Executive Director

Inside Higher Ed

Chapel Hill (NC)

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional training opportunities

Health, life, and retirement plans

Job summary

A leading higher education organization in Chapel Hill, NC is seeking an Executive Director to manage the operational activities of the AIDS Clinical Trial Group. The role involves oversight of clinical trials, guidance on financial operations, and collaboration with various health institutions. Ideal candidates will have a Master’s degree and significant management experience within academic medical settings.

Qualifications

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required; Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of experience acceptable.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to manage strategic partnerships with domestic and international sites.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to supervise a large staff.
Excellent written and verbal communications with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day ACTG operations including HR, finance, and operational activities.
Serve as the chief liaison between organizations for clinical trials.
Manage multi-institutional, multimillion dollar translational clinical trials.
Lead planning of highly complex, cross-departmental initiatives.
Communicate with faculty across health sciences disciplines.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Strategic partnerships

Education

Master’s degree in Public Health, Finance or Business Administration

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Executive Director role at Inside Higher Ed

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Hiring Range Dependent on Experience and Qualifications

Position details

Department: SOM Clinical Research Alliance-425701
Career Area: Research Professionals
Posting Open Date: 09/05/2025
Application Deadline: 09/19/2025
Open Until Filled: No
Position Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
Working Title: Executive Director
Appointment Type: EHRA Non-Faculty
Position Number: 20062576
Vacancy ID: NF0009268
Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time Permanent
FTE: 1
Hours Per Week: 40
Position Location: North Carolina, US
Proposed Start Date: 10/06/2025

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose Of Organizational Unit Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research. Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond. Education: We prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce. Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary

The AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) is a cooperative network funded by the NIH Division of AIDS (DAIDS) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to cure HIV and reduce the burden of disease due to HIV and its complications, including tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. The ACTG Leadership Operations Center is the administrative core, overseeing and managing ACTG grants, contracts, budgets, and finance. The ACTG LOC is led by the ACTG Chair and Vice Chair, in addition to the Executive Director to the LOC Administrative Staff.

As Administrative head of ACTG Leadership Operations Center senior leadership team, the Executive Director provides direct oversight of the day-to-day ACTG LOC operations by supervising all human resource, financial, and operations activity for the ACTG LOC. The Executive Director also serves as the chief liaison between UNC and a network of organizations involved in international and multi-institutional clinical trials, including the ACTG Network, the NIAID, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry partners, the Food and Drug Administration, and other relevant regulatory and funding agencies. The Executive Director of the ACTG is responsible for the management, direction, and fiscal oversight of a major clinical trials initiative led by the Chair of the ACTG.

This operation requires coordination of a research and clinical trials infrastructure that includes the fields of virology, immunology, pharmacology, mycobacteriology, specimen banking, clinical trials design, clinical trials data management, and new drug and laboratory testing regulatory affairs.

The Executive Director will lead the management of large multi-institutional, multimillion dollar translational clinical trials currently underway at over 60 sites domestic and international. Primary responsibilities include: serving as the administrative and financial director for the ACTG including serving as a member of the leadership team to administrative operations; oversee all financial operations and annual budgets for the ACTG; oversee all administrative, policy and operational activities including HR and supervision, contracts and grants oversight, and fund management.

The incumbent must be able to lead and participate in the planning of highly complex, multidisciplinary, and cross-departmental initiatives on a national and international level that span both academic and business missions, and must be able to communicate accurately and effectively with faculty from the full range of health sciences disciplines.

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity or professional-level background in sponsored research administration, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

Master’s degree in Public Health, Finance or Business Administration or equivalent work experience.

Administrative/management experience preferably in an academic medical setting.

Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and conceptual direction to the complex multi-institutional clinical trials group.

Outstanding interpersonal skills, ability to handle sensitive human resources issues, and supervises a large and diverse staff in handling these matters.

Excellent verbal and written communications skills to communicate effectively with a large and diverse constituency, including senior hospital administrative staff, ACTG faculty and support staff, representatives of other UNC offices, collaborating institutions officials, granting agencies (NIH, industry and foundations) representatives, and vendors.

Outstanding organizational skills are necessary to manage many competing timetables and responsibilities. Ability to delegate, effectively supervises, and plan for the timely and successful completion of short- and long-term objectives.

Demonstrated skill in management of complex research projects, and experience with establishment of standard research procedures.

Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in a variety of roles, including research design and implementation, policy formulation, and collaborating agencies.

Ability to identify and manage strategic partnerships with domestic and international sites.

Exceptional interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively, diplomatically, and cooperatively with a wide range of international, domestic, and UC VIps, faculty, staff, administrators, and collaborators.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

Expert level experience and thorough knowledge of organizational management theory and practice; financial systems and controls, federal, state, and local reimbursement issues and healthcare regulations, budget management; and the inter-relationships of clinical, teaching, and research activities.

Knowledge of University and other regulatory requirements with other research institutions and governing bodies in the U.S. and foreign countries.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions

Hybrid work schedule is an option.

Seniority level