The Associate Director Clinical Research Services (CRS) is a critical member of the Office of Clinical and Community Trials (OCCT) leadership team. Provides administrative leadership strategic planning and operational management for clinical research support units (CRSUs) within Stanley Manne Childrens Research Institute. The responsibility will include strategic administrative and fiscal responsibilities associated with the management of Clinical Research Service Units (CRSUs) within their portfolio including oversight of research staff. This position will have responsibility and oversight CRSUs budgets and reporting human resources processes and general administrative support. Interacts with all levels of research scientific and executive leadership and operational management to plan organize lead monitor and optimize the financial administrative support of research related regulatory compliance and effective enterprise-wide and internal communications and operations and supports a culture of compliance in research. Liaises with Research Business Office Institutional Review Board and other key constituents throughout the Research Institute and Hospital.

Essential Job Functions:

• Leads the daily operations of their CRSU portfolio in partnership with the Division Administrators Department Division and Section Heads Director-OCCT Scientific Director-OCCT Medical Director-CRU Research Faculty and other research institute and hospital leaders. Supervises the staff associated with their CRSUs within the clinical research service line.

• Collaborates with leadership and other key stakeholders to develop and implement a strategic vision and goals and objectives for the CRSUs in the research institute.

• Manages existing funds including philanthropic funds and external research funds associated with the Divisions research programs. Collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Programs Lurie Childrens Foundation and Finance (SRFO) in setting up of new grants and ongoing management.

• Develops and oversees all contractual arrangements working with outside partners and Lurie Childrens administrative departments on the creation of work plans contracts memoranda of understanding feasibility reviews job descriptions etc.

• Oversees all educational symposia for their CRSUs.

• Partners with Fellowship Directors to ensure fellows are well-supported in their annual research projects. This includes education on how to conduct research and support for research projects.

• Collaborates with the Research Grants Specialist on the development of new grant proposals and provides guidance as needed for pre and post award documents and reports as needed.

• Collaborates with the Research Administrative Coordinator who facilitates and supports basic science research programs associated with the Division.

• Collaborates with the Clinical Research Finance and Research Operations and Conducts services lines within OCCT.

• Oversees processes in collaboration with HR including recruitment onboarding evaluation and tracking of research staff within their CRSU portfolio.

• Serves as liaison to other Manne Research Institute/Lurie Childrens administrative departments (e.g. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation Institutional Review Board Accounting Office of Sponsored Programs Human Relations etc.).

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.

• Five or more years of experience with progressive research administration leadership; experience in clinical research preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to manage simultaneous project plans personnel and budgets.

• Strong analytical interpersonal and oral and written communication skills required.

• High degree of initiative and creativity preferred.

• Ability to take initiative and work independently.

• Experience independently planning and managing projects; excellent attention to detail; ability to establish priorities and react promptly to a large variety of requests and needs sometimes on short notice.

• Proven ability to analyze issues and formulate and implement action plans.

• Ability to establish priorities and react promptly to a large variety of requests and needs sometimes in stressful situations.

• Must be self-directed with an in-depth understanding of the organizational goals. Demonstrated strong leadership skills. Ability to lead in a collaborative and facilitative style.

• Solution oriented with proven record of managing large scale research projects with diverse complexity required.

• Ability to quickly reason with information to solve new unfamiliar problems or independent of any prior knowledge.

• Exceptional ability to distill complex compliance issues so it is understandable to the lay audience required.

• Ability to handle high volume of work with changing priorities and constant interruptions and establish priorities and deadlines required. Masters degree and/or certification through Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) or Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) Certified Research Administrator (CRA)/Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA) preferred.

• Personal computer skills; functional experience with integrated software systems and proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Strong working knowledge and skills in EPIC Redcap Workday and other standard research databases.