Director - Oncology Research Finance

Ochsner Health; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ochsner Health in New Orleans seeks a Director – Oncology Research Finance to provide leadership for oncology clinical trials. You will manage trial activation, budgeting, and financial strategies to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in clinical research and oncology operations. A Bachelor's degree is required, and a Master's is preferred. This position offers opportunities for impactful work in an evolving environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years clinical research administration experience.
• 6+ years oncology research operations preferred.
• Experience with budgets, contracts, and regulatory startup processes.

Responsibilities

• Direct oncology trial activation operations from feasibility through site activation.
• Oversee financial aspects of sponsored oncology research.
• Evaluate opportunities for financial viability and staffing capacity.

Skills

Clinical research administration experience

Oncology research operations

Budgeting and contract management

Experience with CTMS systems

Leading cross-functional teams

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

OnCore

EPIC

Job description

The Director – Oncology Research Finance provides strategic and operational leadership for the end‑to‑end activation of oncology clinical trials across industry, cooperative group, investigator‑initiated, and translational research portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

Trial Activation Leadership

• Direct oncology trial activation operations from feasibility through site activation.
• Establish startup performance metrics, dashboards, and accountability standards.
• Identify delays across budgeting, contracting, regulatory, committee review, and system build processes.
• Lead process redesign initiatives to reduce activation cycle times.
• Ensure timely movement through PRMC, IRB, coverage analysis, budgeting, contracting, and system builds.

Sponsored Research Finance Strategy

• Provides strategic planning for the financial aspects of sponsored oncology research.
• Oversees development of budgets for industry, translational, foundation, and federally funded studies.
• Provides detailed estimates of charges and costs for standard‑of‑care and research‑related activities, ensuring oncology‑specific labor costing models are used.
• Performs financial feasibility analyses for new opportunities.
• Reviews negotiated budgets to ensure alignment with institutional policies and operational needs.
• Oversees budget amendments and financial impact assessments.

Portfolio Optimization

• Evaluate incoming opportunities for financial viability, staffing capacity, and strategic fit.
• Support prioritization of high‑value treatment and early phase studies.
• Monitor study startup pipeline and projected activation inventory.
• Provide leadership recommendations regarding portfolio balance and resource deployment.

Contracts / Cross‑Functional Execution

• Partner with legal/contracts teams to prioritize and accelerate oncology agreements.
• Escalate delays impacting enrollment opportunities or sponsor commitments.
• Coordinate activation milestones across multiple departments.

Systems / Data Infrastructure

• Oversee operational use of CTMS and related systems supporting startup.
• Ensure budget information is accurately entered into the clinical trial management system.
• Support reporting capabilities for activation timelines, finances, accrual readiness, and productivity.
• Collaborate on OnCore / EPIC integration initiatives and workflow improvements.

Leadership and Talent Development (Team Management)

• Direct managers and operational leaders within the Oncology Trial Activations team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, service standards, and professional development plans.
• Build a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and operational excellence.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare reports and presentations for the Director and Oncology Cancer Institute leadership.
• Communicate startup risks, opportunities, revenue projections, and operational trends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• 6+ years clinical research administration experience.
• 6+ years oncology research operations strongly preferred.
• Experience with budgets, contracts, regulatory startup, CTMS systems.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• OnCore expertise.
• EPIC research billing / integration experience.
• Oncology startup leadership.

Success in Year 1

• Faster trial activation.
• Stronger budget recovery.
• Better contract speed.
• Real‑time operational visibility.
• Reduced barriers impacting the clinical trial lifecycle.
• Higher investigator confidence.
• Increased revenue opportunity.
• Scalable infrastructure.

Within 12 months, this role is expected to build a high‑performing oncology startup infrastructure that measurably reduces activation timelines, increases revenue opportunity, and creates sustainable operational scalability.

Physical and Environmental Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sedentary work – exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue and as part of their employment, incumbents are not called upon to assist in emergency care or first aid. There is no occupational risk for exposure to communicable diseases. Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste.

Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance‑related concerns.

The employer 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, protected veteran status, or disability status.