Associate Director, Early-Phase Oncology Operations

Dispatch Bio; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Medical vision dental

401(k) retirement

Life insurance

Flexible PTO

Other benefits

Job summary

Dispatch Bio is seeking an Associate Director, Clinical Operations to lead the planning, execution, and oversight of early‑phase oncology trials. Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, you will partner with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Drug Supply, and QA to ensure trials meet quality, timelines, and regulatory standards.

You will manage study start‑up, site activation, vendor oversight, and cross‑functional collaboration with CROs, central labs, and trial

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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 clinical trial management systems (CTMS), electronic data capture (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

Responsibilities

• Lead the 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

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Onsite presence

Time management

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in life sciences

Tools

CTMS

EDC platforms

Clinical trial software

Job description

Dispatch Bio is seeking an Associate Director, Clinical Operations to lead the planning, execution, and oversight of early‑phase oncology trials. Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, you will partner with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Drug Supply, and QA to ensure trials meet quality, timelines, and regulatory standards.

You will manage study start‑up, site activation, vendor oversight, and cross‑functional collaboration with CROs, central labs, and trial