Program Operations Director, Solid Tumor Program

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion.

The Program Operations Director is a high-level career position which is responsible for the fiscal management, clinical and daily operations of research projects conducted by solid tumor faculty employed by the Clinical Research Division of Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The Program Operations Director of the Solid Tumor program oversees the administrative team who provides support to the faculty within the program.  The position oversees and provides support in grants and contract management (Pre- and Post- Award), budget development, negotiation and monitoring, regulatory administration, and general day-to-day operations of the program faculty. This position requires understanding of oncology research protocols and translation of the research needs into operations. The financial portfolio is comprised of various sources of NIH, foundation, industry, professional society, internal pilot, subawards, and institutional support and includes regulated activities.

This position will report to the Associate Vice President in the Clinical Research Division, with a dotted line to the CRD Section Head of the Solid Tumor program, and will act independently in performing responsibilities, partnering with program faculty and interfacing with other departments as needed to provide comprehensive research administration.  This position works independently in developing operational goals and determining courses of action to accomplish goals. They also advise faculty (PIs) and the Associate Vice President on relevant matters, develop effective solutions to administrative challenges, and provide input to broader program and division planning as needed.

This role is expected to be present in person on the South Lake Union Seattle campus at least 3 days per week in general.

Responsibilities

Funding Source Administration

• Responsible for oversight of all pre- and post-award operations for each faculty in their assigned portfolio, providing operational oversight of the administrative implementation and financial management of interventional clinical research studies and associated agreements within the Program.
• Manage and oversee the fiscal and operational lifecycle of clinical trial protocols, from study implementation through closeout, which includes tasks such as:
  • Create, negotiate, and finalize budgets based upon protocol requirements.
  • Partner with clinical sites of practice to obtain research pricing.
  • Facilitate Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) review in conjunction with General Counsel, escalate CTA language as needed.
  • Collaborate and develop strong working relationships with Clinical Research Support (CRS) staff to implement trials, hand off post award work and budgetary oversight, when appropriate.
  • Collaborate with and oversee clinical research staff to ensure appropriate logistical implementation of protocols within our clinical sites of practice. Attend study implementation meetings.
  • Collaborate with colleagues at the University of Washington who could be involved in pre- and/or post-award operations.
  • Tracking and auditing of participant research procedures to ensure compliance with Medicare coverage requirements.
  • Amend and negotiate budget