Executive Director Of Research Operations
4 days ago
Nashville
Job Description Job Title: Executive Director of Research Operations Job Description The Executive Director of Research Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for oncology and hematology research programs, overseeing the full clinical research infrastructure from study start-up through close-out. This role ensures regulatory compliance, optimizes study execution, and drives growth in both sponsored and investigator-initiated trials. The Executive Director partners closely with research physician leadership to align clinical and research priorities, advance scientific initiatives, and improve patient outcomes while strengthening the reputation and performance of the research enterprise. Responsibilities • Develop and execute the long-term strategy for research operations in partnership with research physician leadership., • Collaborate with Principal Investigators, Medical Directors, and disease-specific physician leaders to define research priorities and expand the clinical trial portfolio, with a strong focus on oncology and hematology., • Align operational capabilities, staffing, and infrastructure with the physician-driven scientific vision and program growth goals., • Maintain and enhance the brand integrity of the research program by ensuring excellence in data quality, speed to study start-up, sponsor satisfaction, and overall program profitability., • Build and grow relationships with key strategic stakeholders, including physicians and pharmaceutical partners, to support program expansion and innovation., • Represent the research program alongside physician leadership in sponsor meetings, academic collaborations, and industry partnerships., • Partner with physician leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure efficient study selection, feasibility assessments, and prioritization of clinical trials., • Oversee all clinical research operations, including study start-up, site activation, patient enrollment, study conduct, and close-out activities., • Implement, optimize, and manage department-specific technology platforms such as clinical trial management systems (CTMS), eRegulatory systems, and other research software solutions., • Establish, track, and continuously refine key performance indicators (KPIs) across the research organization to drive transparency, accountability, and performance., • Communicate performance metrics, outcomes, and operational insights to senior leadership to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement., • Lead the launch and operationalization of new research sites and locations as the practice expands geographically., • Ensure strong alignment between clinical care delivery and research workflows to support seamless patient participation in clinical trials., • Collaborate with internal counterparts to review, negotiate, and approve confidentiality agreements (CDAs/NDAs), master study agreements (MSAs), clinical trial agreements (CTAs), and vendor service agreements., • Partner with Principal Investigators and physician leaders to ensure protocol adherence and appropriate clinical oversight for all studies., • Ensure adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, and institutional policies., • Maintain audit readiness and oversee responses to regulatory inspections and sponsor audits., • Provide executive leadership for a large, multi-functional research operations team, including Assistant Directors overseeing clinical operations, nursing, regulatory, data, finance, and quality., • Oversee day-to-day research operations through a layered leadership model, ensuring consistent execution and accountability across all functional areas., • Lead a structured leadership framework that empowers Assistant Directors to manage daily activities while maintaining strategic oversight and alignment with organizational goals., • Foster strong collaboration and communication between operational leaders and research physician leadership., • Partner with Human Resources to drive strategic workforce planning, including recruiting, succession planning, and professional development for team members across the research organization., • Establish and support leadership development programs, career pathways, and retention strategies to develop and retain high-performing staff., • Support physician engagement in research by reducing administrative burden and improving operational efficiency., • Build leadership bench strength and ensure continuity of operations through proactive succession planning., • Promote a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement at all levels of the organization., • Serve as the primary operational partner to research physician leadership, providing insight and guidance on operational strategy and execution., • Facilitate governance structures such as research steering committees and disease group meetings to drive alignment and decision-making., • Strengthen partnerships with sponsors, contract research organizations (CROs), and academic collaborators in conjunction with physician leaders., • Communicate success stories, key metrics, operational challenges, and proposed solutions to practice leadership to support strategic alignment., • Co-develop program expansion strategies with physician leadership, including early-phase clinical trials and new therapeutic areas., • Support investigator-initiated and physician-led research initiatives through robust operational planning and resource allocation., • Expand access to clinical trials across community-based settings to broaden patient access to innovative therapies., • Promote innovation in trial design, patient access models, and decentralized or hybrid research approaches to increase participation and efficiency. Essential Skills • Bachelor’s degree required., • 5+ years of experience in clinical research, with a significant focus in oncology and/or hematology preferred., • 3+ years of progressive leadership experience in operational management roles., • Demonstrated experience managing large, complex research programs and multi-functional teams., • Proven expertise in clinical research operations, including study start-up, enrollment, conduct, and close-out., • Strong strategic leadership capabilities with the ability to develop and execute long-term operational strategies., • Experience overseeing regulatory compliance, including GCP, FDA regulations, IRB requirements, and institutional policies., • Demonstrated ability to review, negotiate, and manage research-related contracts and agreements such as CDAs/NDAs, MSAs, CTAs, and vendor agreements., • Proficiency in using and overseeing research technology platforms such as CTMS, eRegulatory systems, and related research software., • Proven ability to establish, track, and interpret KPIs and performance metrics to drive operational improvement., • Strong stakeholder collaboration skills, with experience partnering effectively with physicians, sponsors, CROs, and academic collaborators., • Demonstrated success leading through a layered leadership model and managing Assistant Directors or equivalent leaders., • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present operational insights, metrics, and recommendations to senior leadership., • Ability to foster a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. Additional Skills & Qualifications • Master’s degree preferred, such as Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Life Sciences, or Business Administration., • Extensive background in oncology and/or hematology research strongly preferred., • Additional years of experience in both clinical research and leadership roles beyond the minimum requirements are highly valued., • Experience overseeing data, clinical, regulatory, finance, and quality functions within a research organization., • Track record of supporting investigator-initiated and physician-led research initiatives., • Experience expanding clinical trial access across community-based settings., • Demonstrated ability to promote innovation in trial design, patient access, and decentralized research models., • Experience building leadership bench strength, succession planning, and implementing leadership development programs., • Ability to work closely with senior scientific leadership on long-term strategy and program development for cancer research., • Experience in a rapidly growing research environment or large research enterprise is advantageous. Work Environment The role operates primarily onsite, with some flexibility for work-from-home options as appropriate. The Executive Director leads a large, rapidly growing cancer research enterprise that is recognized as a major center for cancer clinical trials within the state. The environment is highly collaborative, with close partnership between research operations, physician leadership, and external sponsors and partners. The position involves regular use and oversight of research technologies such as clinical trial management systems, eRegulatory platforms, and other specialized research software. The work setting emphasizes strategic growth, innovation in clinical trial delivery, and a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Nashville, TN. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $200000.00 - $215000.00/yr. Health/Vision/Dental/401k/PTO/Employee Amenities Workplace Type This is a hybrid position in Nashville,TN. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
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