Clinical Research Director

Southwest Womens Oncology Inc

Albuquerque (NM)

On-site

USD 180,000 - 240,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

401(k)

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Southwest Women’s Oncology in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a Clinical Research Director to build and lead a new research vertical. You will design strategy, establish infrastructure, recruit and mentor a team, and partner with sponsors and regulators to advance oncology trials.

You will oversee lifecycle management of trials, ensure compliance with ICH-GCP/FDA/NIH, and drive operational excellence to expand patient access to innovative therapies.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a health science, life science, or related field.
10+ years of clinical research experience, including 5+ years in leadership or director-level role.
Proven ability to build, scale, and manage a clinical research program or site.
Deep understanding of ICH-GCP, FDA, NIH, and clinical research compliance standards.
Experience coordinating Phase II–IV therapeutic trials.
Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, billing compliance, and contract management.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

Build and scale the clinical research vertical within SWWO with long-term strategy, infrastructure, and resources.
Partner with the Executive Team to align research strategy with organizational goals and clinical priorities.
Evaluate new research opportunities and develop business cases for study selection, site expansion, and external partnerships.
Lead full lifecycle of clinical trials—feasibility, start-up, recruitment, execution, monitoring, and close-out.
Oversee study budgets, billing compliance, and reporting; ensure accurate forecasting.
Maintain compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA, NIH, IRB, and institutional requirements.
Develop, implement, and refine SOPs for research operations.
Hire, onboard, mentor, and manage a team of coordinators and staff; foster excellence and accountability.
Serve as primary liaison for sponsors, CROs, investigators, and regulators; represent SWWO in networks and conferences.
Identify process improvements and emerging technologies to optimize research operations.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Negotiation

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in health science or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Description

Clinical Research Director

Southwest Women's Oncology | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Why This Role Matters

Clinical trials are not a side program. They are how medicine moves forward. For patients facing gynecologic cancer, access to a clinical trial can mean access to a treatment that doesn't yet exist anywhere else. It can mean hope. It can mean more time.

Southwest Women's Oncology is building a clinical research program commensurate with our clinical reputation - rigorous, patient-centered, and built to last. The Clinical Research Director will front that effort: building the infrastructure, developing the team, establishing the partnerships, and setting the standard for how great oncology research gets done. This is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up within an organization that already has clinical excellence, physician leadership, and institutional commitment. We hire for attitude and aptitude above all else. Credentials matter, but who you are and how you grow matter more.

Who We Are

Southwest Women's Oncology (SWWO) is New Mexico's leading gynecologic oncology practice, delivering advanced cancer care with skill, courage, and compassion.

Optimum Human and Optimum Infusion extend that mission into performance medicine, infusion services, longevity, recovery, hormone optimization, medical weight loss, peptide therapies, hyperbaric medicine, aesthetics, and human performance.

Together, we operate as a single integrated platform committed to one mission:

We exist to deliver new possibilities in medical care, human performance, and health by uniting passion, knowledge, and skill.

The Opportunity

This is not a maintenance role. You are building something.

As Clinical Research Director, you will design and lead the clinical research vertical at SWWO-establishing the strategy, systems, team, and relationships that will define what this program becomes. You will work at the intersection of scientific rigor, operational excellence, and patient impact, partnering with:

Gynecologic oncology physicians serving as Principal Investigators
Pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, and cooperative group partners
Clinical Research Coordinators, data specialists, and research support staff
Executive leadership and the broader Optimum platform
Regulatory bodies including FDA, NIH, and IRB

You will have the authority, the resources, and the leadership support to build a program that changes what's possible for patients in New Mexico and beyond.

What You'll Own

Strategy & Program Leadership

Build, scale, and manage the clinical research vertical within SWWO, developing long-term strategy, infrastructure, and resourcing plans.
Partner with the Executive Team to align research strategy with organizational goals and clinical priorities.
Evaluate new research opportunities and develop business cases for study selection, site expansion, and external partnerships.

Trial Operations

Lead the full lifecycle of clinical trials-feasibility, start-up, recruitment, execution, monitoring, and close-out.
Oversee study budgets, billing compliance, and financial performance; ensure accurate reporting and forecasting.
Maintain compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA, NIH, IRB, and all institutional requirements.
Develop, implement, and continuously refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for research operations.

Team Development

Hire, onboard, mentor, and manage a team of Clinical Research Coordinators, data specialists, and research support staff.
Build a culture of excellence, accountability, scientific integrity, and continuous improvement within the research team.
Oversee performance management and professional development for all direct reports.

Sponsor & Stakeholder Relations

Serve as primary liaison for pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, investigators, and regulatory agencies.
Support Principal Investigators in protocol execution and ensure appropriate documentation and data integrity.
Represent SWWO in research networks, professional associations, and at industry conferences.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

Ensure all research is conducted ethically and adheres to institutional, state, and federal regulations.
Oversee audit readiness, inspection preparation, and corrective action processes.
Identify and implement process improvements and emerging technologies to optimize research operations.

What Success Looks Like

First 90 Days

Deep working knowledge of existing research activity, infrastructure gaps, and near-term trial opportunities.
Strong relationships established with physician investigators, executive leadership, and key external partners.
A clear 12-month program development roadmap presented and aligned with leadership.

First 6 Months

Active trials operational and enrollment on track.
Research team structure defined, hired, and performing.
SOPs, compliance frameworks, and billing processes in place and audit-ready.

First Year

A research program that is recognized, respected, and growing.
Measurable patient enrollment, sponsor relationships, and trial portfolio expansion.
A team and a culture that reflects the Optimum Standard.

Who Thrives Here

We want people who bring relentless positivity, a hunger to learn, and the drive to elevate everyone around them. You will likely thrive if:

You take ownership rather than waiting for direction.
You believe details matter.
You enjoy solving problems and seek continuous improvement.
You care deeply about patients and their families.
You value teamwork and accountability equally.
You're coachable, curious, and committed to mastery.

What You Bring

Required

Bachelor's degree in a health science, life science, or related field.
10+ years of clinical research experience, including 5+ years in a leadership or director-level role.
Proven ability to build, scale, and manage a clinical research program or site.
Deep understanding of ICH-GCP, FDA, NIH, and clinical research compliance standards.
Experience coordinating Phase II–IV therapeutic drug or device trials.
Strong business and financial acumen, including experience with clinical research budgeting, billing compliance, and contract management.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.

Preferred

Master's degree in a relevant field.
Prior experience leading oncology or gynecologic oncology clinical trials.
CCRP, CCRC, or equivalent certification.
Established relationships with pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, or cooperative research groups.

Our Culture

We act with courage and embrace accountability.

We serve with precision and hold ourselves to impeccable standards - then raise them.

We reject mediocrity and the comfort of "good enough."

We measure success not only by outcomes, but by the integrity, excellence, and humanity we bring to every interaction.

Way Better. Extraordinary by Design.

If you crave mastery, meaning, and measurable impact - welcome home.

Compensation & Benefits