Research Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

If you're someone who genuinely enjoys owning clinical trials from start to finish and takes pride in keeping complex studies running smoothly, this could be a great fit. We're looking for a Clinical Research Program Manager who brings strong experience in clinical trial operations-someone who understands what it takes to move a study forward from start-up through closeout. You'll be stepping into a collaborative, supportive team environment where your expertise in multi-site trial management, protocol and database development, and overall study lifecycle execution will be valued and relied on. To set you up for success, we're looking for at least five years of clinical trial management experience, including three years leading multi-site studies.

In this role, you'll partner closely with CROs, vendors, and cross-functional teams, building strong relationships that help drive studies forward with clarity and efficiency. This is a growing department, so there's real opportunity to shape how work gets done, contribute ideas, and expand your impact over time. If you're looking for a place where your experience is respected, your voice matters, and your career can continue to grow alongside a strong team, we'd be glad to connect.

Responsible for directing and managing Cedars-Sinai's multi-site clinical coordinating center. Provides leadership, guidance and direction for the day-to-day clinical research operations and activities, including authority to make independent decisions regarding program operations, administration, and governance.

Ensures compliant, efficient, and effective conduct of the clinical trials within the portfolio. Establishes, implements, and evolves operational standards and monitors quality and progress of the clinical coordinating center.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees and/or manages a multi-site clinical coordinating center with a robust portfolio of trials. Responsible for program development and expansion. Plans and implements program operations, determines and develops governance, processes and/or guidelines, coordinates program activities and timelines, and determines and organizes resources to meet program objectives.
• Identifies and defines any logistics, action items, changes, or information needed to effectively manage the program. Identifies barriers to timely study activation, efficient coordination, and participate to identify/implement potential solutions. May identify program participants and lead cross-functional teams in the administration, maintenance or expansion of the program.
• Interfaces with internal and external key stakeholders including other departments, leaders across the organization, representatives from external agencies/organizations in the management of the program to provide guidance, resolve issues, grow the program, and/or implement processes and/or solutions.
• Identifies growth opportunities and further efficiencies that impact the program and/or departments success and aids in development of strategic plans to achieve objectives. Manages study intake process, evaluates feasibility, and providing recommendations or making decisions to support the success of the clinical research program. Interfaces with internal/external stakeholders to maintain and further develop program growth, community outreach activities, as well as relationship building and maintenance.
• Researches and analyzes data for evaluating performance of program or program operations, including quality assurance and trends. Makes recommendations to leadership and/or implements program changes based on findings. Provides data and/or summary findings to program participants, stakeholders, leadership, and/or cross-functional teams. Performs quality oversight of clinical trials and external sites to include monitoring progress of screening, enrollment, and data submission. Responsible for ensuring protocol compliance and training of staff supporting the program.
• Plans and supports the department/program leaders during an audit, to include direction for audit prep and any required follow up post audit.
• Evaluates requests for program exceptions or changes, and determines response, escalating as necessary.
• Assesses communication and training needs, develops and implements any applicable communication, education, training, on-boarding and/or mentorship pertaining to the program. Provides regular communication to departments and leaders across the organization. Notifies stakeholders of any changes to the program. May work with cross-functional teams across multiple departments to develop communication and training materials.
• In conjunction with leadership, responsible for planning, monitoring, and managing program fiscal budgets and financials, and resolves or escalates issues.
• Responsible for the clinical trial life-cycle of multi-site, investigator initiated trials. Including start-up, planning, and management.
• Maintains data system integrity and ensures quality assurance measures are followed based on departmental standard operating procedures. May provide ad hoc reporting to support recommendations observed through trend analysis for future planning and enhancements.
• Monitors program to ensure appropriate governance and program compliance with local, state and federal laws; accreditation, professional and regulatory agency standards and licensure requirements. Maintains staff and program compliance with organizational policies and procedures. Monitors compliance reporting tools and provides summary status reports to the Research Manager, and other stakeholders.
• May manage staff and/or lead the work of others, including some or all of the following: recruitment, on-boarding/off-boarding, training, performance management and professional development of staff.

Join our team in a fully onsite role where your expertise in clinical research operations will have a direct impact. We are seeking a candidate with at least five years of experience in management, program, or project management, ideally within a clinical research setting. In this role, you will lead and support multi-site clinical trial start-up and management, working closely with cross-functional stakeholders to drive studies forward efficiently and compliantly. Experience with both industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated trials is highly valued, as you will contribute across a diverse portfolio of studies. This is an opportunity for a detail-oriented, proactive professional who thrives in a collaborative, hands-on environment and is ready to take ownership of complex clinical trial operations.

Minimum:

• High School Diploma or GED
• 5 years of experience in Management, Program Management, Project Management, or a related field
• 3 years of related experience in a clinical research or industry setting

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare, Management, or a related field
• 1 year of experience managing clinical trial operations
• SOCRA or ACRP certification is preferred; candidates who do not currently hold certification are expected to obtain it within a designated timeframe following hire.