Associate Director, Clinical Operations

Cogent Biosciences; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium health/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with immediate vesting

Job summary

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotech company focused on precision therapies. We are seeking an Associate Director, Clinical Operations to lead global clinical development programs, serving as both hands-on study leader and strategic clinical operations partner.

The role balances operational detail with program oversight, driving execution across early- and later-stage development, identifying risks, and scaling operational excellence within a growing organization.

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in science or health-related field (preferred).
• 6-7+ years in clinical development.
• Experience with complex therapeutic platforms & multi-phase trials.
• Experience with trial/site startup, vendor selection and management.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical operations for global studies ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery with CRO/vendor oversight.
• Develop study performance metrics and drive corrective actions; assess site trends and risks.
• Partner with external stakeholders; chair study team meetings and update cross-functional teams on milestones.
• Contribute to protocol reviews, study manuals, ICFs, CRFs, and training materials.
• Support preparation of study reports and Investigator Brochures; assist data cleaning and listings.
• Evaluate and negotiate contracts and budgets with CROs, sites, and vendors.
• Perform site monitoring activities, including onsite/remote monitoring and sponsor oversight.
• Maintain study documentation per regulations, SOPs, and ICH/GCP.

Skills

Clinical operations leadership

Study management

Vendor management

GCP/ICH/FDA knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/BA in science or health-related field

Tools

Data management processes

SOP review & development

Job description

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on developing novel precision therapies to treat a broad range of patients with unmet medical needs. Cogent’s lead program, bezuclastinib, is designed to selectively and potently inhibit exon 17 mutations found within the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, including KIT D816V. KIT D816V is responsible for driving a rare and serious condition called Systemic Mastocytosis, and exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Bezuclastinib has exhibited promising initial data across all three trials: APEX in AdvSM, SUMMIT in NonAdvSM and PEAK in GIST, including an encouraging safety profile across 600+ patients in single agent and combination dosing.

The Role

Cogent Biosciences isseekingan experienced and highly motivated Associate Director, ClinicalOperations to serve as a key operational leader across our clinical development programs. Reporting to the Senior Director, Head of Clinical Operations, this individual will function as both a hands‑on study leader and a strategic clinical operations partner, helping drive execution and operational excellence across multiple stages of development.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing operational detail with strategic program oversight—an individual who can independently lead complex global studies while also contributing to broader Clinical Operations strategy, portfolio planning, process improvement, and cross‑functional decision‑making.

The successful candidate will be accountable for the planning, execution, oversight, and delivery of clinical trials across early‑stage development programs, with opportunities to support later‑stage development as programs advance. This individual will serve as a trusted partner to the Head of Clinical Operations and will be expected to identify risks proactively, influence key stakeholders, and help scale operational excellence within a growing clinical organization.

We are seeking someone who brings strong operational expertise, a sense of ownership, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to work at both the strategic and tactical levels. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable reviewing site‑level enrollment challenges, leading vendor governance discussions, influencing development strategy teams, and driving complex cross‑functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the clinical operations lead for one or more global clinical studies, ensuring delivery of study objectives on timeline, budget, and quality expectations. Provide strategic oversight of CROs and vendors, ensuring accountability, quality, and operational execution.
• Develop and review study performance metrics and drive corrective and preventive actions when needed. Evaluate and analyze site trends, evaluate study risks and mitigation strategies, and work with the cross‑functional team in the review of clinical data.
• Develop strong partnerships with external stakeholders while maintaining sponsor ownership of study execution. Serve as Clinical Operations representative on Strategy Teams, and coordinate and lead study team meetings and update the cross‑functional Team on timelines and milestones for the study.
• Contribute to the development of study documentation including protocol review, creating study manuals, ICFs, designing CRFs, and ensuring proper team and external training.
• Provide input to Clinical Study Reports and Investigator Brochures, including data cleaning, listing review, and report writing.
• Support the evaluation of study vendors, including negotiation of contracts and budgets with CROs, clinical sites and vendors.
• Perform clinical research site activities, such as onsite or remote monitoring, co‑monitoring, training, motivational, and sponsor oversight visits, as needed.
• Ensure that study documentation is maintained according to applicable regulations, industry accepted standards, and SOPs that govern clinical studies both in the field and in‑house.
• Collaborate with Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality team members to ensure compliance of department / study activities with FDA regulations, guidelines, and principles of ICH GCP and company SOPs.
• Limited travel possible to clinical sites for investigator and site engagement, with potential to travel (~25%).

Qualifications

• BS/BA Degree or equivalent in science or a health‑related field is preferred.
• Minimum 6-7+ years of relevant industry clinical development experience.
• Experience with complex therapeutic platforms.
• Multi‑phase clinical trials.
• Experience with all aspects of trial and site startup and vendor selection and management, study management, and monitoring.
• Familiarity with clinical data review and data management processes.
• Excellent knowledge of GCP, ICH, and FDA regulations.
• Experience with SOP review and development.

Salary Range

$185,000–$215,000 USD

Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Our Locations

Waltham, MA: Our headquarters is located in the Greater Boston life sciences community, with an open, collaborative office environment designed to support teamwork and connection. Employees benefit from convenient on‑site amenities, including free on‑site parking and gym facilities in the building.

Boulder, CO: Our Boulder location is home to Cogent’s discovery research organization and a key scientific hub with strong leadership based on site. Situated in the greater Denver‑Boulder biopharmaceutical corridor, this office plays a central role in advancing our discovery efforts and pipeline.

Our Offer To You

At Cogent Biosciences, we offer a competitive salary, bonus, and ongoing stock awards, alongside a benefits package that sets us apart. We cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your family, and help reduce out‑of‑pocket costs by funding up to 75% of in‑network deductibles. Our benefits also include a 401(k) match with immediate vesting, generous paid time off, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, paid family and medical leave for all employees regardless of location, and company‑paid short‑term disability coverage for up to 20 weeks. Additional perks such as wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and inclusive family‑forming support help you thrive at work and beyond.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.