Assistant Director, Clinical Research Business Operations

University of California - Irvine; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Irvine seeks an Assistant Director for Clinical Research Business Operations to oversee the Stern Center for Cancer Clinical Trials and Research finances, contracts, and amendments across diverse sponsors.

You will lead budgeting, onboarding of finance staff, ensure post‑award compliance, and act as the primary liaison to investigators and coordinators, driving policies and efficient workflows in a multidisciplinary setting.

Qualifications

• Advanced ability to communicate verbally and in writing; produce concise, logical analytical reports.
• Advanced interpersonal skills across the organization and with diverse populations.
• Client services oriented; strong listening, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
• Organizational skills with ability to multi-task in a high-volume environment.
• Knowledge of internal control practices and protecting University resources.
• Adaptability to changing priorities and deadline-driven work.
• Experience leading institutional change and driving process improvements.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience in long-range financial and resource planning in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Strong analytical finance background in a research environment.
• Minimum 7–9 years in accounting/financial management, focusing on contracts and grants for clinical trials.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage all financials, contracts and amendments for a large portfolio of cancer-related clinical trials.
• Lead onboarding of new clinical research coordinators for financial requirements.
• Develop budgets for investigator-initiated trials and activate new trials.
• Ensure post-award finances are up to date and funds received.
• Serve as prime liaison to investigators and staff for financial study resource needs.
• Develop, implement and maintain policies and SOPs for contractual negotiation and workflow.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Client service

Organizational skills

Internal controls

Prioritization

Change management

Team collaboration

Financial planning

Advanced degree

Contracts management

Education

Advanced degree or equivalent

Tools

Kuali Financial System

Kuali Research

OnCore

EVAL

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It is located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

The NCI‑designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) is a campus‑wide multidisciplinary matrix organization whose goal is to promote and enhance cancer‑relevant research and patient care at UC Irvine. The CFCCC provides research resources to its hundreds of members engaged in research and offers multidisciplinary cancer care to its patients. The Stern Center for Cancer Clinical Trials and Research (Stern Center) is the centralized office for cancer clinical research operations at UCI and is the best‑practice leader in clinical research operations at UC Irvine. There are five distinct and collaborative units: Quality Assurance, Protocol Review and Monitoring, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Trials, and Clinical Research Business Operations. These units provide administrative expertise, comprehensive regulatory management, clinical research coordination, data management, quality control, and business operations support to all CFCCC members.

Your Role on the Team

The Assistant Director for Clinical Research Business Operations (AD CRBO) reports to the Administrative Director for Clinical Research Operations and is directly responsible for all financial matters of the Stern Center for Cancer Clinical Trials and Research (Stern Center) including fiscal oversight of all clinical research contracts and grants from various sponsors and fund sources (e.g., industry contracts, state and federal funds, philanthropic funds, and institutional support) in support of clinical research trials.

The principal role of the AD CRBO is to independently manage all financials, contracts and amendments for a significantly large portfolio of cancer‑related clinical trials. The AD for CRBO leads a team responsible for onboarding new clinical research coordinators of the financial requirements for the trials, developing budgets for investigator‑initiated trials, activating new clinical trials, and ensuring post‑award finances of the trials are up to date and current, ensuring receipt of all funds owed to the CFCCC. The AD CRBO is the primary liaison to investigators, clinical research coordinators and researchers for communicating and training about the financial study resource requirements for clinical research trials. The AD CRBO develops, implements and maintains policies and standard operating procedures for the contractual negotiation and workflow for clinical research and serves as the primary business liaison to the CFCCC's National Clinical Trial Network affiliates.

The Assistant Director for Clinical Research Business Operations receives assignments in the form of objectives and determines how to use resources to meet schedules and goals. Manages, prepares, administers, and directs control of budget/organization resources. Manages the activities of the financial/resource analyst staff. Reviews and approves recommendations for financial planning and control. Monitors Stern Center adherence to approved budget. Provides guidance to subordinates to achieve goals in accordance with established policies. Work is reviewed and measured based on meeting objectives and schedules. Follows processes and operational policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve goals results in additional costs and personnel and serious delays in overall schedules.

What It Takes to be Successful

Required

• Advanced ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing; demonstrated advanced ability to effectively produce and present concise, logical and transparent analytical reports with complex finance‑related information (from multiple sources) both verbally and in writing in a clear manner.


• Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations.


• Client services oriented; excellent listening, critical thinking, and analytical skills with in‑depth attention to detail.


• Ability to use organizational skills and multi‑task in a high‑volume environment.


• Knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources.


• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and within a deadline‑driven structure.


• Demonstrated experience in maintaining flexibility and adaptability while leading and implementing institutional change.


• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.


• Experience in short‑and‑long‑range financial and resource planning management in a multidisciplinary matrixed work environment.


• Strong analytical finance background in a research working environment.


• Advanced degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.


• Minimum of 7‑9 years of experience in accounting and financial management, with a focus on contracts and grants for clinical trials, budget processing, and strategic financial planning and projections; with direct experience in management of Federal, State and industry‑sponsored contracts and grants.

Preferred

• Advanced knowledge of University of California contracts and grants accounting and management principles and procedures, finance policies, practices, and systems (e.g., Kuali Financial System, Kuali Research, OnCore, EVAL, etc.).


• Experience managing finances for oncology‑specific trials.


• Familiar with Cancer Center Support Grant guidelines.


• Experience working in a multidisciplinary matrixed work environment.


• Professional certification preferred.

Special Conditions

• May require after‑hours and weekend work hours on deadline‑driven projects.

Total Compensation

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan


• Employment Misconduct*


• Legal Right to work in the United States


• Vaccination Policies


• Smoking and Tobacco Policy


• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct disclosure requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act


• E‑Verify


• Pre‑Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824‑0500 or [e-mail].

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization.