Clinical Trial Program Specialist, Pain Medicine - 141305

University of California San Diego; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is recruiting a Clinical Trial Program Specialist in Pain Medicine to support multi-phase studies in anesthesia and psychedelics research at La Jolla, starting Fall 2026.

The role focuses on coordinating start-up, recruitment, regulatory compliance, and data quality across studies, while collaborating with PIs and UCSD departments to advance translational research.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a social or basic science or equivalent experience.
• Experience in clinical trials research and protocol design/evaluation.
• Experience with start-up, IRB, and activation processes for studies.
• Experience in clinical research duties in hospital/academic CRO environments.
• Ability to coordinate complex activities and guide teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate start-up procedures and recruitment for multiple studies.
• Create informational and recruitment materials; liaise with UCSD departments.
• Develop and implement start-up procedures for phase I-III studies.
• Ensure compliance with GCP and regulatory guidelines; oversee data quality.
• Provide guidance to investigators and education to the public about trials.

Skills

Clinical Research

IRB processes

GCP compliance

Trial coordination

Neuroimaging familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology/Neuroscience/related field

Tools

IRB coordination tools

Data management

Job description

Payroll Title: CLIN RSCH CRD

Department: ANESTHESIOLOGY

Hiring Pay Scale: $40.68 - $65.40 / Hour

Worksite: La Jolla

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 100%

Union: RX Contract

Total Openings: 1

Work Schedule: Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

#141305 Clinical Trial Program Specialist, Pain Medicine

Filing Deadline: Wed 9/30/2026

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 9/18/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

The Dean Laboratory is recruiting a highly motivated individual to join the Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Psychedelic Research at UC San Diego beginning Fall 2026 as a Clinical Research Coordinator.

Current projects involve multimodal neuroimaging [fMRI, ASL, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS)], psychophysiology, pharmacokinetic/biomarker sampling and analysis, and behavioral assessments in healthy volunteers, neurological patients (e.g., stroke), and chronic pain patients in studies administering N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and other indoleamine compounds. The laboratory seeks to understand how these compounds alter neurochemistry and large-scale brain network function to promote recovery from neurological disease and disorders of consciousness, while also investigating the physiological roles of endogenous DMT and other naturally occurring indoleamine compounds in the mammalian brain.

Incumbent will coordinate and oversee start-up procedures, implementation, recruitment, screening, enrollment, and maintenance of subjects. Create informational and recruitment materials and act as a liaison with other UCSD departments and agencies for the purpose of implementation of studies. The Clinical Research Coordinator will plan, develop and implement start-up procedures for multiple phase I-III research studies in assigned disease team as well as lead, direct, and coordinator operational efforts. Assure compliance with state and federal regulatory guidelines. Oversee the quality of the medical and clinical research data. Provide direction and guidance to investigators. Provide education and information to the general public concerning the ongoing clinical trials. Assist PIs with proposals, progress reports and manuscripts. Independently create original documents and policies for assigned disease teams. Work closely with federal and state regulatory officials.

The successful candidate will help lead the management and execution of federally regulated human clinical trials investigating the neurofunctional and neurochemical mechanisms underlying pain, brain/mental health, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and related compounds.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong theoretical knowledge and/or Bachelor's Degree in a social science or basic science such as Biology, Microbiology or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical trials research. Strong knowledge of experimental protocols, data gathering, protocol design and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in research protocol start-up procedures, including: study feasibility, study activation and IRB processes, and qualification procedures. Strong experience in clinical trials research including budget negotiations and invoicing per clinical trial agreement.
• Demonstrated experience performing clinical research duties in a clinical research environment such as CRO, academic research institution, and/or a research hospital.
• Experience in providing work direction and assisting supervisor in maintaining an efficient medical research team.
• Strong knowledge of investigational protocols especially with pediatric oncology protocols (data management, query resolution, protocol design, protocol writing and protocol implementation).
• Demonstrated experience with research protocol in order to screen patients for eligibility, initiate treatment plan, collect specimens, and orient participating physicians.
• Strong experience completing clinical trials case report forms via hard copy and online.
• Proven ability to find creative and innovative solutions to adjusting needs of the center. Ability to be resourceful and to understand the overall nature of work/responsibilities to establish useful resources and University contacts.
• Ability to discern items that can be handled independently and those which require attention of supervisor, including ability to quickly determine subject matter of material and necessary action to be taken in a timely manner.
• Working knowledge of medical and scientific terminology.
• Proven ability to problem solve and resolve conflict.
• Excellent ability to organize/prioritize workload effectively to meet deadlines in an environment with multiple interruptions and changing priorities. Meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, as well as written and verbal communication skills (using grammatically correct written English and accurate typing) to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels of the organization, exercising tact, mature judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness. Skill at negotiating with various personalities and developing internal and external network of contacts. Excellent phone etiquette skills.
• Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet software (Microsoft Office) and internet browser applications. Experience in conducting searches on the internet.
• Demonstrated administrative experience, skill to coordinate complex activities and to use independent judgment to organize and prioritize office functions.
• Coordinating interventional/investigational drug clinical trials and working in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements.
• Investigational product handling, dispensing, and/or accountability.
• Conducting protocol-required clinical research procedures, including participant screening/enrollment, vital signs and/or ECGs, and collection/handling of biological specimens.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of cost accounting as applied to both University and Medical Center functions. Demonstrated knowledge of medical billing and collections guidelines and procedures.
• Possess a Clinical Research Coordinator Certificate, or Masters Degree.
• Prior experience in human neuroimaging, clinical trial coordination, and/or psychedelic research.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
• Employment is subject to pre-employment physical for those who work in clinical settings and/or with patients.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $84,940 - $136,555 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $40.68 - $65.40

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands‑on practice and in‑person skills assessment; online‑only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well‑Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician‑scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

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The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace