Associate Director, Research Operations - Women's & Guerin Children's

Job Description

Come join our team! Cedars-Sinai is hiring an Associate Director of Research Operations for Women's & Guerin Children's. Learn more:

• Guerin Children's Research
• Center for Research in Women's Health Science

What will you be doing in this role?

This Associate Director will be responsible for administrative oversight of both basic science and clinical research, including clinical trials. This role is responsible for the daily twenty-four (24) hour planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of the daily operations of assigned areas, to meet the needs of all customers and support the Medical Center philosophies. They are accountable to the service area Executive Director. The Associate Director serves as liaison with medical staff and other personnel, promotes the maximum growth and development of each employee, supports research, participates in strategic planning, both long and short term, and assures patient advocacy. The Associate Director guides staff in meeting customers' needs consistent with the Medical Center's philosophy, mission, vision, and strategic plan, and The Plan for Provision of Patient Care, The Performance Improvement Plan, and Professional Organization Standards. They maintain competency skills, including the ability to interact with customers with diverse cultural backgrounds.

What are the Primary Duties and Responsibilities?

• Monitors department & research operations ensuring appropriate governance & compliance with local, state and federal laws, accreditation, professional and regulatory agency standards, and licensure requirements. Maintains staff and department compliance with medical center policies, procedures, and protocols and external regulatory, legal, and financial agencies.
• Assumes fiscal responsibility for the department, which includes unit budget preparation, labor and supply cost management, and revenue enhancement.
• Collaborating with the Executive Director, develops business and operations plans for the unit and for specific programs and services within it.
• Supervises employees, including responsibility for determining qualifications, hiring, maintaining and improving competence, assigning work, coaching, training (e.g., orientation, in-service and continuing education), evaluating performance, compensation, discipline, and terminating employment in collaboration with Laboratory Directors.
• Maintains constructive collegial relations within the service line, division, and research/clinical/support medical staff, including research employees and research administrative management.
• Collaborates with other Managers in cross- functional process improvement, collaborative teamwork, open communication, and problem-solving to ensure the effective coordination and integration of services within and between units.
• Handles the effective utilization of human resources & supplies within the unit, including the development of appropriate staffing and management of productivity. Develops staffing plans in response to patient volume and activity. Recommends a sufficient number of qualified and competent persons to provide care. Recommends space and other resources & participates in selecting outside for needed services.
• In partnership with leadership, responsible for planning, monitoring, and managing program fiscal budgets and financials, and resolving or escalating issues.
• 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.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Serve as the administrative liaison for research efforts throughout the health system and with external funding sources and regulatory agencies. Develop and promote productive working relationships with CROs, vendors, and clinical trial sites.
• Oversee and facilitate pre- and post-award management and grant transfers in conjunction with the Cedars-Sinai Office of Research Administration (ORA).
• Assemble and lead multi-disciplinary study management teams charged with establishing project goals for protocol development & trial implementation.
• Provide PIs with administrative and financial support during protocol development and budgetary planning.
• Review budgets for completeness and accuracy prior to submission to external agencies. Facilitate communication between research and clinical teams to ensure understanding & compliance with protocol documentation and internal charge capture.
• Collaborates with Human Resources to recruit research personnel. Supervises staff, in a dotted line reporting relationship, and conducts staff performance evaluations. Ensures compliance with required competencies and training. Serve as a liaison to Immigration Services for immigration specific issues. Provides mentorship and growth opportunities for staff by fostering a cohesive environment.
• Evaluate transferred or new research-related equipment purchases for compatibility with CSMC facilities. Collaborates with Clinical Engineering, EIS, and Safety to ensure proper space allocation and compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements.
• Assist PIs in effectively managing grant and clinical trial funds. Ensure time and effort reporting compliance with research awards.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and opportunities for professional development to facilitate self-directed work processes, collaboration, and focus on quality research practices and patient care outcomes.
• Promotes an organizational focus by establishing goals consistent with organizational goals, facilitating collaboration and coordination for interdepartmental problem-solving, and supporting new concepts that enhance the functioning of area operations.
• Functions as a positive, creative, and effective leader, actively participating in performance improvement activities and consulting in the implementation of education programs.
• Assures that their area of responsibility maintains a customer focus by serving as a role model with consistent focus on customer relations, providing feedback regarding positive and negative customer comments, and participating in customer satisfaction initiatives.
• Recognizes the worth of their human resources and uses them effectively. Maintains a positive work climate, ensures appropriate staff education, promotes an environment that fosters self-directed staff, assists employees to develop and contribute to the organization, and applies human resource policies fairly and consistently.

Qualifications

Education, Experience & Skills Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in related field required. Master's Degree in Healthcare Management, Business or related field preferred.
• Five (5) years of management in research operations or related experience required.
• Research operations & research finance experience is a must.
• Strong basic science research background & clinical research knowledge is desired.