Associate Director, Central Clinical Operations

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Clinical Research 

Adams Clinical is a leading clinical trial site network committed to accelerating the development of life-changing medicines. Our mission is simple: deliver uncompromising data quality, safety, and diverse enrollment to advance healthcare. Our vision is to set the gold standard for clinical trial excellence. We believe our people make the difference. Guided by our core values—Scientific Rigor, Operational Excellence, Commitment to Sponsors and Participants, and Authentic Collaboration—we create an environment where meaningful work drives meaningful change. 

At Adams Clinical, you’ll find: 

• A culture of respect, transparency, and continuous improvement 
• Opportunities for professional growth and learning 
• A team dedicated to improving lives through innovation and integrity 

If you’re passionate about making an impact in clinical research and want to be part of a collaborative, mission-driven organization, we’d love to have you on our team. 

Job Role 

The Associate Director, Central Clinical Operations leads the central functions that directly support study execution across the Adams Clinical network, including data management, training and development, project management, and study startup. The role is responsible for ensuring these functions are well developed and aligned with the needs of site clinical operations, working together to support overall study readiness and execution, maintain strong data quality, and staff training and role readiness. 

The Associate Director will lead the development and ongoing growth of the Central Clinical Operations function, including hiring and onboarding leaders, establishing clear expectations and performance measures, and building the processes and infrastructure needed to support the network. The role identifies opportunities to strengthen collaboration across Central Clinical Operations and site Clinical Operations, particularly around study startup, site readiness, and study execution. The Associate Director also works cross-functionally with Quality & Regulatory, Business Development, Clinical Science, and other departments to address operational gaps and implement effective, scalable solutions. 

Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, the Associate Director will oversee the teams responsible for training, data management, central clinical coordination and project management, and study startup. The role will work closely with Site Managers and clinical leadership to understand operational needs, align central support with site priorities, and ensure effective coordination between Central Clinical Operations and site Clinical Operations to support consistent study execution and overall network performance.

Key Responsibilities 

Building & Operationalizing Central Operations Functions 

• Lead the development and buildout of the Central Clinical Operations function, establishing the teams, structure, processes, and infrastructure needed to support the growth and operational complexity of the Adams Clinical network.
• Lead the transition of Study Startup ownership from Business Development to Clinical Operations, establishing clear roles, workflows, and handoffs between Business Development, Central Clinical Operations, and site Clinical Operations. Identify historical gaps between study startup activities, site readiness, and operational needs.
• Own the hiring, onboarding, and first-year productivity of newly established Central Clinical Operations roles (e.g., Training Specialist, Data Manager, and Study Startup Project Manager), ensuring the right talent is hired and developed with clear expectations, performance measures, and 30/60/90-day goals to deliver high-impact work from day one.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, workflows, and handoffs between Central Clinical Operations and site Clinical Operations, ensuring functions are structured around operational needs and accountability is clearly established. 

Team Development & Performance Management 

• Identify opportunities to optimize how Central Project Management, Training, Data Management, Central CRC II, and Start Up functions intersect to improve coordination, efficiency, and network-wide operational performance.
• Supervise and develop managers through regular one-on-ones, coaching, and feedback. Establish clear expectations, performance metrics, development goals, and growth pathways while supporting them in strengthening and scaling their respective teams and functions.
• Monitor team and function performance against established metrics, using performance data and operational feedback to identify trends, address issues early, drive corrective action, resource alignment, process improvements, and continued development of Central Operations capabilities.
• Travel to sites as needed to gather firsthand feedback on Central Operations performance and needs, using real-time site insights to inform team structure, development, and resource priorities. 

Network Alignment & Cross-Functional Engagement 

• Facilitate collaboration across Central and site Clinical Operations, Site Leadership, Quality & Regulatory, Business Development, Clinical Science, and other functions to ensure Central Clinical Operations remains aligned with site and network needs and effectively supports operational priorities.
• Build and implement processes, tools, systems, and reporting that improve operational consistency and provide visibility into site and network performance.
• Partner closely with Site Managers to ensure Central Clinical Operations processes are informed by site needs and feedback, involve sites in process design, and provide clear communication on the purpose, expectations, and impact of new processes and changes.
• Identify and address cross-functional gaps, including those between central guidance and site execution, Study Startup and site readiness, data quality and training, and project management and operational delivery. 

Study Execution, Readiness, and Quality 

• Establish and monitor key performance for Central Clinical Operations functions across study execution, startup, data quality, and training (e.g., staff training completion and demonstrated competency, data quality performance, query resolution timelines and database lock readiness, Central CRC enrollment and study health, and Study Startup timelines and readiness).
• Lead network-wide Study Startup and site readiness, ensuring clear ownership, consistent standards, effective cross-functional handoffs, and timely transition from study initiation through activation and execution.
• Oversee network-wide data management operations, ensuring data quality, timeliness, database lock execution, and audit readiness are consistently maintained across sites in accordance with regulatory and sponsor requirements.
• Develop network-wide training and competency programs, including LMS curricula, onboarding, competency tracking, and site training delivery, ensuring staff are appropriately trained and prepared to meet study, operational, and regulatory requirements. 

Qualifications 

Required: 

• Must be available to work standard East Coast business hours.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 5+ years of extensive onsite clinical research experience (e.g., as a Clinical Research Coordinator, Site Manager, or equivalent clinical operations role), with demonstrated ability to understand site workflows, operational challenges, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proven experience hiring, coaching, and developing managers, with strong people leadership and interpersonal skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, establish accountability, and build capability, particularly when scaling new roles or functions.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse stakeholders (e.g., site staff, sponsors, network leaders) and translate technical information clearly.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, including study execution, site workflows and SOPs, regulatory and GCP requirements, EDC/eSource systems, and data quality standards.
• Experience managing or coordinating across multiple functions (e.g., data management, training, project management) to support shared goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to translate operational pain points into process improvements.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to design solutions in a fast-changing environment where processes are still being developed.
• Willingness to travel to network sites as needed and take a hands-on approach to operationalization, implementation, and site feedback. 

Preferred: 

• Neurology or psychiatry therapeutic area experience.
• Experience working within a multi-site clinical research network or managing geographically distributed teams.
• Background or familiarity with study startup, activation, or readiness processes.   
• Experience managing functions such as data management, training, or project management.
• Experience in a CRO or sponsor operations environment, providing perspective on broader clinical operations practices and standards.  
• Experience with process improvement tools, LMS platforms, and operational workflow or project management systems. 

Pay: $120,000-$150,000, commensurate with expereince

Benefits: 

• 401(k) matching 
•  Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance 
•  Employee assistance program 
•  Flexible spending account 
•  Health insurance 
•  Health savings account 
•  Life insurance 
•  Paid time off 
•  Parental leave 
•  Professional development assistance 

 Adams Clinical is committed to being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We focus on hiring and nurturing top talent. All employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline, and termination, are made based on the candidate's or employee's qualifications relevant to the position. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status. 

In compliance with federal law, all individuals hired must, as a condition of employment, provide documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States and complete Form I-9 within the required timeframe. Adams Clinical participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.