• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule: M-F; 9AM-5PM
• Building:
• Salary Range: $100,000.00 - $135,000.00

Position Summary

This position will support the development and growth of a department‑wide Dermatology Clinical Trials Unit under the direction of the Vice Chair for Clinical Research.

The Clinical Research Program Manager will oversee operational infrastructure for clinical and translational research across multiple faculty investigators. The individual will help build a scalable clinical research program that integrates clinical trials, translational research, and collaborative initiatives across Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

This role combines strategic program management with operational leadership and hands‑on clinical research expertise. The successful candidate will help develop workflows, supervise research staff, coordinate regulatory and operational activities, and ensure efficient study activation and execution. This position also requires the ability to step into Clinical Research Coordinator responsibilities, when necessary, particularly during early program growth, study startup, or smaller investigator‑initiated studies. 

Position Goals

• Build and support department-wide Dermatology Clinical Trials Unit
• Expand clinical and translational research across department
• Support multiple investigators
• Improve study activation timelines
• Increase patient access to clinical trials
• Strengthen collaboration across Columbia research network

Reporting Structure

The Clinical Research Program Manager will report to the Vice Chair for Clinical Research within the Department of Dermatology and work closely with Department Chair, faculty investigators, and institutional research leadership.

Responsibilities

Clinical Research Program Development

The Clinical Research Program Manager will work closely with the Vice Chair for Clinical Research to build a department‑wide research infrastructure that supports multiple investigators and study types. This includes developing standardized workflows, supporting new trial development, coordinating operational infrastructure, and helping expand clinical and translational research across dermatology. The individual will help create processes for study prioritization, resource allocation, and staff deployment across investigators, ensuring efficient and scalable program growth.

The Clinical Research Program Manager will conduct clinical trial operations, including but not limited to:

• Oversee study startup, activation, and execution across multiple investigators
• Coordinate feasibility assessments for new studies
•  Ensure regulatory and operational compliance
•  Monitor study timelines and enrollment targets
•  Support study closure and reporting
•  Direct clinical research activities (as needed)
•  Perform CRC duties when necessary
•  Assist with patient screening and enrollment
•  Support consenting and study visits
•  Assist with data collection and documentation
•  Support early-phase and underfunded studies

Translational Research and Biobanking

The role will include coordination of translational research activities including biospecimen collection, tissue‑based research, biomarker studies, and biobanking. The Program Manager will work with investigators and laboratory collaborators to ensure proper specimen handling, regulatory compliance, and integration of translational research components into clinical trials. This individual will help develop infrastructure supporting translational studies and ensure alignment between clinical and laboratory‑based research.

• Coordinate translational research components of clinical trials
• Oversee biospecimen collection and biobanking activities
• Support biomarker-driven and tissue-based studies
• Coordinate with laboratory and translational research collaborators
• Ensure regulatory compliance for biospecimen collection and storage

Institutional Collaboration

The Clinical Research Program Manager will work closely with institutional partners including the Clinical Trials Office (CTO), Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), Institutional Review Board (IRB), various cancer center programs, and other stakeholders. The individual will facilitate communication and coordination between dermatology investigators and institutional resources to improve study activation timelines and support program growth.

Team Leadership and Staff Management

The Program Manager will supervise clinical research coordinators and support staff, assist with hiring and onboarding, and provide training and mentorship. The individual will help develop scalable and overlapping staffing models, and coordinate research personnel across multiple investigators and studies. Specifically:

• Supervise clinical research coordinators and research staff
• Assist in hiring and onboarding research staff
• Train and mentor clinical research coordinators
• Develop scalable staffing structure
• Coordinate staff across multiple investigators
• Provide operational support to multiple faculty investigators
• Support investigator-initiated trials
• Assist with early-phase and translational studies
• Facilitate collaboration across investigators
• Support development of new clinical trials

Financial and Operational Oversight

• Assist with clinical trial budgeting
• Track financial performance of research portfolio
• Monitor study revenue and operational costs
• Support financial sustainability of program

Quality and Compliance

• Develop and maintain SOPs
• Ensure regulatory compliance
• Prepare for audits and monitoring visits
• Implement quality improvement initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, health sciences, or related field
• Minimum 5 years clinical research experience
• Experience managing multiple clinical trials
• Experience with regulatory submissions and IRB processes
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred
• Experience in academic medical center
• Experience supervising research staff
• Experience with translational research and biospecimen collection
• Experience with investigator-initiated trials
• Experience with industry-sponsored trials

Other Requirements

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, collaborative, and capable of working in a complex academic medical center environment. The individual must be comfortable managing multiple priorities, working with diverse investigators, and building operational infrastructure from the ground up. Strong communication skills, leadership ability, and experience navigating institutional processes are essential. The candidate should demonstrate initiative, flexibility, and the ability to transition between strategic planning and hands‑on operational work. The role requires a proactive individual who can anticipate challenges, develop solutions, and support the growth of a department‑wide clinical research program.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.