Director, Clinical Research

The Director of Clinical Research serves as a senior leader within the Office of Clinical Research (OCR) at the University of South Florida (USF). This role is responsible for the oversight and integration of clinical research operations, including pre- and post-award administration, clinical trial management systems (CTMS), reporting and analytics, and stakeholder engagement across USF Health and its affiliated entities. The Director provides strategic leadership to ensure clinical research is conducted efficiently, ethically, and in full compliance with institutional policies and federal regulations.

 Strategic Leadership & Program Development:
-Develop and implement strategies to enhance clinical research infrastructure, streamline study activation, and support enterprise-wide research growth.
-Collaborate with senior leaders across USF, Tampa General Hospital, and other affiliates to align research operations with institutional priorities.
-Lead strategic initiatives to support scalable, sustainable research operations across all phases of the clinical trial lifecycle.

Operational Oversight:
-Oversee all operational functions within the OCR, including feasibility, intake, coverage analysis, budget development, contract negotiation, regulatory, post-award management, and the clinical trial management system.
-Provide leadership and direction to OCR Assistant Directors, ensuring accountability, performance management, and professional development across teams.

Reporting & Analytics:
-Lead the development and maintenance of dashboards and performance reports to monitor key clinical research metrics (e.g., study volume, activation timelines, financials, enrollment).
-Provide regular reports to executive leadership, department chairs, and external partners to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
-Ensure transparency and data-driven accountability across the clinical research enterprise.

Stakeholder Engagement:
-Serve as a key liaison to principal investigators, department administrators, sponsors, and contract research organizations (CROs).
-Promote excellent customer service, timely communication, and collaborative partnerships throughout the research community.

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree in a related field.
•    7+ years of related experience
•    A minimum of three (3) years managerial experience.

Preferred Qualifications: 

Master's degree in a health-related field, public health, business, or related discipline with a minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership experience in clinical research. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage large-scale operational initiatives. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills. Proven ability to navigate complex organizational structures and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an
alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

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