Associate Director, Clinical Operations

Dispatch Biotherapeutics, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical coverage

401(k)

Life insurance

Flexible PTO

Additional benefits

Job summary

Dispatch Biotherapeutics, Inc. is seeking an Associate Director of Clinical Operations to lead early‑phase oncology trials, ensuring high-quality execution and regulatory compliance.

This role partners with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Drug Supply, and QA, plus CROs and central labs, to deliver trials on time and within budget. You will manage timelines, budgets, site activation, vendor oversight, and critical study documents, while advancing SOPs and inspection

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive clinical operations experience.
• Experience leading early‑phase oncology trials (Phase I/II).
• Strong knowledge of ICH‑GCP and FDA regulations.
• Experience managing CROs/vendors including budgets and contracts.
• Proficiency with CTMS, EDC, and other trial software.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational execution of early‑phase oncology trials from start‑up to close‑out.
• Act as primary operations contact for CROs, vendors, and sites.
• Develop and manage study timelines, budgets, and risk plans.
• Oversee site selection, activation, and ongoing management with CROs.
• Collaborate on protocols, ICFs, CRFs, and essential documents.
• Manage vendor oversight including labs, IRT, imaging, and specialty vendors.
• Coordinate with Drug Supply/CMC for product supply and forecasting.
• Monitor enrollment, data quality, and safety reporting with PV/Medical Monitoring.

Skills

CTMS/EDC

Vendor management

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

On-site capability

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree (MS/RN/PharmD)

Tools

CTMS

EDC platforms

Job description

About us:

Our purpose at Dispatch is to help create a world where all cancer patients can be cured. We’re humbled by the opportunity to work together as a team on some of the most pressing medical challenges of our time.

To achieve our purpose, we are dedicated to engineering a universal treatment across solid tumors. We’re committed to the development of novel therapies, leveraging first‑in‑class technologies in viral vectors, universal targets, and novel cytokine biology. Our therapeutic approach has the potential to enable us to treat significant numbers of cancer patients and make a real and lasting impact on the world.

Our company was founded on pioneering work carried out in the laboratories of Dr. Carl June (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Kole Roybal (University of California, San Francisco), Dr. Christopher Garcia (Stanford University) and Dr. Andy Minn (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center).

At Dispatch you will become an early team member, playing a role in meeting our ambitious mission while building our thriving culture. We are determined to deliver with urgency, to discover new solutions, and to uphold scientific rigor. We value ownership, collaboration, and feedback as core to empowering people to live cancer‑free lives.

The role:

The Associate Director, Clinical Operations will play a critical role in the planning, execution, and oversight of Dispatch’s early‑phase (Phase I/II) oncology clinical trials. Reporting to the Vice President of Clinical Operations, you will partner closely with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Drug Supply, and Quality Assurance, as well as CROs, central labs, and other clinical trial vendors, to ensure studies are executed with the highest standards of quality, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead operational execution of one or more early‑phase (Phase I/II) oncology clinical trials, from study start‑up through close‑out.
• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for CROs, vendors, and investigative sites, ensuring deliverables are met on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Develop and manage study timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation plans; proactively identify and resolve issues that could impact trial timelines or data integrity.
• Oversee site selection, activation, and ongoing site management activities in partnership with CROs and the broader Clinical Operations team.
• Collaborate with Clinical Development and Biostatistics to develop and review protocols, informed consent forms, case report forms, and other essential study documents.
• Manage vendor oversight activities, including central labs, IRT, imaging, and other specialty vendors supporting early‑phase oncology trials.
• Partner with Drug Supply/CMC teams to ensure adequate investigational product supply and accurate demand forecasting.
• Monitor trial enrollment, data quality, and safety reporting in collaboration with Pharmacovigilance and Medical Monitoring.
• Contribute to the development of departmental SOPs, working practices, and process improvements as Dispatch’s clinical operations function scales.
• Support inspection readiness activities and ensure trials are conducted in accordance with ICH‑GCP, FDA regulations, and Dispatch quality standards.
• Prepare and present study status updates to internal stakeholders and senior leadership.

Required experience & skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MS, RN, PharmD) in a life sciences or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive clinical operations experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing early‑phase (Phase I/II) oncology clinical trials, including study start‑up, site management, and vendor oversight.
• Strong working knowledge of ICH‑GCP guidelines, FDA regulations, and clinical trial operational best practices.
• Experience managing CROs and other third‑party vendors, including budget and contract oversight.
• Proficiency with CTMS, EDC platforms, and other clinical trial software.
• Collaborative nature, geared toward cross‑functional teamwork.
• Excellent organizational, problem‑solving, and time‑management skills.
• Positive attitude, dedicated work ethic, and flexible orientation for operating in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex clinical information for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to manage a clinical operations team, communicate, coach, mentor, and develop employees.
• Ability to be onsite 4 days per week.
• Ability to travel up to 20%, if needed.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Experience with cell and gene therapy, personalized medicine, or other biologics clinical trials.
• Prior experience working in a small or growth‑stage biotech environment.
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions (e.g., IND filings, IB updates) or inspection readiness activities.
• Established relationships with CROs and vendors specializing in oncology and/or cell therapy trials.
• People management experience, with a track record of developing and mentoring clinical operations staff.

Our values:

Determined to deliver:

By working with focus and passion, we can provide patients with the solutions they need.

Own every outcome:

We can reach new heights when we stay centered on our shared success.

Collaboration at the core:

When we band together, our work is better.

Feedback is fundamental:

Constructive and authentic positive feedback may be difficult to master but it is vital to our success.

Working here:

• Competitive compensation package with meaningful ownership through equity.
• Excellent coverage for medical, vision, and dental.
• 401(k) with generous contribution.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Additional substantial benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, national origin, or any characteristic protected under applicable law.