Senior Director, VICTR

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (VICTR) within Vanderbilt University Medical Center seeks a Sr. Director to provide high-visibility, high-impact leadership aligned with strategic objectives.

The role integrates and manages activities across clinical/translational science to improve health and health equity. The position requires experience in clinical/translational research, strong leadership, and ability to coordinate multi-site initiatives with diverse stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in a clinical/translational research setting.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic operational execution and optimize efficiency across activities.
• Advocate for Vanderbilt Health as sponsor for clinical trials and pursue enterprise partnerships.
• Serve as primary point of contact with sponsors for requests and issue resolution.
• Ensure budget, regulatory compliance, quality management and cross-site coordination.
• Coordinate Joint Steering Committee meetings and track decisions and actions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

People Management

Budget & Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health :With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world‑class care to the people of the Mid‑South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniquenesscelebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

VICTR

Job Summary

VICTR Sr. Director

JOB SUMMARY
Provide high-visibility, high-impact leadership according to VICTR and VUMC strategic objectives. Integrate, oversee, and manage activities that support the spectrum of clinical/translational science with the goal of improving health and health equity.

About the Department

The Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (VICTR) is Vanderbilt’s virtual home for clinical and translational research. Supported by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Office of Research and the NIH-sponsored Clinical and Translational Service Award (CTSA), the mission of the institute is to transform the way ideas and research discoveries make their way from origin to patient care. VICTR functions to help researchers and clinicians do their jobs better by providing tools and support to improve the quality of research, publications, grant writing, and training for future doctors and researchers.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive strategic operational execution and optimal efficiency for required activities. This includes the development and implementation of strategic plans, communication and collaboration with stakeholders, monitoring and measuring the success of activities, and providing information and recommendations to VICTR and VUMC leadership.
• Advocates for Vanderbilt Health as a preferred partner for the sponsor’s clinical trials and leads efforts to pursue an enterprise partnership that would encompass a large portion, if not all, of the sponsor’s clinical trials portfolio.
• Serve as primary point of contact with sponsors for requests and issue resolution across the portfolio of active and pending projects.
• Act as a liaison between VICTR and sponsor leadership, scientific study teams, OCM/legal, finance, regulatory, and other institutional groups to ensure smooth operations and compliance.
• Ensures budget/financial stewardship, audit/CAPA readiness, SOP adherence, quality management systems, and regulatory/institutional compliance across all sites.
• Manage Joint Steering Committee meeting co-coordination, prep, execution, and follow‑up including tracking decisions and action items.
• Co‑develop, track, and regularly report on alliance metrics.
• Co‑develop project proposal/budget templates, evaluation criteria, voting mechanisms, and documentation of outcomes.
• Support partnership project teams as needed to expedite processes, access necessary resources, resolve issues, and report on alliance metrics.
• Ensure continuous process improvement through application of lessons learned across projects.
• Gather prioritization and capability information from Vanderbilt faculty for future projects
• Provides day‑to‑day oversight of multi‑site execution, process improvement, cross‑department coordination (IRB, contracting, budgeting, data, regulatory), capacity planning, and removes operational barriers.

Technical Capabilities

Leadership (Expert)

Independently develop goals and objectives for the department based on interpretation of institutional policy and goals. Ensures work supports the vision and mission of the institution. States precise goals, ensures the commitment of individuals to those goals, defines the methods of measurement, and provides the incentive to accomplish measurable outcomes.

Operations & Strategic Planning (Expert)

Oversee development and execution of programs and projects. Ensures the most effective operation of the department through program development, process improvement and coordination/integration of processes with other departments. Applies in‑depth business knowledge across multiple areas of the business. Anticipates resource needs to meet objectives and implements appropriate processes.

People Management (Expert)

Formulates a vision while motivating & guiding employees promoting engagement. Interacts, communicates, builds relationships and develops employees. Creates and environment that models the mission, vision, values and culture of the organization supporting staff learning, self-development and measurable performance standards.

Business Results, Quality and Compliance (Expert)

Defines and achieves financial targets in support of business goals. Identifies, establishes and evaluates quality assurance standards, programs, and procedures within department. Maintains official records and documents and ensures compliance with VUMC policies and regulations. Achieves business results while focusing on quality, customer satisfaction, and stewardship. Understands the rules, regulations, sanctions and other statutory requirements, guidelines and instructions relating to governing bodies and organizations, both internally and externally. Develops a systematic process of checking to see whether a process or service meets specific requirements.

Strategic Planning, Judgment and Decision Making (Advanced)

Defines a strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources. Makes decisions effectively and accurately in an environment which may be fast‑paced or changing. Consider a wide range of alternatives, including those which may fall outside of the scope of the task at hand, before making a decision.

Qualifications

Education/Training

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field or equivalent experience (Required) (Master’s or PhD strongly preferred)

Experience

7 years of progressively responsible experience in a clinical/translational research setting (Required)

Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.

At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Establishes function strategies with direct impact on the function results.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Directs the resolution of numerous strategic issues that affect own function and the broader organization.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies in-depth business knowledge across multiple areas of the business.
• Team Interaction: Leads a function serving the organization at large.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues:

• Develops Self and Others: Acts upon constructive feedback from all levels of the organization and initiates strategies to develop talent in others.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships: Leverages relationships and insight to forecast potential future needs and influence delivery of work to exceed expectations.
• Communicates Effectively: Anticipates difference audience concerns, styles and finds mutually beneficial solutions across conflicting and sensitive issues. Delivering Excellent Services :
• Serves Others with Compassion: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of broad‑based issues and considers the interests of others to improve satisfaction of services.
• Solves Complex Problems: Critically evaluates complex information and identifies trends/risks to make recommendations to improve processes across areas.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing feedback and development discussions to motivate and support team members to maximize performance.
• Performs Excellent Work: Anticipates problems or obstacles which may interfere with quality standards and develops plants to ensure area’s quality standards are met.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Routinely draws upon valuable learning from others, past experiences, and new information to determine key opportunities.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Develops appropriate corrective actions for unsafe environments in order to ensure operational and safety compliance.

Managing Resources Effectively:

• Demonstrates Accountability: Identifies potential obstacles to goal achievement and develops solutions to address those obstacles.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Creates the appropriate systems and processes to effectively manage resources.
• Makes Data Driven Decisions: Applies in-depth knowledge of data to recommend and implement new approaches to improve decision making capabilities.

Fostering Innovation:

• Generates New Ideas: Identifies opportunities and leads development of new initiatives that create value across areas.
• Applies Technology: Creates the energy and drive for self/others to identify and leverage technology in new, innovative ways to drive greater efficiencies.
• Adapts to Change: Anticipates the change process and clearly communicates impact on others/own team(s), assisting them in embracing the change.

Position Qualifications

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level: 7 years

Education: Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well‑being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed tofosteringan environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.