Associate Director, Clinical Operations

Structure Therapeutics; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

New hire equity

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k match

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Job summary

Structure Therapeutics is seeking an Associate Director of Clinical Operations to lead global clinical studies across all phases, ensuring timelines, quality, and regulatory compliance. You will partner with cross-functional teams, manage vendors, and oversee study delivery in a dynamic environment.

Ideal candidates have extensive CRO and global trial experience, strong knowledge of ICH-GCP, and a track record of leading start-up activities, with a focus on risk management and process

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree or higher in a scientific or health-related field; advanced degrees preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical studies across all phases (start-up, conduct, close-out).
• Translate corporate strategies into operational plans with internal teams and external partners.
• Manage study budgets, timelines, resources, and vendor performance.
• Oversee regulatory documents, safety reporting, and compliance with GCP/ICH.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity and study readiness.
• Mentor and develop clinical operations staff and oversee site/provider engagement.
• Prepare and present at investigator meetings and project teams.
• Drive SOP maintenance and continuous process improvements.

Skills

Clinical operations leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor management

Regulatory knowledge (ICH-GCP, FDA,EMA

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a scientific or health-related discipline

Tools

EDC

IRT

Job description

About Us

Structure Therapeutics develops life‑changing medicines for patients using advanced structure‑based and computational drug discovery technology. The company’s platform combines the latest advancements in visualization of molecular interactions, computational chemistry, and data integration to design orally available, superior small molecule medicines that overcome current limitations of biologic and peptide drugs. We are advancing a clinical‑stage pipeline of differentiated treatments focused on chronic diseases with high unmet need, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary conditions.

Structure Therapeutics is led by an experienced group of international drug innovators and financed by top‑tier global life sciences investors. The company completed an initial public offering (IPO) in February 2023. With offices in California and Shanghai, Structure Therapeutics has the benefit of being at the center of life science innovation in both the US and China and capitalizing on the strengths of each geographic location.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Clinical Operations plays a pivotal role in leading clinical studies across all phases, ensuring efficient execution and compliance with regulatory standards. This senior‑level position requires collaboration with cross‑functional study teams, vendor management, and direct contributions to clinical development operations to drive study success in a dynamic, global environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Clinical Study Leadership: Lead and coordinate activities for assigned studies throughout all clinical trial phases—start‑up, conduct, and close‑out—ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and timelines.
• Operational Strategy & Execution: Work with leadership team to translate corporate strategies into operational plans within internal teams and external partners. Manage clinical study budgets, timelines, resource allocation, and vendor performance to ensure successful study delivery.
• Risk Management: Proactively identify and assess risks to study timelines, budget, and quality; develop and implement mitigation strategies in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Vendor Oversight: Manage relationships with clinical trial vendors, CROs, and sites to monitor progress, compliance with study protocols, GCP, and regulatory requirements. Oversee vendor deliverables and ensure quality standards.
• Regulatory and Documentation Management: Oversee the preparation, review, and finalization of all study‑related documents including protocols, informed consent forms, feasibility assessments, study plans, and electronic data capture (EDC) tools. Contribute to regulatory submissions and responses to Ethics Committees and Health Authorities.
• Systems: Collaborate with DM to review Case Report Forms (CRFs). Participate actively in EDC, IRT User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and other systems as required by protocol to ensure data integrity and system readiness.
• Team Leadership & Development: May include line management responsibilities involving recruitment, mentoring, career development, performance management, and talent retention for clinical operations staff. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem‑solving.
• Site & Investigator Engagement: Assist in the selection and qualification of clinical investigators and sites. Conduct site monitoring oversight and lead site issue resolution, including escalation when necessary.
• Safety & Compliance Oversight: Work with cross‑functional Safety Review Committee meetings as required to support deliverables. Monitor data queries and ensure timely resolution.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Preclinical, Biostatistics, Data Management, Clinical Supplies, Safety/PV, and Medical Affairs teams to ensure seamless study execution and IMP accountability, including sample management and study plan reviews.
• Meetings & Representation: Prepare and deliver presentations at investigator meetings and project team meetings. Act as a clinical operations representative at the project team level.
• Process Improvement & SOP Management: Update and maintain Standard Operating Procedures as assigned. Drive continuous improvement initiatives within clinical operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a scientific or health‑related discipline. Advanced degrees preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of clinical operations experience within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or CRO setting.
• At least 6 years in roles such as Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Senior CRA, or Clinical Trial Manager (CTM).
• Proven experience managing Phase I to III clinical trials and leading start‑up activities.
• Strong knowledge of ICH‑GCP guidelines, FDA, EMA, and other applicable global regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading global, multi‑regional clinical trials, with a preference for Asia‑Pacific expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage complex vendor relationships.

Desired Skills & Competencies

• Analytical mindset with strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership qualities with excellent team management and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, and prioritization abilities to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Adaptable, self‑motivated, and able to thrive in fast‑paced, evolving environments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• High ethical standards with a focus on compliance, integrity, and patient safety.
• Collaborative mindset with experience integrating and working with remote and cross‑cultural teams (e.g., US and APAC).

Travel Required: Up to 20%.

Structure Therapeutics Inc. is an Equal‑Opportunity Employer.

Structure Therapeutics is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices, and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that is market competitive. For this role, the anticipated base pay range is $186,000‑$220,000. The exact base pay offered for this role will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s geography, qualifications, skills, and experience.

At Structure, base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate will be eligible for an annual performance incentive bonus, new hire equity, and ongoing performance‑based equity. Structure Therapeutics also offers various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, unlimited PTO, and a number of paid holidays including winter shutdown.