Director Of Quality
At Headlands Research, we are dedicated to enhancing clinical trial delivery within our communities. As a leading network of advanced clinical trial sites, we leverage cutting-edge technology and exceptional support services to broaden outreach and participation. Founded in 2018, our rapidly growing company currently operates 20+ sites across the US and Canada, with plans for further expansion.
The Director Of Quality Is Tasked With Ensuring That Headlands Delivers Consistent, High-Quality Data To Our Pharma Partners As Well As Ensuring Patient Safety During The Trial Process. This Individual Will Oversee Quality And Training Functions For The Organization Including, But Not Limited To, The Development And Maintenance Of Quality Assurance And Training Programs And Policies, Oversight Of Inspections And Audits, Quality Diligence For Acquired Sites, And Management Of SOP's And Quality Documents To Ensure GCP And All Regulatory Guidelines Are Adhered To.
In addition to strategic oversight, the Director will also serve as the Quality Leader for a group of sites. This includes hands-on support in quality reviews, audit / inspection preparation, and CAPA resolution, ensuring that sites are inspection-ready and quality standards are consistently met.
This individual should bring a strong background in the clinical trial industry with specific experience supporting and leading multi-site or large research organization quality development programs. Candidates should appreciate the atmosphere of a growing company and the need to impact process development while supporting sites. Success in this position requires agility, collaboration and exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Duties
- Oversee and direct the Quality Department, ensuring its alignment with the broader business strategy and adherence to industry standards, while establishing clear goals and promoting a culture of quality, compliance, and ongoing improvement.
- Communicate, train, and author (when applicable) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including periodic review / revisions of procedures and policies to ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines in both the US and Canada.
- Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance activities and initiatives.
- Conduct and / or oversee annual and monthly quality reviews.
- Support the corporate development team through quality review of potential acquisition candidates.
- Developing and monitoring employee training as applicable to quality, including GCP, IATA, PHI, KnowB4, etc.
- Develop, implement, and maintain an internal review monitoring system and schedule.
- Report out on quality trends and metrics to aide in effective process improvement and risk management.
- Works with Regional Director of Operations, Quality Managers and Site Directors to ensure quality incidents are investigated, root cause analysis is performed, and a CAPA has been implemented and monitored for effectiveness.
- Partners with regional leaders and site teams to identify potential changes and opportunities for process improvement.
- Provide guidance, support, training and interpretation of regulations, guidelines, and policies
- Supports coordination of sponsor audits, regulatory inspections, and mock audits.
- Oversee documentation, reporting and closure of significant compliance and / or site review findings.
- Acts as backup Quality Manager for all sites within the network.
- Serve as the Quality Leader for assigned sites, providing direct hands-on support with quality reviews, audits / inspections, and CAPA resolution to reinforce site-level compliance and readiness.
- Facilitates New Hire Orientation and on boarding in collaboration with HR for clinical operations to specific functions related to quality.
- Develops and implements a mentorship program for new site employees to foster quality across the enterprise.
- Facilitates CTMS training in collaboration with ESource team.
Requirements
Education - bachelors-degree in business or a health-related field required; master's degree preferred5 years' + experience in clinical trials industry (sponsor or site) with experience in managing quality3+ years' experience leading a teamExperience with Quality oversight in Canada preferred but not requiredPrior experience authoring site SOP's preferred but not requiredFundamental knowledge of US regulatory standards and guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials (ICH GCP, FDA; EMA; ANZ regulations)Ability to work in a remote setting with travel required sometimes with short noticeDemonstrates strong analytical and proactive problem-solving skillsStrong written and verbal communication skillsExceptional organizational skills, ability to multi-task and be detail orientedExperience developing and implementing training materialsAccomplishes work in accordance with scheduled objectives and effectively meets deadlinesAbility to maintain high degree of professionalism and integrity