Clinical Research Program Administrator

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is seeking a Clinical Trials Coordinator to support screening and prescreening for cancer trials across USC Norris and affiliated clinics. The role emphasizes patient-centered care, coordination with care teams, and effective communication with sponsors.

The position requires extensive clinical research experience in oncology, knowledge of GCP, and protocol coordination, enabling efficient trial accrual and patient access to studies.

Qualifications

• Significant prior clinical research experience in oncology.
• Strong understanding of Good Clinical Practices for clinical research.
• Experience working as a protocol coordinator.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee screening and prescreening processes to identify potentially eligible patients for cancer trials.
• Support patient recruitment, navigation, and outreach to referring providers and potential participants.
• Interface with trial sponsors to maintain knowledge of trial status and enrollment opportunities.
• Coordinate appointments and patient navigation, addressing logistical barriers to attendance and care continuity.

Job description

The Clinical Investigations Support Office provides support to the investigators in conducting cancer-related clinical trials at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and its affiliated locations. This position is designed to improve accrual to interventional and treatment cancer clinical trials across various disease areas. It will require close coordination with the various clinical and care delivery sites where USC Norris clinical trials are active or that collaborate with USC Norris to refer patients for trials. This may include USC Norris and Keck clinics (including satellites), Los Angeles General Medical Center, and other referring entities. Responsibilities include coordinating and overseeing screening schedules, managing prescreening operations, assessing patient eligibility, and supporting patient recruitment and navigation efforts.

The scope of responsibilities for this position includes reviewing clinic schedules, prescreening patients for specific potential trials, outreach to treating or referring providers, outreach and communication with potential patients, and coordination with the clinical research coordinators who take over once a patient has consented to participate in a specific trial. Furthermore, the employee in this role will need to interface with various trial sponsors to maintain current knowledge of trial status and inquire about enrollment opportunities. This position is designed to support and guide patients throughout the screening and clinical research process by providing compassionate, respectful, and patient centered care while ensuring efficient prescreening, coordination, and communication. This role is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence and fostering a collaborative, supportive environment that enables team members to contribute meaningfully to advancing human health and improving patient access to clinical trials and care opportunities.

This position is for someone with significant prior clinical research experience, in-depth knowledge of clinical oncology, a strong understanding of good clinical practices for clinical research and experience working as a protocol coordinator. The individual must be able to work efficiently with minimal supervision, demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, and able to contribute effectively to the disease teams and investigators.

This individual must demonstrate organizational skills to handle multiple concurrent tasks efficiently and effectively, including work delegated by multiple individuals. Effective interpersonal skills are required to interact professionally with patients, families, sponsors, co-workers, investigators, and stakeholders.

The position will be a full-time exempt position, which has the following responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

Pre-Screening

• Review charts and medical records prior to clinic to identify potentially eligible patients and notify investigators accordingly.
• Receive inquiries from internal and external (outside USC and LAGMC) providers and complete a pre-screening assessment for one or more potential trials
• Review available records or obtain additional ones as needed to complete an appropriate pre-screening
• Responsible for coordinating and overseeing site screening schedules, managing pre-screening operations and overseeing patient eligibility assessments
• Maintain a thorough understanding of various research study guidelines that include both inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Contact potential patients to assist with scheduling oncology appointments and conduct follow-up communications.
• Create and maintain detailed screening logs and records of study candidates, including demographic and outcome information, in compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.

Recruitment/Outreach

• Educate patients about available clinical trials and participation opportunities
• Explain the study procedures and answer questions to ensure that potential participants understand the study requirements and processes
• Discuss study purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, compensation, and follow-up care with potential participants prior to enrollment.
• Provide education about cancer clinical trials and when appropriate, connect patient with care team, support services and available resources
• Implement strategies to support participant recruitment in collaboration with providers and clinical teams.
• Prepare mid-year and annual reports related to recruitment efforts and program activities.
• Outreach to referring providers to inform them about enrollment opportunities and share specific trial information

Navigation

• Coordinate appointments and provide patient navigation support by addressing logistical barriers and scheduling challenges that may prevent attendance at appointments.
• Assist patients with insurance related concerns by connecting them with appropriate resources and team members.