Director Research Operations & Standardization

OSF Healthcare; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 86,292 - 114,340; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

OSF Healthcare is looking for a Director of Research Operations & Standardization to lead operational excellence within its research enterprise. This role focuses on process standardization, workforce development, and ensuring high-quality research conduct across all facilities.

The ideal candidate will have at least 7 years of clinical research experience and 3 years in leadership roles, alongside certifications in research management. A hybrid work model is provided, along with competitive pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• 7 years progressive experience in clinical research operations within a healthcare or academic medical center environment.
• 3 years in a formal leadership role overseeing research coordinators, managers, or operational teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and track operational KPIs and performance dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for operational excellence and process standardization across the research enterprise.
• Establish standardized operational frameworks and training infrastructure.
• Drive alignment with ministry standards and improve performance across the system.

Skills

Interpersonal and communication skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Project management

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, biological/life sciences, or related field

Master’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, business administration, or related field

Tools

Epic research functionality

Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)

REDCap

iRIS

Job description

Total Rewards

"Your life - our Mission"

OSF HealthCare is dedicated to provide Mission Partners with a comprehensive and market-competitive total rewards package that includes benefits, compensation, recognition and well-being offerings that focus on the whole person and engage with their current stage of life and career. Click here to learn more about benefits and the total rewards at OSF.

Expected pay for this position is $62.64 - $83.00/hour. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. This is a Salaried position.

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Research Operations & Standardization provides ministry-level leadership for operational excellence, process standardization, and workforce development across the OSF HealthCare research enterprise. This role establishes standardized operational frameworks, performance expectations, and training infrastructure to ensure consistent, high-quality research conduct across all OSF facilities. Operating within a hybrid model, the director partners with site-based research leaders to drive alignment with ministry standards, improve performance, and strengthen operational consistency across the system. This role collaborates closely with Research Compliance and Research Financial & Systems leaders to ensure research operations are efficient, compliant, and sustainable.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, biological/life sciences, or related field.

Experience:

• 7 years progressive experience in clinical research operations within a healthcare or academic medical center environment.
• 3 years in formal leadership role overseeing research coordinators, managers, or operational teams.
• Demonstrated experience standardizing multi-site operational workflows.

Licensure/ Certification:

• Current Research Certification such as: SOCRA (Society of Clinical Research Administration), ACRP (Association of Clinical Research Professionals), HCCA (Health Care Compliance Association), etc. – expected within 1 year of hire in the job.

Other Skills/ Knowledge:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Solid computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial activation processes, study lifecycle management, and enrollment operations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and track operational KPIs and performance dashboards.
• Strong project management and change management capabilities.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment within a matrixed organizational structure.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Familiarity with research systems such as, but not limited to, the following: Epic research functionality, CTMS (Clinical Trial Management System), REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), iRIS (Integrate Research Information System)/Cayuse.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, business administration, or related field.

Experience:

• Experience operating within a hybrid centralized research model.
• Experience with change management (including conflict management).
• Experience supporting oncology, industry-sponsored, or FDA-regulated research.

Licensure/ Certification:

• Lean or Six Sigma certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Research Compliance Related Certification (e.g. Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance – CHRC).

Other Skills/ Knowledge:

• Knowledge of clinical research operations, study data management, and electronic data capture (EDC) systems.
• General understanding of medical terminology. Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS), REDcap, Participant Payment Solution, Cosmos, and/or other research software systems.

OSF HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer.