Registered Dietitian - Clinical Research (Part-Time)

CenExel; Anaheim (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

CenExel Clinical Research in Anaheim, CA is seeking a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) to support our multi-site studies with nutrition oversight for dietary interventions, metabolic assessments, and nutrition endpoints.

The RD collaborates with investigators and staff to implement protocol requirements, develop nutrition procedures, conduct screening and counseling, create meal plans, monitor adherence, and ensure data quality and regulatory compliance across sites.

Qualifications

• Must communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Current RD/RDN credential required.
• 1–3 years of clinical nutrition experience preferred.
• Experience in clinical research or metabolic studies is a plus.
• Knowledge of GCP, IRB processes, and protocol-driven research desirable.

Responsibilities

• Review protocols to identify nutrition requirements for dietary interventions and dietary assessments.
• Develop standardized nutrition procedures and tools for consistency across sites.
• Support feasibility assessments by evaluating site capabilities for nutrition-related activities.
• Conduct nutrition screening, assessments, and counseling per protocol guidelines.
• Develop meal plans including controlled diets and metabolic feeding regimens.
• Monitor adherence to dietary protocols and document deviations per GCP.

Skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Independent multi-site work

Education

Registered Dietitian credential (RD/RDN)

Tools

Nutrition software

EMRs

Dietary analysis tools

Job description

About Us:

Each of CenExel's research sites specialize in Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials. Our Centers of Excellence comprise some of the most well respected and long-standing research facilities in the country. Specialty areas of research across our sites include Psychiatry, Acute Post Op Pain, Asian Bridging, Dermatology, GI, and Neurology. Each of our Centers of Excellence has tremendous experience and expertise in complex early phase trials, and all our sites have in-patient capability. We focus on quality people, teamwork, and highly experienced clinical research managers with a history of success.

Hourly Range: $30.00/hr - $34.00/hr (depending on education, experience, and skillset)

Schedule: Monday - Friday (20 - 25) hours a week - 08:00 am -12:00 pm

Job Summary:

The Registered Dietitian (RD) supports the multi-site clinical research network by providing expert nutrition oversight for research protocols involving dietary interventions, metabolic assessments, or nutrition-related endpoints. The RD collaborates with investigators, coordinators, and operational teams to ensure nutritional components of studies are implemented accurately, consistently, and in compliance with protocol requirements, regulatory standards, and ethical guidelines.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Reviews research protocols to identify and interpret all nutrition-related requirements, including dietary interventions, nutritional assessments, biospecimen collection related to nutrition, and meal-controlled feeding.
• Develops standardized nutrition procedures, documentation, and tools to ensure consistency across network sites.
• Supports feasibility assessments by evaluating site capabilities for nutrition-related activities (e.g., metabolic kitchen, specialized diets, equipment).
• Conducts nutrition screening, assessments, and counseling for study participants per protocol guidelines.
• Develops individualized or protocol-specific meal plans (including controlled diets, macronutrient-specific diets, allergen-controlled diets, and metabolic feeding regimens).
• Monitors participant adherence to dietary protocols and document deviations according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
• Oversees accurate and consistent collection of nutrition-related data such as dietary intake records, anthropometrics, body composition metrics, and metabolic measurements.
• Ensures all diet-related procedures comply with IRB, FDA, and study sponsor requirements.
• Maintains high-quality documentation and audit-ready records across all network sites.
• Partners with principal investigators, study coordinators, nurses, and other clinical staff to implement protocol-specific nutrition workflows.
• Trains site personnel on nutrition procedures, dietary recording methods, and use of nutrition assessment tools.
• Serves as the nutrition subject matter expert for multi-site conference calls, site initiation visits, and monitoring visits.
• Collaborates with central research administration to develop standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for nutrition and metabolic unit operations.
• Works with purchasing and vendor management teams to ensure standardized food products and supplements across all network sites, when applicable.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving nutritional protocol adherence and study participant experience.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations governing nutrition practice in research.
• Maintains current knowledge of emerging nutrition science relevant to active or upcoming studies.
• Adheres to ethical research practices, GCP, and confidentiality requirements.
• Supports and ensures strictest adherence to best practices, FDA Code of Federal Regulations, ICH (International Conference on Harmonization), GCP (Good Clinical Practices), CenExel standard operating procedures, site working Practices, protocol, and company guidelines and policies.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities as assigned. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this classification and are not to be considered as all inclusive.

Education/Experience/Skills:

• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Current Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential.
• 1-3 years of clinical nutrition experience preferred.
• Experience in clinical research, academic medical centers, or metabolic studies strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with GCP, IRB processes, and protocol-driven research highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of clinical nutrition, dietary assessment methods, and therapeutic diets.
• Expertise in interpreting research protocols and applying nutrition science in controlled research settings.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work collaboratively across investigators, clinicians, and operations teams.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proficiency with nutrition software, EMRs, dietary analysis tools, and research documentation platforms.
• Ability to work independently across multiple sites and manage competing priorities.

Working Conditions

1. Indoor, Clinic environment.
2. Essential physical requirements include sitting, typing, standing, and walking.
3. Lightly active position, occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
4. Reporting to work, as scheduled, is essential.
5. May involve on-site, hybrid, or remote responsibilities depending on study needs.
6. Travel to network sites for training, monitoring, and study support may be required.

CenExel Clinical Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or status.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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