Research Manager, Research Operations - Clinical Trials

Cedars-Sinai•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

Responsible for the daily planning, organizing, directing and controlling of the operations of assigned area, in order to meet the needs of all customers, Faculty and support of Medical Center goals and philosophies. The Manager, Research Operations assumes fiscal responsibility through preparation of unit budgets, serves as liaison with Faculty and other personnel, promotes the maximum growth and development of each employee, supports research, participates in both strategic and tactical planning. The Manager, Research Operations is accountable to the Department Chair and/or Institute Executive Director and serves as the primary source of information for the department. She/he maintains competency skills including the ability to interact with Faculty and staff within their assigned area, the Medical Center and throughout the Health System. The Manager, Research Operations plans, organizes, manages and controls the daily operations of their area and works closely with departmental leadership, Faculty, Principal Investigators (PIs), staff and students to provide analytical support and project management in fulfilling the established goals and objectives for the department and organization. Strategizes and collaborates with the Director and senior leadership, along with Academic Affairs regarding development and implementation of policies and procedures. Manages and supervises administrative staff; provides leadership coaching, and opportunities for professional development. The Manager, Research Operations facilitates Human Resource (HR) functions for their area by collaborating with the appropriate HR partners for Faculty and department staff recruitment, visa and immigration assistance, employee relations, compensation, and benefits. Cancer Clinical Trials Office Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Cancer Clinical Trials Office, overseeing workflow optimization, staff development, cross‑functional coordination, resource planning, and continuous process improvement to ensure high‑quality, compliant clinical research operations. Oversee operational functions related to training and education, ensuring staff competency, role-based onboarding, continuous development, and adherence to GCP and institutional standards. Manage affiliate site operations, including onboarding, performance monitoring, communication workflows, and support for trial implementation to ensure consistency across the network. Direct patient navigation initiatives, optimizing referral pathways, addressing barriers to enrollment, and coordinating with clinical teams to improve participant experience and accrual. Support regulatory and study activation processes, collaborating with regulatory specialists, study start-up teams, and investigators to streamline workflow, maintain compliance, and meet activation timelines. Team Lead/Supervisory/Management Responsibilities Responsible for hiring, onboarding, managing schedules, personnel actions, performance reviews, and performance improvement plans. Plans, leads, and directs work of staff to ensure goals and objectives are completed within established budget and deadlines are met. Supervises the day-to-day work of employees, assigns work, ensures tasks are completed and deadlines are met. Acts as a team lead to include overseeing the work of others, assigning or allocating work to team, and ensuring tasks are completed according to deadlines and quality standards.

Responsibilities

Ensures compliance with state and federal laws, accreditation, professional and regulatory agency standards and licensure requirements. Maintain staff compliance with medical center policies, procedures and protocols.
Assumes fiscal responsibility for the department including unit budget preparation, labor and supply cost management, and revenue enhancement.
Responsible for tracking and reporting all high-level Capital/Operations projects. Prepares complex or high-level regular and ad-hoc financial reports for the Department Chair and/or Institute Executive Director. Works closely with leadership to develop processes and tools to monitor research funding and activities for the area.
In collaboration with the Department Chair, Institute Executive Director and/or Division Director develops business operations plans for department and for specific programs and services within it.
Supervises the research protocols as mandated for research and ensures optimal levels and continuous improvement of quality within their work area. Maintains appropriate quality management and oversight programs.
Supervises department employees, including responsibility for determining qualifications, hiring, maintaining and improving competence, assigning work, coaching, training (e.g. orientation, in-service and continuing education), evaluating performance, compensation, discipline and terminating employment.
Interact regularly with PIs and staff to assess team needs, provide information and resolve issues.
Promote a team atmosphere and manage staff regarding but not limited to the following: Manage the on-boarding of new lab staff, Develop job descriptions, Conduct employee annual appraisals, Identify staffing needs, Conduct probationary period meetings with new staff, and Counsel, coach and terminate staff as appropriate.
In collaboration with the Institute Executive Director and/or Division Director, develops business and operations plans for department and for specific programs and services within it.
Manages the effective utilization of human resources and supplies within the department, including the development of appropriate staffing and management of productivity. Develop staffing plans in response to research and department activity. Recommend space and other resources for needed services. Participate in the selection of outside sources for needed services.
Collaborates with other research, department and clinical/support service managers in other areas to help foster cross-functional process improvement, collaborative teamwork, open communication and problem solving to ensure the effective coordination and integration of services within and between units.
Works closely with the Office of Research Administration and designated Research Grant Specialist to ensure all grant awards are appropriately managed and maintained for Faculty holding a primary appointment in the area.
Responsible for facilitating the Faculty contracting process in coordination with Academic Human Resources.
Performs all other duties as assigned.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Cancer Clinical Trials Office, overseeing workflow optimization, staff development, cross‑functional coordination, resource planning, and continuous process improvement to ensure high‑quality, compliant clinical research operations.
Oversee operational functions related to training and education, ensuring staff competency, role-based onboarding, continuous development, and adherence to GCP and institutional standards.
Manage affiliate site operations, including onboarding, performance monitoring, communication workflows, and support for trial implementation to ensure consistency across the network.
Direct patient navigation initiatives, optimizing referral pathways, addressing barriers to enrollment, and coordinating with clinical teams to improve participant experience and accrual.
Support regulatory and study activation processes, collaborating with regulatory specialists, study start-up teams, and investigators to streamline workflow, maintain compliance, and meet activation timelines.
Responsible for hiring, onboarding, managing schedules, personnel actions, performance reviews, and performance improvement plans.
Plans, leads, and directs work of staff to ensure goals and objectives are completed within established budget and deadlines are met.
Supervises the day-to-day work of employees, assigns work, ensures tasks are completed and deadlines are met.
Acts as a team lead to include overseeing the work of others, assigning or allocating work to team, and ensuring tasks are completed according to deadlines and quality standards.