Associate Director, Research Administration - National Center for Clinical Trials (NCCT)

Department: 10010 NCCT (National Center for Clinical Trials) - Administration

Status:

Benefits Eligible:

Hou rs Per Week:

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

• Remote
• First shift, standard business hours, M-F

Pay Range:

Job Description Summary:

Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research financial operations supporting industry-sponsored clinical research across Advocate Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Responsible for directing pre-award and post-award research finance activities, supervising research finance personnel, ensuring compliance with research billing regulations, monitoring operational performance, implementing process improvements, and collaborating across stakeholders to accelerate study activation, optimize sponsor reimbursement, and support the financial sustainability of the clinical research enterprise.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research financial operations supporting industry-sponsored clinical research across the clinical research lifecycle.
• Designs and directs the work of the clinical research finance team, including selection, coaching, development, performance management, and workload allocation for research finance professionals and financial analysts.
• Oversees pre-award financial activities including coverage analysis, research billing calendars, budget development and negotiation, financial feasibility assessments, and financial system builds necessary for study activation.
• Oversees post-award financial activities including sponsor invoicing, payment reconciliation, accounts receivable management, collections, financial reporting, and study closeout processes.
• Monitors operational metrics, budget negotiation performance, study activation timelines, invoicing activities, collections, workload distribution, and service level performance to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Implements standardized financial processes, workflows, policies, and best practices that improve operational efficiency, billing compliance, sponsor reimbursement, customer service, and financial controls.
• Collaborates with contracting, compliance, revenue cycle, regulatory, information technology, investigators, sponsors, and study teams to coordinate financial activities that support timely study activation and successful study execution.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex financial, operational, and compliance issues related to industry-sponsored clinical research and provides guidance on resolution strategies.
• Supports implementation, optimization, and utilization of research administration and financial systems including OnCore, Epic, Huron, ClinCard, and related technologies supporting research operations.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and ensuring that research financial activities and supervised employees comply with organizational policies, applicable regulations, and governing laws.

Education Required:

• ​​​​​Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration, or related field.

Work Experience Required:

• ​ Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience supporting clinical research financial operations, research administration, healthcare finance, grants administration, or related functions.
• Minimum three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience overseeing research finance, research administration, or related professional staff.
• Experience supporting pre-award and post-award financial activities for industry-sponsored clinical research.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of clinical research financial management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of coverage analysis, Medicare research billing compliance, budget development and negotiation, sponsor invoicing, payment reconciliation, and accounts receivable management.
• Knowledge of federal, state, sponsor, institutional, and regulatory requirements governing clinical research financial operations.
• Knowledge of clinical trial management systems, financial systems, and electronic research administration platforms.
• Strong financial analysis, operational analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret financial data, identify operational trends, and develop recommendations for process improvement.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, and personnel management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with investigators, sponsors, research personnel, revenue cycle teams, compliance offices, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making in resolving complex operational and financial issues.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work is performed primarily in a professional office or remote office environment.
• Requires prolonged periods of sitting, computer use, and viewing monitors.
• Requires frequent verbal, virtual, and written communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Requires the ability to review and analyze detailed financial and operational information.
• Occasional travel for meetings, training, and organizational initiatives may be required.
• Must be able to move throughout office and meeting environments and perform required administrative functions.

Preferred Job Requirements

Preferred Education

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Accounting, Public Administration, Research Administration, or related field.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting enterprise-level clinical research financial operations within an academic medical center, integrated health system, or research-intensive organization.
• Experience managing both pre-award and post-award financial operations for industry-sponsored clinical trials.
• Experience implementing operational improvement initiatives and process standardization efforts.
• Experience utilizing OnCore, Epic Research, Huron Research Suite, ClinCard, CTMS platforms, or comparable systems.
• Experience developing performance dashboards, operational reporting, and analytics.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of research billing compliance and clinical research financial management.
• Advanced understanding of sponsor-funded clinical trial budgeting and reimbursement models.
• Knowledge of healthcare revenue cycle processes as they relate to clinical research.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and drive operational excellence.
• Strong strategic planning and management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative partnerships across research, finance, compliance, contracting, revenue cycle, and operational functions.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

#WFUSM

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job

• Incentive pay for select positions

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs

• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses

• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave

• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs

• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.