Associate Director E, Research

Associate Director E, Research

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023. Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play. The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Job Description

To support the continued growth and expansion of the Division of Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension's clinical research portfolio, the Associate Director for Clinical Trials will play a key leadership role in advancing investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored research. This position will assist the Faculty Directors of Clinical Trials in overseeing all aspects of the Renal Clinical Research Unit (RCRU), including operations, regulatory processes, staff development, and financial and administrative functions. A major focus will be to support the development, launch, and execution of investigator-initiated studies (IIS) and foster cross-disciplinary collaborations across Penn Medicine. The Associate Director will liaise with investigators, sponsors, institutional research offices, and administrative teams to ensure regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in academic clinical research leadership, fiscal management, and team supervision within a complex academic medical center.

Job Responsibilities

• Scientific and Grant Development : Support development of investigator-initiated protocols and scientific grant applications (Industry, NIH, DOD, foundation, and internal mechanisms). Assist faculty in study design, feasibility assessments, and regulatory preparation (IRB, IND / IDE submissions). Contribute to abstracts, manuscripts, and clinical study reports.
• Trial Implementation and Operational Oversight : Oversee execution of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored trials, ensuring adherence to timelines, enrollment goals, and quality standards. Support subject recruitment strategies and data integrity processes. Maintain tracking systems and trial management tools across active studies.
• Financial and Administrative Oversight : Partner with fiscal and contracting offices to develop trial budgets, negotiate sponsor budgets, and manage post-award financial tracking. Monitor revenue, expenses, and resource utilization for all trials. Lead development and refinement of financial models to support unit sustainability. Manage compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements, including effort reporting and invoicing. Participate in contract negotiations and serve as a liaison with legal and administrative offices.
• Staff Leadership and Development : Recruit, onboard, and supervise a growing team of RCRU research staff, including research coordinators, nurses, and assistants. Foster a culture of accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.
• Program Metrics, Strategic Planning, and Institutional Integration : Design and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for trial efficiency, enrollment, and financial health. Support expansion of RCRU collaborations across the Penn Medicine health system and with external partners. Represent Renal research operations in Department of Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine initiatives.
• Other Responsibilities : Perform additional duties assigned by the Faculty Director or Division Chief to support the advancement of the Division's research mission.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of experience or Masters of Science, Masters of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Demonstrated experience in financial oversight, budgeting, and contract management for clinical trials is essential. Experience in nephrology or other internal medicine subspecialty research is highly desirable. Must show progressively responsible project management and supervisory experience, preferably in an academic institution managing clinical research projects, as well as demonstrated leadership of complex projects and outstanding communication skills. Must show ability to work with multiple stakeholders to coordinate and achieve goals. Demonstrated ability to market services in prior positions held preferred. Strong planning and organizational capabilities along with attention to detail, excellent follow-through and problem-solving skills necessary. Must be effective in setting and meeting personal short and long-term goals to complete assignments, with multiple project tasks ongoing simultaneously. Successful candidates will have the ability to anticipate problems relating to projects and to develop and implement solutions. Significant experience with developing and implementing processes and operations is strongly preferred. Experience developing and implementing SOPs and other training tools preferred. Flexibility and the drive to meet project deadlines required.

Job Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$93,500.00 - $134,500.00 Annual Rate

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

Retirement : Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

Time Away from Work : Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with familywhatever your personal needs may be.

Long-Term Care Insurance : In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

Professional and Personal Development : Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

University Resources : As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitementand you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

Flexible Work Hours : Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and / or job structures.

Penn Home Ownership Services : Penn offers a forgivable loan