Director of Nursing, Clinical Operations

Penfield Search Partners Ltd.; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Penfield Search Partners Ltd. seeks a Director of Nursing to lead clinical nursing operations in a fast-paced oncology and clinical research environment. The role oversees clinic and infusion nurses, nurse navigators, referral intake teams, schedulers, and related staff, ensuring training, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

The position is onsite in one of several U.S. locations (Miami, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Pittsburgh, PA) with approx.

Qualifications

• BSN or equivalent nursing education.
• Active, unrestricted RN license in the applicable state.
• Oncology Nursing Certification (OCN) or equivalent preferred.
• Proficiency in GCP, federal clinical research regulations, and privacy/data protection.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive leadership to clinical and administrative teams including nurses, nurse navigators, schedulers, and referral staff.
• Develop and deliver training programs to ensure competency and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee patient care workflows and compliant clinical research operations.
• Lead study coordinators and clinical researchers; mentor nursing staff and new hires.
• Collaborate with regulatory, quality, and support functions to meet enrollment and visit targets.

Job description

Clinical Operations, Clinical Research | Multiple U.S. Locations AvailableContact: Alexandra Spink - [e-mail] are seeking a Director of Nursing to lead clinical nursing operations within a fast-paced oncology and clinical research environment. This role provides leadership and oversight for clinic nurses, infusion nurses, nurse navigators, referral intake teams, schedulers, and related clinical staff.The Director of Nursing will provide professional guidance and development to nursing and support teams, ensure departmental goals and objectives are achieved, and promote ongoing training, education, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and high-quality patient care.Must be onsite in one of the following locations:Locations: Miami, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Pittsburgh, PASchedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Essential ResponsibilitiesProvide effective, proactive leadership to clinical and administrative team members, including managers, clinic nurses, infusion nurses, nurse navigators, schedulers, and referral intake staff.Develop, implement, and maintain effective training programs and ensure competency across applicable clinical and operational roles.Ensure adherence to organizational policies, standard operating procedures, clinical standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.Promote high-quality, coordinated patient care by supporting timely communication, care planning, scheduling, and follow-up.Provide clinical leadership and guidance to study coordinators, primary nurses, treatment room nurses, and other clinical research personnel.Serve as a nurse educator and preceptor for new clinical research and nursing staff.Develop and deliver training and education programs designed to support quality, compliance, and operational excellence.Ensure efficient, effective processes and systems are in place to support patient care workflows and compliant clinical research operations.Use continuous improvement methodologies to identify operational challenges, improve workflows, and enhance the patient and staff experience.Review incoming clinical research protocols for feasibility from a nursing and operational perspective.Support equitable and effective allocation of studies and responsibilities across clinical research team members.Establish, monitor, and maintain operational standards and performance metrics related to referrals, new patient visits, screening, enrollment, and other key research processes.Partner with clinical and operational leadership to support enrollment growth and identify and address barriers to timely patient access and study participation.Foster effective communication and collaboration with regulatory, quality, site development, pharmacy, finance, and other support functions.Support the effective implementation and utilization of clinical technology systems, including CTMS, EHR, and other platforms necessary for accurate documentation, data capture, and operational management.Provide leadership to nurse navigation functions and support organizational goals related to patient referrals, access, and clinical research enrollment.Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, patient-centered care, and continuous improvement.Required Education and ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent nursing education.Active, unrestricted RN license in the applicable state.Completion of an ONS/ONCC chemotherapy and immunotherapy certificate course.Working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), applicable federal clinical research regulations, and relevant privacy and data protection requirements.Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic clinical documentation systems.Demonstrated leadership experience in a clinical or healthcare setting.Preferred Education and ExperienceAdvanced degree in nursing, healthcare administration, leadership, or a related field.Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification.Previous experience in oncology, hematology, clinical research, or clinical trial operations.Experience leading multidisciplinary clinical teams in a research or specialty-care environment.Physical and Travel RequirementsAbility to travel approximately 5% of the time.Role involves prolonged periods of sitting and computer-based work.Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, changing healthcare environment.Ability to manage competing priorities, demanding deadlines, and time-sensitive patient and operational needs.Commitment to maintaining current clinical, regulatory, and operational knowledge.Frequent collaboration with physicians, nurses, research personnel, and ancillary healthcare professionals involved in oncology and hematology patient care.Salary Range: $140,000-200,000About the OrganizationThe organization operates specialized clinical research sites focused on advancing new therapies and improving access to innovative treatment options. Clinical teams work closely with physicians, research professionals, patients, and industry partners to conduct clinical trials across a range of therapeutic areas, with a particular focus on oncology and early-phase research.The organization is committed to maintaining high standards of patient care, research quality, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence while helping accelerate the development of new therapies.