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Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs in Washington

ACT Associate Director

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$90K - $105K/yr

As an Associate Director of the ACT Program, you will support the Director in providing administrative, clinical, and operational oversight for the ACT team. This role focuses on ensuring high ...

... Associate Director of Clinical Operations along with the US Site Head. Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland Responsibilities: Participates in the planning, implementation and management of pre-IND ...

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Associate Director Clinical Operations information

See Washington salary details

$68K

$165.3K

$320K

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 Washington is $165,324.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,500.00 and $196,500.00 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 Washington? For Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Associate Director Clinical Operations job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Director Clinical Operations job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $165,324 per year, or $79.5 per hour.

Associate Director, Clinical Operations

Technical Resources International, Inc

Bethesda, MD โ€ข On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

Job Title
Associate Director, Clinical Operations
Location
Bethesda, MD 20817 US (Primary)
Category
Clinical Operations
Job Type
Full-Time
Salary Range
$130,000-175,000/YEAR
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Travel
None
Job Description
  • Oversight of clinical operations activities, including one or more of the following: clinical project management, clinical site management (essential regulatory documents, study start up, site monitoring), and/or clinical systems management (CTMS, TMF documentation review/ collection) with an understanding and working knowledge of regulatory (FDA requirements, GCPs/ICH guidelines), data management/ analysis, and scientific/ technical writing processes and requirements.
  • Supports one or more government or commercial contracts in multiple therapeutic areas, e.g., infectious disease (vaccines and therapeutics), oncology, medical device or drug abuse.
  • Responsible for project management oversight for multiple functional areas within one or more complex drug development programs while managing deliverables within budget and to well-defined timelines.
  • Effectively communicates in a matrix management organization with the ability to represent the clinical team during cross-functional collaboration.
  • Provides operational expertise to support program/project level functional areas.
  • Collaborates with Director and other departments and leads on clinical operations strategy and vision to support clinical trial activities.
  • Informs division leadership on the overall status of clinical programs/projects and of potential issues/mitigation
  • Ensure documentation of processes and workflows are being followed and occurring within projected timelines and determine course of action to prevent and remediate delays. Identify gaps and propose solutions to improve efficiency and quality of deliverables. Maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
  • Support and comply with the company's Quality Management System policies and procedures. Drives innovative project and company performance improvement solutions, including corrective and preventive (CAPA) actions, as needed. Perform risk-based quality content reviews and monitor internal/external KPIs, as required by the client.
  • Contributes to Corporate Initiatives, e.g., streamline and process improvement, SOP development
  • Includes line management responsibility and staff hiring activities. Responsible for resource management, tracking, and level of effort projections for one or more groups in the clinical operations department and/or project functional areas.
  • Participate in proposal writing for government and commercial clients, budget development, and bid defense meetings, as needed.
  • Supports inspection readiness of the organization and assists in department audit preparation, post inspection activities implementation and follow up.

Job Requirements
  • Broad multidisciplinary understanding of the pharmaceutical clinical research and development processes with hands on regulatory, clinical operations, or clinical trial monitoring/management experience, e.g., clinical study design, conduct, management, reporting, and/or product development life cycle.
  • Able to mentor staff and achieve high quality performance through risk management/ mitigation and implementation of corrective/ preventive actions, as needed.
  • Strong facilitation, presentation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills; including ability to keep up with changing priorities, seasoned oral and written communications skills, strong attention to detail with ability to QC information, and experience in the use and development of clinical research databases/ systems/ tools.
  • Strong leadership skills including change management, people development, strategic thinking, and influencing.
  • Advanced ability to manage team resources to ensure attainment of department objectives.
  • Expertise in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel is required, and experience with Microsoft Project.
  • Proposal writing and bid defense skills a plus.
  • Background in Infectious Disease/HIV clinical trials and/or Oncology; or experience in the conduct of Phase 1 protocols or prior work on a government contract, is a plus.
  • 10 years minimum experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry including Contract Research Organization (CRO) or other clinical trials or research environment, e.g., hands on regulatory, clinical operations (in-house CRA or study coordinator), site monitoring, or TMF experience, including at least 6 years of project management (PM) or equivalent clinical trials and operations management experience.

We are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers, committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under state or local law.