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Research Operations Managers/Supervisors (as applicable); Clinical Research Coordinators and ... Direct research administration, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, education, and continuous ...

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Director Clinical Research Operations information

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$60K

$146K

$282.5K

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

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for director clinical research operations in the United States is $145,969.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $173,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director clinical research operations do?

A Director of Clinical Research Operations oversees the planning, execution, and management of clinical research studies within an organization. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, managing budgets and timelines, and leading teams of clinical research professionals. Their role includes collaborating with cross-functional departments, optimizing operational efficiency, and maintaining high standards of data quality and patient safety throughout the clinical trial process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director clinical research operations?

To thrive as a Director of Clinical Research Operations, you need extensive knowledge of clinical trial management, regulatory compliance, and a background in life sciences or a related field, often supported by an advanced degree and significant industry experience. Familiarity with clinical trial management systems (CTMS), electronic data capture (EDC) tools, and certifications such as CCRA or CCRP are typically required. Strong leadership, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure effective oversight of complex research projects, regulatory adherence, and successful collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

What are some common challenges faced by a director clinical research operations, and how can they be effectively managed?

A Director of Clinical Research Operations often faces challenges such as balancing regulatory compliance with operational efficiency, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring timely study delivery within budget constraints. To address these, it’s important to establish robust communication channels, develop standardized processes, and foster a collaborative environment with clinical staff, regulatory affairs, and sponsors. Staying updated on evolving regulations and investing in team training also help in proactively managing these complexities, ensuring both compliance and successful study outcomes.

What is the difference between Director Clinical Research Operations vs Clinical Research Manager?

AspectDirector Clinical Research OperationsClinical Research Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple clinical projects, strategic planning, and department leadershipManages daily clinical trial activities, site coordination, and team supervision
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in life sciences, extensive experience, often certificationsBachelor's degree, relevant experience, certifications preferred
Work EnvironmentSenior leadership in pharmaceutical or biotech companiesOperational teams within clinical research sites or CROs
Industry UsageUsed in large organizations for strategic rolesCommon in mid-sized to large research organizations

The main difference is that the Director Clinical Research Operations focuses on strategic oversight and leadership of clinical research activities, while the Clinical Research Manager handles day-to-day trial management and site coordination. Both roles require relevant experience and certifications, but the director position involves broader organizational responsibilities.

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Director Clinical Research Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Clinical Research Operations job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,969 per year, or $70.2 per hour.

Director Clinical Research Operations

Arkansas Childrens Hospital

Little Rock, AR

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Arkansas Children's Hospital rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 58 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

302nd of 1,060 rated hospitals

Job description

ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S IS A TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE. FLU VACCINES ARE REQUIRED. ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, PROTECTED VETERAN STATUS OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC PROTECTED BY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS.

This position has been designated as safety sensitive and cannot be filled by a candidate who is a current user of medical marijuana.

CURRENT EMPLOYEES: Please apply via the internal career site by logging into your Workday Account (https://www.myworkday.com/archildrens/)and search the "Find Jobs" report.

Work Shift:

Please see job description for details.

Time Type:

Full time

Department:

CC033020 Clinical Research OperationsSummary:Develops, oversees, and ensures strategic growth of a large, multidisciplinary clinical research organization which includes operational clinical research services (feasibility, study start-up, budget development and negotiation, regulatory, clinical research coordination, research nursing support, invoicing and close-out) and the growth and maintenance of the clinical research infrastructure (including Clinical Trial Management System implementation and maintenance) for the organization. The Director is responsible for developing and overseeing organizational strategy and goals, providing strategic leadership, building and modeling a high-performance culture with strong engagement within sub-departments. Intermediary between the sponsor, study PI and ACRI contracts office to ensure legal documents are processed.Additional Information:

Provides strategic and operational leadership for a large, multidisciplinary clinical research organization of 10 direct reports and approximately 90 indirect reports. Oversees the full clinical research portfolio, including study start-up, regulatory, coordination, research nursing, and financial operations, as well as the clinical research technology ecosystem.

Leads organizational strategy, drives operational excellence, and fosters a high-performing, engaged culture. Serves as a key liaison to leadership, sponsors, and partners, strengthening collaboration and advancing research operations. Ensures effective governance, financial oversight, compliance, and process standardization to support data-driven decisions and a high-quality, efficient research enterprise.

Required Education:Bachelor's DegreeRecommended Education:Master's DegreeRequired Work Experience:Related Field - 7 years with 5 years of leadership experienceRecommended Work Experience:Required Certifications:Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) - Association of Clinical Research ProfessionalsRecommended Certifications:Registered Nurse (RN) license - Arkansas or Compact StateDescription

1. Leads a multidisciplinary clinical research organization, partnering with internal and external investigators, institutional leadership, and key stakeholders to advance research initiatives.

2. Drives strategic growth of clinical research by developing and executing a multi-year clinical trials strategy; establishes annual targets for study start-up, enrollment, capacity, and throughput, and leads change management efforts to scale operations.

3. Oversees clinical research operations across multiple sub-departments, including clinical research coordination, pediatric clinical research unit, investigational drug services, regulatory services, study start-up, budget development and negotiation, and research systems utilization.
4. Ensures regulatory compliance and operational excellence by applying deep knowledge of federal regulations and the clinical research environment to support safe, efficient, and high-quality research with a strong focus on transparency, customer service, and continuous improvement.
5. Serves as the primary operational liaison with internal and external partners, including ACRI, ACH, UAMS, sponsors, CROs, consortia, and clinical leadership; promotes clinical research operations, expands partnerships, attracts sponsors, supports funding opportunities, and strengthens investigator engagement, performance, and integration.

6. Establishes and governs research operations frameworks, including centralized feasibility, pipeline management, and study prioritization; optimizes resource allocation through workload and capacity modeling to improve activation and enrollment timelines.
7. Builds and leads a high-performing team by overseeing recruitment, training, performance management, and engagement initiatives; fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and results-driven culture.

8. Partners across departments to standardize and enhance research feasibility and start-up processes; ensures compliance with regulatory, financial, and legal requirements while maintaining continuous inspection readiness.

9. Provides financial leadership for clinical research operations, including budgeting, forecasting, pricing, coverage analysis, compliant billing, invoicing, and accounts receivable; supports data-driven portfolio and investment decisions to expand and accelerate clinical research.


10. Performs other duties as assigned in alignment with the scope and level of the role.

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