About The Role

About Us

At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers , and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Job Posting Title

Director of Clinical Operations

Position Type

Professional / Unclassified

Department

LSUPBRC ExD - Core Resources Services (Jennifer Rood (00000102) (Inherited))

Work Location

LSU - Pennington Biomedical

Pay Grade

Professional

Job Description

Pennington Biomedical Research Center , a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Director of Clinical Operations in the Clinical Trials Unit.

The Director of Clinical Operations serves as the senior operational leader for the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), providing strategic, operational, financial, and administrative oversight for a comprehensive clinical research enterprise. This role is responsible for ensuring the efficient, compliant, and high-quality execution of clinical research activities across the study lifecycle while aligning operations with institutional priorities and growth objectives.

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team and oversees workforce planning, resource management, financial performance, operational excellence, quality improvement, and clinical research infrastructure. Working closely with investigators, research teams, clinical partners, sponsors, and institutional leadership, the Director ensures research programs are effectively supported and positioned for success.

As a key strategic partner, the Director advances the clinical research mission through process optimization, capacity planning, stakeholder collaboration, and organizational development. The ideal candidate is an experienced clinical research or healthcare operations leader with a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, manage complex operations, and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Major Responsibilities

Direct and oversee the operations of the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), ensuring the safe, efficient, compliant, and high-quality execution of clinical research activities across the study lifecycle.
Provide strategic leadership for clinical research operations, including study feasibility, implementation, resource planning, operational infrastructure, and organizational growth.
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary workforce, including organizational design, staffing, employee development, succession planning, performance management, and engagement initiatives.
Establish and optimize operational processes, systems, and performance metrics to support consistent study execution, operational excellence, service quality, and continuous improvement.
Oversee departmental budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of financial, personnel, technology, facility, and operational resources.
Monitor operational, quality, and compliance performance; identify risks and opportunities; and implement corrective actions to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and Good Clinical Practice standards.
Collaborate with investigators, institutional leadership, sponsors, and research partners to support study operations, strategic initiatives, capacity planning, and sustainable program growth.
Provide leadership in the development and implementation of new research programs, services, and infrastructure that enhance organizational capabilities and research support.
Represent the CTU in institutional, academic, industry, and community partnerships, fostering relationships that advance the clinical research mission and expand organizational opportunities.
Prepare and present operational, financial, workforce, and performance reports and recommendations to executive leadership to support strategic decision-making.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in clinical research, healthcare administration, nursing, public health, business administration, life sciences, or a related field.
Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research, clinical operations, research administration, or a closely related field, including experience leading clinical research operations.
Demonstrated experience leading clinical research programs, clinical trials operations, or complex healthcare operations in a clinical or research environment.
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple priorities, resources, and projects in a complex, fast-paced setting.
Strong knowledge of clinical research operations, regulatory requirements, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and applicable research quality standards.
Experience developing and implementing operational processes, performance metrics, resource management strategies, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to analyze operational and performance data, identify risks and opportunities, and implement data-driven solutions to improve outcomes.
Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in clinical research, healthcare administration, public health, business administration, nursing, life sciences, or related discipline.
Experience leading a Clinical Trials Unit, Clinical Research Unit, academic research center, hospital-based research program, or similar research operation.
Experience overseeing both inpatient and outpatient clinical research operations.
Experience supporting investigator-initiated, federally funded, and/or industry-sponsored clinical trials.
Experience with study start-up, feasibility assessment, contract and budget coordination, recruitment operations, monitoring visits, audits, and study closeout.
Experience developing clinical research infrastructure, standard operating procedures, performance metrics, and quality management programs.
Professional certification such as CCRP, CCRC, or equivalent clinical research certification.
Experience working in an academic medical center, biomedical research institution, university, hospital, or other research-intensive environment.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

Additional Job Description

Competencies

None

Special Instructions

Interested candidates should include a resume and a list of three (3) professional references to the online application. Professional references should be the name, title, company, and contact information from past employers. Professional references should include current or previous supervisors and/or coworkers. Personal references should not be considered for the reference check process. We will respect the request that we not contact a current employer. However, we will need to contact a prior supervisor if such a request is made.

A letter of application/cover letter is recommended but not required. Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application.

Posting Date

August 25, 2026

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified)

September 21, 2026

Additional Position Information

Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana . For more information, visit PBRC .

Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to hrm@pbrc.edu .

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.