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Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs in California

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Associate Director Clinical Operations information

See California salary details

$59.2K

$144.1K

$278.8K

How much do associate director clinical operations jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director clinical operations in California is $144,058.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,700.00 and $171,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does an associate director clinical operations typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a clinical trial?

An Associate Director of Clinical Operations regularly works alongside teams such as Regulatory Affairs, Data Management, Medical Affairs, and Biostatistics to ensure trials run smoothly and meet compliance standards. They coordinate project timelines, facilitate communication between departments, and address operational challenges as they arise. This collaborative approach helps to streamline decision-making, resolve issues quickly, and keep the clinical trial on track for successful completion.

What does an associate director clinical operations do?

An Associate Director of Clinical Operations oversees the planning, execution, and management of clinical trials within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device company. They supervise clinical project teams, ensure regulatory compliance, manage budgets and timelines, and collaborate with cross-functional departments to deliver high-quality results. Their role is crucial in ensuring that clinical studies are conducted efficiently, safely, and in accordance with all applicable guidelines and standards.

What is the difference between Associate Director Clinical Operations vs Clinical Project Manager?

AspectAssociate Director Clinical OperationsClinical Project Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple clinical trials, manages teams, and ensures regulatory complianceManages individual clinical projects, coordinates activities, and tracks progress
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in life sciences, often with experience in clinical operationsBachelor's in life sciences, with project management experience
Work EnvironmentSenior-level role within clinical operations teams, often in biotech or pharma companiesProject-focused role, working closely with cross-functional teams in clinical settings

The Associate Director Clinical Operations typically oversees multiple clinical trials and manages teams, requiring broader strategic oversight. In contrast, a Clinical Project Manager focuses on managing specific projects, ensuring timely execution. Both roles require relevant clinical experience, but the Associate Director role involves higher-level leadership and operational responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director clinical operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Director Clinical Operations, you need expertise in clinical trial management, regulatory compliance, and strong leadership, typically supported by a degree in life sciences or a related field. Familiarity with clinical trial management systems (CTMS), GCP guidelines, and project management tools is essential, along with relevant certifications like PMP or ACRP. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and team-building skills enable effective cross-functional collaboration and decision-making. These skills are vital for ensuring the successful planning, execution, and oversight of clinical trials while meeting regulatory and organizational goals.
What are popular job titles related to Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in California? For Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs? Cities in California with the most Associate Director Clinical Operations job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Director Clinical Operations job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,058 per year, or $69.3 per hour.

Associate Director, Clinical Operations

N-Power Medicine

Redwood City, CA โ€ข On-site

$175K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

About N-Power Medicine
N-Power Medicine aims to establish a new paradigm in drug development by reinventing the 'how' and transforming clinical trials through Prospective External Control Arms, better integration with clinical practice, and broader participation by physicians and patients. We are building an exceptional multi-disciplinary team with diverse expertise spanning healthcare, engineering, technology and regulatory, and with people who share our core value of Empowering Community through generosity, curiosity and humility. We are working with urgency to bring better therapies to patients faster.
Position Overview
NPM is looking for an exceptional Associate Director, Clinical Operations with an appetite for hands-on development of clinical study management processes and study execution. As an Associate Director, Clinical Operations at NPM, you will collaborate closely with the Senior Director, Pharma Delivery Operations to play a pivotal role in establishing clinical study management necessary to drive NPM's critical applications in clinical trials and community oncology.
You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including Clinical Science, Compliance, Network Operations, Quantitative Science, and Pharma Delivery Operations to develop processes that support the efficient and effective conduct of clinical studies at our Network Partner sites, from planning to close out.
This is a hybrid role; Bay Area preferred, remote considered for the right candidate.
Role Objectives and Responsibilities
  • Lead and oversee the strategic planning, implementation and execution of clinical trials and external control arms across multiple programs in accordance with project timelines, budget, and quality standards
  • Develop and manage comprehensive program project plans, including but not limited to, study protocols, clinical trial budgets, timelines, enrollment and risk mitigation strategies
  • Collaborate cross functionally with internal teams, including Clinical Science, Compliance, Network Operations, Quantitative Science, and Pharma Delivery Operations to ensure alignment on clinical trial objectives and milestones
  • Provide operational expertise and strategic input into the development of Clinical Development Plans (CDP), supporting the overall clinical strategy for the program
  • Serve as the point of contact for clinical suppliers, overseeing their performance and ensuring adherence to contractual agreements, timelines and quality standards
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, ICH-GCP requirements, and company SOPs throughout all stages of clinical trial conduct
  • Oversee the collection, analysis and interpretation of clinical trial data, working closely with Clinical Science, and Quantitative Science teams to ensure data accuracy and integrity
  • Oversee the eTMF, ongoing quality review and final reconciliation of study documents including review of site regulatory documents/packages
  • Oversee the development and execution of NPM's biospecimen and imaging programs
  • Contribution to the development of clinical trial management best practice processes and SOPs
  • Hire, train and develop the Clinical Operations team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Education, Experience, Behavioral Competencies, & Skills
  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in business, life sciences, or related field preferred
  • 8 - 10 years of experience in clinical operations, delivery/program management, or client operations within biotechnology, healthcare, life sciences, or oncology clinical research
  • Expertise in global regulatory and compliance requirements for clinical research, including but not limited to US CRF and ICH GCP
  • Experience working with EDC, CTMS, CTFM, and eTMF systems preferred
  • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and adapt to changes
  • Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem solving skills
  • Able to engage in strategic business discussions and craft executive-level communications and materials.
  • Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
  • Generous, Curious & Humble

Travel Requirements
  • Up to 10% of time required to travel in role to support NPM site personnel, attend Face to Face company wide meetings

Pay Information
The expected salary range for this position is $175,000 and $195,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. N-Power Medicine (NPM) offers equity at hire as well as a discretionary annual bonus which may be available based on Company performance. This position is eligible for company benefits.
More About Us:
We are a mission-driven, well-funded, rapidly growing company, eager to attract passionate professionals offering a highly attractive compensation package with a balanced and flexible work environment, competitive industry benefits as well as a 401K plan and other great company "perks."
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. The Company will not sponsor applicants for work visas
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.