Visiting Director of Clinical Research Operations - Medicine, Breathe Chicago Center

Hiring Department: Department of Medicine

Location: Chicago, IL

Requisition ID

Posting Close Date: October 7, 2026

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $125,000 - $145,000

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Who We Are: The Breathe Chicago Center (BCC) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago conducts research to identify new tests and treatments for people with chronic lung disease, COVID-19, Long COVID, and other conditions. We also use healthcare delivery science to increase access to high-quality healthcare. Studies are conducted in collaboration with academic health centers, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations in Chicago and other cities across the nation.
General Job Summary: This position will manage clinical research operations and clinical research staff and ensure effective oversight and coordination of clinical research in the Breathe Chicago Center of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy. Additional responsibilities include oversight of the day-to-day operations, financial performance, regulatory compliance, strategic development, site management, and monitoring of clinical and translational research operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Review and assess research protocols; Determine long and short-term resource (personnel, materials, space, etc.) requirements for clinical and translational research projects to ensure efficient use of resources. Prepare budgetary forecasts for functional group expenses (operating and capital).
• Monitor progress of all clinical research projects/trials on an ongoing basis relative to established timelines and key milestones. Ensure that delays are identified and communicated to PIs and functional group staff. Participate in and facilitate efforts to implement appropriate interventions across functional groups in order to meet timelines.
• Identify operational problems, issues, obstacles, and barriers across all projects based on input from research staff, PIs, and sponsors; communicate patterns and trends; and participate in and support efforts to develop and implement process/system improvements.
• Serve as point of contact for Principal Investigators, research coordinators, and auditors to answer questions, resolve problems, advise, and prepare/negotiate agreements.
• Conduct clinical assessments to ensure participant safety and regulatory compliance as outlined in study protocols; manage participant safety and provide specialty clinical consultation to participants and coordinators.
• Monitor expenditure of funds relative to budgetary targets for all clinical research on an ongoing basis. Ensure that variances are identified and communicated to appropriate personnel. Facilitate efforts to implement appropriate interventions.
• Develop and implement orientation programs for new research staff as well as ongoing training, continuing education, and professional development.
• Work with PIs to identify research staff, space, and material resources required for each clinical research project and across all projects to ensure appropriate assignment/availability of research staff.
• Prepare and deliver presentations at internal and external meetings on behalf of the unit and Principal Investigator.
• Plan, assign, and review the work of staff to ensure that group objectives are met. Assist in hiring, training, developing, and managing staff to ensure that a qualified staff exists to meet group objectives.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:
• Master's degree in nursing or MD (or equivalent) required.
• Minimum of 6 years' experience in nursing/clinical practice, with at least 3 of those years in a clinical research setting.
• Advanced knowledge of scientific and research concepts and regulations is required.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
• Advanced Practice Provider preferred.
• Strong emphasis in research preferred.