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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.

Primary Duties and 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 highlevel 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 onboarding 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.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Cancer Clinical Trials Office (CCTO), ensuring the highest standards of regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and program growth across Cedars-Sinai and the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.

Clinical Operations & Regulatory Oversight

• Provide leadership to ensure all clinical research activities comply with institutional, local, state, and federal regulations, including GCP, ICH, IRB, and NCI/CCSG requirements.
• Oversee the structure, governance, and operational alignment of the CCTO with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.
• Ensure accuracy, quality, and timely reporting of clinical trial data across all CTMS, databases, and tracking systems, including adverse events, serious adverse events, and protocol deviations.
• Perform routine quality checks and audits in collaboration with Quality Management to maintain robust QA/QC programs and support internal and external monitoring visits.

Program Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Partner with Principal Investigators, disease teams, and CCTO leadership to advance clinical research initiatives, improve trial activation timelines, and increase patient accrual.
• Generate and oversee protocol status reports and performance metrics for key stakeholders, including leadership, IRB, and clinical teams.
• Lead initiatives to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, enhance communication, and support continuous process improvement across clinical research operations.
• Support expansion of Cedars-Sinai’s cancer clinical research programs across the broader cancer network in collaboration with institutional leadership.

People Management & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate clinical research staff, including hiring, onboarding, workload management, performance evaluations, and professional development.
• Standardize training, tools, and processes across the Clinical Operations Unit to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture that supports professional growth and accountability.

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee clinical trials financial resources, including budget development, monitoring, and forecasting in collaboration with CCTO and SOCCI finance leadership.
• Prepare and distribute operational and financial reports, including accrual metrics, audit activity, activation timelines, and budget performance.
• Support enterprise-wide research administration initiatives and serve as a pilot for scalable clinical research support services as appropriate.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a liaison between sponsors, CROs, disease teams, and institutional partners to ensure timely communication and resolution of protocol-related issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, representing Cedars-Sinai with professionalism and integrity.

Teamwork, Leadership & Customer Relations

• Collaborates effectively across multidisciplinary teams to solve problems and achieve shared goals
• Establishes strong, trust-based relationships with stakeholders and customers
• Demonstrates responsiveness, accountability, and inclusive practices
• Shares expertise and supports team success across functions

Supervisory & Management Responsibilities

• Directly supervises staff, including hiring, scheduling, performance management, and corrective action as needed
• Plans and assigns work to ensure objectives are met within budget and timelines
• Provides day-to-day leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure high-quality outcomes

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Administration, Nursing, or equivalent work experience required
• 5 years of related supervisory or management experience, with increasing responsibility

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree (MBA or MPH) strongly preferred
• 2 years of experience in finance or budget oversight. Knowledge of general accounting and financial analysis.
• Knowledge of GAAP rules helpful