Manager Research

Arkansas Children’s Hospital; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkansas Children's Hospital seeks a Research Manager to lead the Maternal and Early Nutrition for Optimal Growth and Development (MEND) Core at the Nutrition Center, overseeing a multidisciplinary clinical research operation and complex studies, including longitudinal projects and randomized controlled trials.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, data integrity, and staff development, with collaboration across investigators and institutional leadership to translate protocols into

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5+ years of related experience with leadership readiness.
• Master's degree recommended; ASPIRE-like leadership development is a plus.
• CRS certification required within 1 year of date of hire; CRS program familiarity beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the multidisciplinary clinical research portfolio.
• Oversee participant recruitment and retention, regulatory compliance, and data quality.
• Manage budgets, personnel, and infrastructure; drive continuous improvement and audits.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Clinical research

IRB/GCP

Data management

Budgeting

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

CRS certification

Job description

ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S IS A TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE. FLU VACCINES ARE REQUIRED. ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, PROTECTED VETERAN STATUS OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC PROTECTED BY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS. THIS POSITION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS SAFETY SENSITIVE AND CANNOT BE FILLED BY A CANDIDATE WHO IS A CURRENT USER OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

Work Shift: Please see job description for details. Time Type: Full time Department: CC038351 ACRI ACNC General Salary Summary: The Maternal and Early Nutrition for Optimal Growth and Development (MEND) Core at Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center is seeking an experienced Research Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a multidisciplinary clinical research operation supporting innovative maternal and child nutrition studies, including complex longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials.

The Research Manager will be responsible for the coordinated and compliant delivery of the MEND research portfolio. This position will lead supervisors responsible for clinical research activities, participant recruitment and retention, laboratory and biospecimen operations, dietary assessment and interventions, data quality, regulatory compliance, and research infrastructure. The Manager will establish operational priorities, develop supervisors and research staff, align workforce and resources with investigator priorities, oversee study feasibility and delivery, manage performance and risk, and drive continuous improvement. A central responsibility of this role is maintaining effective systems for regulatory compliance, research documentation, data integrity, quality assurance and quality control. The Research Manager will work with supervisors and study teams to standardize workflows, monitor protocol adherence and data quality, identify and address operational risks, prepare for audits and monitoring activities, and support corrective and preventive actions when needed.

The Research Manager will serve as a key operational partner to investigators and institutional leadership translating study protocols into practical, participant-centered workflows.

The successful candidate will combine strong people leadership with a working knowledge of clinical research regulations, trial operations, research data management, and continuous quality improvement. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience managing clinical research operations and supervising team leads or supervisors. Candidates should possess a strong working knowledge of human-subjects research protections, Good Clinical Practice, IRB and regulatory documentation, protocol implementation, source documentation, research data collection and entry, and risk-based QA/QC practices. Experience supporting longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials, and multidisciplinary research teams is strongly preferred.

Additional Information: The Research Manager's primary responsibility is managing and overseeing critical functions of a research program or system. This includes creating annual budgets, managing personnel, reporting, compliance, and development. Ensures all research studies and or programs are carried out according to regulations. Position will work closely with senior management.

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Recommended Education

Master's Degree

Required Work Experience

5 years of related experience; demonstrated leadership readiness through either prior leadership experience or, for internal candidates, successful completion of the ASPIRE program.

Recommended Work Experience

Leadership - 4 years of progressively responsible leadership experience preferred.

Required Certifications

Certified Research Specialist (CRS) - UAMS, CRS certification required within 1 year of date of hire - CRS certification required within 1 year of date of hire

Recommended Certifications

• Description 1. Manages activities of clinical and non-clinical research program staff.
• Description 2. Ensures studies and/or systems are staffed appropriately and clinical protocols are followed.
• Description 3. Leads efforts for audits and compliance reviews.
• Description 4. Has extensive knowledge of applicable regulations and guidelines.
• Description 5. Creates annual budgets, tracks and forecasts expenditures and looks at infrastructure needs to support the growth of the program
• Description 6. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Arkansas Children's is driven by four core values - safety, teamwork, compassion and excellence which inform every action. Arkansas Children's Hospital has received Magnet Status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), for nursing excellence and patient outcomes. And we are nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery and Urology. For more than a century, Arkansas Children's has met the unique needs of children.

But we are more than just a hospital treating sick kids - our services include two hospitals, a pediatric research institute, foundation, clinics, education and outreach, all with an unyielding commitment to making children better today and healthier tomorrow.

Arkansas Children's Little Rock campus includes a 336-bed hospital with the state's only pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center, burn center, Level 4 neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care, as well as a nationally-recognized transport service. And Arkansas Children's Northwest provides inpatient and emergency care, clinic rooms and diagnostic services to children in that corner of the state.

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