growth goals.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company's discretion.

Key Responsibilities

Trial Activation Leadership

• Direct oncology trial activation operations from feasibility through site activation.
• Establish startup performance metrics, dashboards, and accountability standards.
• Identify delays across budgeting, contracting, regulatory, committee review, and system build processes.
• Lead process redesign initiatives to reduce activation cycle times.
• Ensure timely movement through PRMC, IRB, coverage analysis, budgeting, contracting, and system builds

Sponsored Research Finance Strategy

• Provides strategic planning for the financial aspects of sponsored oncology research.
• Oversees development of budgets for industry, translational, foundation, and federally funded studies.
• Provides detailed estimates of charges and costs for standard-of-care and research-related activities, ensuring oncology-specific labor costing models are used.
• Performs financial feasibility analyses for new opportunities.
• Reviews negotiated budgets to ensure alignment with institutional policies and operational needs.
• Oversees budget amendments and financial impact assessments.

Portfolio Optimization

• Evaluate incoming opportunities for financial viability, staffing capacity, and strategic fit.
• Support prioritization of high-value treatment and early phase studies.
• Monitor study startup pipeline and projected activation inventory.
• Provide leadership recommendations regarding portfolio balance and resource deployment.

Contracts / Cross-Functional Execution

• Partner with legal/contracts teams to prioritize and accelerate oncology agreements.
• Escalate delays impacting enrollment opportunities or sponsor commitments.
• Coordinate activation milestones across multiple departments.

Systems / Data Infrastructure

• Oversee operational use of CTMS and related systems supporting startup.
• Ensure budget information is accurately entered into the clinical trial management system.
• Support reporting capabilities for activation timelines, finances, accrual readiness, and productivity.
• Collaborate on OnCore / EPIC integration initiatives and workflow improvements.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Direct managers and operational leaders within the Oncology Trial Activations team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, service standards, and professional development plans.
• Build a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and operational excellence.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Prepare reports and presentations for the Director and Oncology Cancer Institute leadership.
• Communicate startup risks, opportunities, revenue projections, and operational trends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred
• 6+ years clinical research administration experience
• 6+ years oncology research operations strongly preferred
• Experience with budgets, contracts, regulatory startup, CTMS systems
• Experience leading cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• OnCore expertise
• EPIC research billing / integration experience
• Oncology startup leadership

Within 12 months, this role is expected to build a high-performing oncology startup infrastructure that measurably reduces activation timelines, increases revenue opportunity, and creates sustainable operational scalability.

Success in Year 1 =

• Faster trial activation
• Stronger budget recovery
• Better contract speed
• Real-time operational visibility
• Reduced barriers impacting the clinical trial lifecycle
• Higher investigator confidence
• Increased revenue opportunity
• Scalable infrastructure

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.
The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue and as part of their employment, incumbents are not called upon to perform on assist in emergency care or first aid.
There is no occupational risk for exposure to communicable diseases.

Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!

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Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site. Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.

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Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.