Administrative Director, Clinical Research Office

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Florida's UF Health Cancer Institute seeks an Administrative Director for the Clinical Research Office on the Gainesville campus. You will lead the CRO, provide executive oversight, and serve as the primary clinical research liaison to UF Health central and collegiate offices.

Ideal candidates hold a master’s degree with 10+ years in clinical research or clinical service operations, experience in an NCI-designated cancer center, and proven leadership. RN licensure is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research and/or clinical service operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of the CRO operations and alignment with UF Health Cancer Institute mission.

Skills

Executive leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Data analysis

Project management

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Regulatory knowledge

Team supervision

Negotiation

Education

Master's degree in Healthcare Administration

Bachelor's degree + 6 years experience

Master's degree in related area

Tools

EPIC

OnCore

EMR systems

CTMS

Job description

Administrative Director, Clinical Research Office

Job no: 541973
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Executive/Director/Management, Grant or Research Administration, Health Care Administration/Support
Department: 27321000 - HA-UFHCI EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Classification Title:

ASO DIR, Clinical Research

Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and four years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree in appropriate areas of specialization and six years of experience.

Job Description:

The UF Health Cancer Institute is the 72nd NCI designated cancer center and the only one at a public university in the State of Florida. As a matrix cancer center, we span all of the University of Florida's 16 colleges, pulling together a world-class, multi-disciplinary membership of over 350 faculty and 180 staff to address the challenges of the cancer burden faced by the population we serve as we work together to find a cure.

As the Administrative Director of the Clinical Research Office (CRO) at the UF Health Cancer Institute (UFHCI), you will be a part of our staff executive leadership team and be responsible for managing and providing direct oversight and guidance to the CRO and serving as the UFHCI’s primary clinical research expert and liaison to central, collegiate, and UF Health offices for all clinical research related activities. Deep understanding of the clinical research process and clinical research in academic medicine is necessary for success in this role.

In your new role you will be responsible for the following:

• Oversight and management of the CRO, ensuring that systems are in place for the implementation and development of initiatives in support of the mission of the Cancer Institute.
• Defining and executing a comprehensive, systemwide strategy for clinical trial operations that aligns with UFHCI’s strategic priorities and NCI designation requirements.
• Program planning and development including the definition of KPIs and initiatives to champion innovation in trial delivery, portfolio alignment, and overall quality and performance improvement.
• Developing and overseeing UFHCI clinical research operations focusing on promoting a coordinated, patient-centered approach to clinical research across all sites, ensuring seamless integration with clinical care pathways to aid in the refinement and expansion of the UFHCI clinical research portfolio, improvement of resources and support for Institute membership, as well as in the development of relationships, strategies, and workflows to meet the needs of the UF Health enterprise and the UFHCI catchment area.

This is an executive level position, ideal for candidates with extensive experience in clinical research and/or clinical service delivery as well as expertise and expert level knowledge of clinical research and/or clinical service operations. Employees in these roles operate as part of our collaborative research enterprise and are fundamental to the progress of cancer research being conducted at the University of Florida. A complete job description will be provided to candidates selected for interview.

Home to the University of Florida, one of the nation's top public universities, Gainesville offers vibrant academic and healthcare communities alongside an affordable cost of living, no state income tax, and mild winters. Enjoy the outdoors with over 30 miles of bike trails, freshwater springs, and numerous water activities, plus easy access to beaches and world-class theme parks.

Gainesville combines historic charm with modern amenities, including a great school system, a lively downtown, and farmers' markets and craft breweries. Discover professional growth and quality of life in Gainesville—where community, innovation, and work-life balance meet!

• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business Administration, or related field. (Licensed candidates will be considered with a minimum of a relevant Bachelor’s degree.)
• Experience in academic medicine, healthcare, clinical research, or similarly complex industry.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research and/or clinical service operations and driving organizational growth.
• Experience in clinical research oversight and/or coordination in an NCI-designated Cancer Center or similar NIH funded center alongside fundamental knowledge of the CCSG or similarly complex NIH program level grant.
• Mastery and demonstrated ability to serve as a resource and SME on clinical research and clinical services regulations, policies, and best practices, oncology, and other related areas of practice.
• Prior experience as a supervisor or team lead (5+ years) and/or completion of leadership/management training program (eg. Managing at UF – The Supervisory Challenge).

Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with executive and senior leadership, staff, vendors, and volunteers to achieve the goals of managed projects.
• Exceptional analytical and organizational skills and the flexibility to handle multiple tasks and deadline pressures.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget development, forecasting, and cost/revenue management.
• Exceptional ability to develop project and proposals and drive them to completion through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders across functions, including working directly with University and senior leadership to achieve the goals of ongoing projects.
• Demonstrated quantitative and data analytic skills, with ability to generate, distill and interpret data for senior leadership on metric and benchmarking analysis to provide logical conclusions/projections and program evaluation and anticipating costs/obligations.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, especially proof-reading and public speaking skills.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite as well as EMR and CTMS systems, including EPIC and OnCore.

Professional clinical research and/or oncology certification (through SOCRA, ACRP, etc.) are required at the earliest of 12 months from hire or eligibility. Training, CE support, and other resources are provided as part of the UFHCI’s commitment to professional development across our staff and faculty.

While not required, strong preference will be given for candidates with active RN licensure and the ability to practice in the State of Florida.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge/Experience:

• Active RN, advanced practice, or similar licensure and experience working in and supervising in oncology is strongly preferred.
• Experience in clinical research oversight and/or coordination in an NCI-designated Cancer Center or similar NIH funded center alongside fundamental knowledge of the CCSG or similarly complex NIH program level grant.
• Certification and advanced training in clinical research as well as active affiliation and ongoing involvement with appropriate professional networks and organizations.

Qualities:

• Forward-thinking mentality, actively seeking opportunities and proposing creative solutions with strong decision-making capability.
• Demonstrated strong desire to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and critical staff, both internally and externally, through a variety of communication mediums and venues.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be effective independently, maintain appropriate discretion, and utilize effective writing and organizational skills.
• Excellent delegation and time management skills and ability to successfully manage multiple priorities seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Exceptional customer service with a professional, trustworthy, approachable demeanor and strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability and desire to work with a broad range of people and appreciate a culturally diverse organization.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The University of Florida is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit.

Applicants must upload a copy of the following documents to be considered for this position:

• Cover Letter or Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• List of Three Professional References

Candidates who are applying with active licensure (e.g. RN, APRN, etc.) will be requested to provide documentation of their license at the time of hire if selected.

This is not a remote work position and will be located on UF’s Main Campus in Gainesville, FL.

This position will remain open until filled and applications will be screened and reviewed on a routine basis. To ensure full consideration, candidates should apply prior to December 11 th , 2026.

Health Assessment Required:

Health Assessment Required: No

Advertised: 12 Nov 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: Open until filled

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.