Project Director

CMAX Clinical Research; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

CMAX Clinical Research, located in Adelaide, Australia, seeks two Project Directors to provide strategic oversight across a portfolio of clinical trials from feasibility to close-out. You will partner with sponsors and senior leaders to ensure studies are deliverable, well-governed and on track.

You will lead governance, risk management and escalation for complex studies, liaising with Practice Leads, Clinical Project Managers and operational teams.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in science/health, project management or related field, or substantial equivalent experience.
• Current ICH GCP Certificate is required.
• Extensive clinical research project or portfolio-management experience.
• Experience overseeing multiple complex studies from opportunity/start-up to close-out.
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial standards, SOPs, quality systems and ICH GCP.
• Ability to define study scope, timelines, assumptions, dependencies and risks.
• Experience managing operational risk, quality incidents, CAPAs and escalations.
• Demonstrated experience building sponsor relationships.
• Experience overseeing external service providers or vendors.
• Strong commercial and operational judgement; excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to coach and mentor others without formal line-management authority.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end lifecycle and performance of a portfolio of studies.
• Provide strategic direction, governance and escalation support to meet timelines and quality standards.
• Collaborate with Practice Leads, Clinical Project Managers and other functions.
• Coach study team members and share lessons learned across the Study Team.
• Contribute to major operational projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Stakeholder management

ICH GCP knowledge

Strategic planning

Portfolio governance

Risk management

Sponsor relationships

Vendor oversight

Negotiation & influence

Coaching without authority

Education

Tertiary qualification in science/health

Job description

Clinical/Medical Research (Healthcare & Medical)

Full-time

The newly created Project Director roles (two vacancies) will provide strategic oversight and governance across a portfolio of clinical trials. These influential roles offer the opportunity to shape studies from the earliest stages of feasibility and proposal development through mobilisation, conduct and close-out. Working closely with sponsors, senior operational leaders and multidisciplinary teams to ensure studies are achievable, well-governed and successfully delivered.

About CMAX

For more than three decades, CMAX has been at the forefront of clinical research in Australia. As one of the country’s largest and most experienced Phase I–II clinical trial units, we conduct world-leading research for local and international clients, specialising in early-phase and first-in-human studies. Our work has contributed to advances in global medicines and technologies—from cancer treatments and pain management to early-warning biodevices and hormone replacement therapies.

CMAX is located on North Tce opposite the Royal Adelaide Hospital within Adelaide’s innovative BioMed City precinct.

The opportunity

CMAX is seeking two Project Directors for these newly created growth roles. Reporting to the Study Services Director, the Project Director will oversee the end-to-end lifecycle and successful performance of an assigned portfolio of studies.

You will provide strategic direction, portfolio governance, stakeholder oversight, risk management and senior escalation support to ensure timelines, quality standards, sponsor expectations and operational objectives are achieved.

Working within CMAX’s collective leadership model, you will collaborate closely with Practice Leads, Clinical Project Managers, Business Development, Quality and other operational functions. You will also coach and support study team members, helping them navigate complex delivery issues and strengthen their project leadership capabilities.

The role is focused on strategic portfolio oversight rather than the day-to-day execution of individual studies, formal line management or workforce scheduling.

What you will do

• Work with Business Development to understand sponsor objectives and shape viable study opportunities to be aligned with operational delivery methods;
• Represent CMAX operations in sponsor, proposal and bid-defence meetings as required;
• Coordinate operational feasibility input and challenge delivery assumptions, dependencies, constraints and risks;
• Contribute to proposal strategies, delivery models, timelines and operational commitments;
• Translate awarded opportunities into clearly defined and achievable delivery frameworks;
• Support structured handover to the assigned Clinical Project Manager;
• Oversee the performance and health of a portfolio of studies from start-up through conduct and close-out;
• Monitor timelines, quality, sponsor expectations and operational objectives, intervening where delivery is at risk;
• Oversee significant protocol amendments, new cohorts and material changes to study requirements;
• Act as a senior operational escalation point for complex study and portfolio matters;
• Oversee operational risks, quality incidents, QIRFs and CAPAs in partnership with Quality and operational stakeholders;
• Build trusted relationships with sponsors, internal stakeholders and study-specific service providers;
• Coach and mentor study team members and share lessons learned across the broader Study Team;
• Contribute to major operational projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

About you

You are an experienced clinical research leader with the judgement and credibility to oversee multiple complex studies and provide clear direction when delivery is under pressure.

You understand how to balance sponsor expectations with participant safety, quality, commercial considerations and operational realities. You are comfortable challenging assumptions, navigating ambiguity and influencing outcomes across teams without relying on formal line authority.

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in science, health, clinical research, project management or business, or substantial equivalent experience;
• Current ICH GCP Certificate;
• Extensive clinical research project or portfolio-management experience;
• Experience overseeing multiple complex studies from opportunity or start-up through conduct and close-out;
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial standards, SOPs, quality systems and ICH GCP requirements;
• The ability to define study scope, timelines, assumptions, dependencies and risks;
• Experience managing operational risk, quality incidents, CAPAs and senior-level escalations;
• Demonstrated experience building and managing sponsor relationships;
• Experience overseeing external service providers or vendors;
• Strong commercial and operational judgement;
• Highly developed communication, negotiation, influencing and stakeholder-management skills;
• The ability to coach and mentor others without formal line-management authority.

Experience in Phase I or early-phase clinical trials, or within a dedicated clinical trial site, will be highly regarded. A recognised project-management qualification would also be advantageous.

At CMAX, you will have the opportunity to:

• Influence clinical trial strategy from initial opportunity through to study close-out;
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of complex and meaningful clinical research;
• Work directly with local and international sponsors, CROs and vendors;
• Collaborate with experienced clinical, quality and operational leaders;
• Strengthen project governance, risk management and delivery capability;
• Coach and support the development of clinical research professionals;
• Contribute to organisation-wide improvement and change initiatives;
• Join an established Australian clinical trial organisation with a strong record of advancing global healthcare.

How we lead

At CMAX, how we work is as important as what we achieve. You will model accountability, initiative, curiosity, courage, respect, resilience and trustworthiness. You will take responsibility for decisions, focus on practical solutions and create constructive working relationships across CMAX and with our external partners.

The successful candidate will be expected to comply with CMAX policies, procedures and protocols and participate in the organisation’s performance review processes. Some interstate or international travel and occasional work outside ordinary business hours, including weekends or public holidays, may be required according to operational needs.

Ready to provide the strategic leadership behind complex, world-class clinical trials?

Only candidates who have the right to work unrestricted in Australia need apply for this position.

Applications will close on Sunday 18 October 2026.

Please note that we may be conducting interviews during the advertisement period and retain the right to withdraw the advert should we select a successful applicant prior to the closing date.