Director, Clinical Operations

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 203,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Equity incentives

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Job summary

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. seeks a Director of Clinical Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership for clinical programs, ensuring quality, speed, and regulatory compliance.

The role collaborates across functions and with CROs/vendors to deliver programs on time and within budget. The position involves regular onsite work at the South San Francisco headquarters, with specific Wednesdays/Thursdays onsite for on-site or hybrid employees in the local area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, nursing, pharmacy, public health, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years in clinical operations and drug development in biotech/pharma/CROs.
• Strong oncology clinical development experience required, hematological malignancies preferred.
• Experience leading global Phase I–III trials and TMF oversight.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operational management of assigned clinical programs, including feasibility, site strategy, start-up, enrollment, monitoring, data cleaning, closeout, and TMF.
• Collaborate with Head of Clinical Operations and other functions to meet timelines and budgets.
• Forecast timelines, resources, and budgets; develop operational strategies for programs.
• Provide input into protocols, development plans, and regulatory documents to improve feasibility and execution.
• Maintain oversight of quality, protocol compliance, monitoring, site performance, and essential document management.
• Select and manage CROs, vendors, and clinical suppliers; monitor performance and issue resolution.
• Work with Clinical Quality Assurance to maintain inspection readiness and implement CAPAs.
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA/global regulations, Rigel SOPs, and industry standards.
• Contribute to developing SOPs, training, and knowledge management in Clinical Operations.
• Manage the Clinical Operations team, recruitment, and training; support corporate policies and values.

Skills

Leadership

Global trial management

Budget oversight

Vendor management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Head of Clinical Operations, the Director, Clinical Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for Rigel's clinical operations activities and is accountable for the planning and execution of assigned clinical program(s). This leader contributes to translating development plans into executable operational strategies and ensures their assigned clinical programs are delivered with quality, speed, fiscal discipline, and regulatory compliance.

The Director works closely with Clinical Development, Biometrics, Regulatory Affairs, Drug Safety, Clinical Quality Assurance, Medical Affairs, Clinical Pharmacology, CMC, Finance, Legal, and other functions to coordinate clinical program execution. This leader represents Rigel with CROs, functional service providers, investigators, and other external stakeholders for their assigned clinical program(s). The role maintains oversight of trial performance, budgets, vendors, risk management, inspection readiness, and the integrity of operational data and documentation for their assigned clinical program.

Regular onsite presence is required to support cross-functional collaboration, team engagement, and business operations. Employees designated as onsite or hybrid who reside within the local commuting area are expected to work onsite at Rigel's South San Francisco headquarters during normal business hours each Wednesday and Thursday. Employees designated as remote are expected to work onsite during normal business hours for a minimum of two Wednesday/Thursday business-day periods per month, as scheduled with management, and more frequently as business needs require.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the end-to-end operational management of assigned clinical programs, including feasibility, country and site strategy, study start-up, enrollment, conduct, monitoring, data cleaning, closeout, and Trial Master File completeness.


• Work closely with the Head of Clinical Operations and other key functions, both internally and externally, to ensure successful completion of all clinical program activities and deliverables within the required timeframe and budget.


• Contribute to scenario planning, forecasting of timelines, estimation of resources and budget, and development of operational strategies for assigned clinical programs.


• Provide operational input into protocols, clinical development plans, investigator materials, informed consent forms, study plans, and other key clinical and regulatory documents to improve feasibility and execution.


• Maintain oversight of operational quality, protocol compliance, monitoring, investigator and site performance, essential document management, and Trial Master File health.


• Responsible for selection of and effective management of CROs, vendors, and clinical suppliers, with functional input.


• Partner with Clinical Quality Assurance to maintain clinical program inspection readiness, address significant findings, and ensure timely implementation of corrective and preventive actions.


• Ensure clinical program activities comply with ICH/GCP, applicable FDA and global regulatory requirements, Rigel SOPs, and accepted industry standards.


• Contribute to the development of Clinical Operations departmental processes, SOPs, work instructions, training, and knowledge-management practices to adhere to Rigel's standards, and to all applicable global regulations and guidelines.


• Manage assigned Clinical Operations team/resources, as well as recruitment and training of future team members (i.e., FTEs and consultants/contractors).


• Comply with corporate policies and procedures and support Rigel’s Core Values.


• Other tasks or responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree is required in life sciences, nursing, pharmacy, public health, or a related scientific or health discipline. A master's degree or higher in health-related science or equivalent preferred.


• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible clinical operations and drug development experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and/or clinical research organizations. Or professional clinical operations experience and advanced degree.


• Strong experience in oncology clinical development is mandatory; experience in hematological malignancies is preferred.


• Experience leading global clinical trials across Phase I through Phase III, including responsibility for study planning, start-up, enrollment, monitoring, execution, database readiness, closeout, and Trial Master File oversight.


• Demonstrated experience overseeing CROs and specialty vendors, including selection, contracting, performance management, issue resolution, and vendor transitions.


• Thorough knowledge of ICH‑GCP, FDA regulations, global clinical trial requirements, sponsor oversight responsibilities and inspection‑readiness expectations.


• Financial and operational management skills, including oversight of study budgets, forecast, timelines, resources, scopes of work, and change orders.


• Ability to successfully manage timelines, multitask, and to adapt to rapid change in the conduct of multiple, complex, and competing priorities in a positive and effective manner.


• Strong resourcefulness, initiative, flexibility, adaptability, and creativity, working in a matrix environment.


• Demonstrated ability to lead and work collaboratively with professionalism.


• Ability to identify and logistically solve problems, strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills.


• Excellent communication, i.e., verbal and written skills, and proficiency in Microsoft suite.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The anticipated salary range for this position is National $203,000 to $245,000 and, if applicable, Premium Market (SFBA/NYC/Boston Area) $225,000 to $270,000. The actual salary offered will depend on several factors, including experience, qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and business needs.

This position is eligible to participate in Rigel's annual bonus program and is eligible for equity incentive awards, subject to the terms of the applicable plans. This position is not commission-based.

Rigel offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; a 401(k) plan; paid time off; paid company holidays; and other benefits.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk; sit; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.


• WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some travel may be required.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by the law.