Strategic Research Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Southwest Women’s Oncology | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Clinical trials are not a side program. They are how medicine moves forward.

For patients facing gynecologic cancer, access to a clinical trial can mean access to a treatment that doesn't yet exist anywhere else. It can mean hope. It can mean more time.

Southwest Women’s Oncology is building a clinical research program commensurate with our clinical reputation - rigorous, patient-centered, and built to last. The Clinical Research Director will front that effort: building the infrastructure, developing the team, establishing the partnerships, and setting the standard for how great oncology research gets done.

This is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up within an organization that already has clinical excellence, physician leadership, and institutional commitment. We hire for attitude and aptitude above all else. Credentials matter, but who you are and how you grow matter more.

Southwest Women’s Oncology (SWWO) is New Mexico’s leading gynecologic oncology practice, delivering advanced cancer care with skill, courage, and compassion.

Optimum Human and Optimum Infusion extend that mission into performance medicine, infusion services, longevity, recovery, hormone optimization, medical weight loss, peptide therapies, hyperbaric medicine, aesthetics, and human performance.

Together, we operate as a single integrated platform committed to one mission:

We exist to deliver new possibilities in medical care, human performance, and health by uniting passion, knowledge, and skill.

This is not a maintenance role. You are building something.

As Clinical Research Director, you will design and lead the clinical research vertical at SWWO-establishing the strategy, systems, team, and relationships that will define what this program becomes. You will work at the intersection of scientific rigor, operational excellence, and patient impact, partnering with:

• Gynecologic oncology physicians serving as Principal Investigators
• Pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, and cooperative group partners
• Clinical Research Coordinators, data specialists, and research support staff
• Executive leadership and the broader Optimum platform
• Regulatory bodies including FDA, NIH, and IRB

You will have the authority, the resources, and the leadership support to build a program that changes what’s possible for patients in New Mexico and beyond.

Strategy & Program Leadership

• Build, scale, and manage the clinical research vertical within SWWO, developing long-term strategy, infrastructure, and resourcing plans.
• Partner with the Executive Team to align research strategy with organizational goals and clinical priorities.
• Evaluate new research opportunities and develop business cases for study selection, site expansion, and external partnerships.

Trial Operations

• Lead the full lifecycle of clinical trials-feasibility, start-up, recruitment, execution, monitoring, and close-out.
• Oversee study budgets, billing compliance, and financial performance; ensure accurate reporting and forecasting.
• Maintain compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA, NIH, IRB, and all institutional requirements.
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for research operations.

Team Development

• Hire, onboard, mentor, and manage a team of Clinical Research Coordinators, data specialists, and research support staff.
• Build a culture of excellence, accountability, scientific integrity, and continuous improvement within the research team.
• Oversee performance management and professional development for all direct reports.

Sponsor & Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as primary liaison for pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, investigators, and regulatory agencies.
• Support Principal Investigators in protocol execution and ensure appropriate documentation and data integrity.
• Represent SWWO in research networks, professional associations, and at industry conferences.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure all research is conducted ethically and adheres to institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Oversee audit readiness, inspection preparation, and corrective action processes.
• Identify and implement process improvements and emerging technologies to optimize research operations.

First 90 Days

• Deep working knowledge of existing research activity, infrastructure gaps, and near-term trial opportunities.
• Strong relationships established with physician investigators, executive leadership, and key external partners.
• A clear 12‑month program development roadmap presented and aligned with leadership.

First 6 Months

• Active trials operational and enrollment on track.
• Research team structure defined, hired, and performing.
• SOPs, compliance frameworks, and billing processes in place and audit‑ready.

First Year

• A research program that is recognized, respected, and growing.
• Measurable patient enrollment, sponsor relationships, and trial portfolio expansion.
• A team and a culture that reflects the Optimum Standard.

We want people who bring relentless positivity, a hunger to learn, and the drive to elevate everyone around them. You will likely thrive if:

• You take ownership rather than waiting for direction.
• You believe details matter.
• You enjoy solving problems and seek continuous improvement.
• You care deeply about patients and their families.
• You value teamwork and accountability equally.
• You’re coachable, curious, and committed to mastery.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a health science, life science, or related field.
• 10+ years of clinical research experience, including 5+ years in a leadership or director‑level role.
• Proven ability to build, scale, and manage a clinical research program or site.
• Deep understanding of ICH‑GCP, FDA, NIH, and clinical research compliance standards.
• Experience coordinating Phase II–IV therapeutic drug or device trials.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience with clinical research budgeting, billing compliance, and contract management.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Prior experience leading oncology or gynecologic oncology clinical trials.
• CCRP, CCRC, or equivalent certification.
• Established relationships with pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, or cooperative research groups.

We act with courage and embrace accountability.

We serve with precision and hold ourselves to impeccable standards - then raise them.

We reject mediocrity and the comfort of "good enough."

We measure success not only by outcomes, but by the integrity, excellence, and humanity we bring to every interaction.

Way Better. Extraordinary by Design.

If you crave mastery, meaning, and measurable impact - welcome home.

• Competitive salary
• Health benefits
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Professional development and continuing education support
• Opportunity to grow within the Optimum Platform

This is a full‑time, on‑site position at our Albuquerque, New Mexico office.