Job Description

Director of the UNMCCC Clinical Research Office


Requisition ID: req6534

Working Title: 
Director of the UNMCCC Clinical Research Office 

Position Grade: 
17

Position Summary: 
The UNMCCC is seeking a highly experienced leader to join our team as the Director of the UNMCCC Clinical Research Office (CRO). This position provides direction and management for the UNMCCC CRO, to include the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Clinical Protocol Data Management & Informatics Shared Resource (CPDM&I) and ensures the implementation and reporting of all clinical trial-related objectives of the CPDM&I. The incumbent will oversee all aspects of clinical trials management for NCI-sponsored, pharmaceutical-sponsored, and investigator-initiated trials, to include legal review, institutional review board, contracting, scientific and protocol review, compliance, auditing and monitoring, quality control, and financial management and reporting. This position also holds responsibility for the day-to-day operations and management of the CRO staff.

The Clinical Research Office provides the necessary resources for clinical investigators to conduct research trials, thereby making clinical trials available to patients throughout New Mexico. We seek to reduce barriers to clinical research for both investigators and patients so that we can serve the entire community, including minorities and the underserved. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following duties:

• Establish and maintain processes and procedures, and ensures that CRO/CPDM&I actions and initiatives are consistent with University policies, and all institutional, state, and federal auditing, monitoring, reporting, and compliance requirements for the conduct of cancer clinical trials and cancer clinical research involving human subjects.

• Identify operational parameters and requirements established by local, state, and federal laws, and participate in the formulation of general operating policies; implement policy and develop appropriate procedures for the CRO/CPDM&I and participant sites.

• Identify and solicit potential new clinical trials and participant sites, in conjunction with faculty and affiliated physicians; establish and implement participant and sponsor agreements for all participants, as needed.

• Responsible for all fiscal control activities for the CRO/CPDM&I unit; develop and manage budgets, perform long-range financial and business planning, develop metrics to measure the ongoing status of the unit, and develop and prepare monthly operating reports.

• Report to the Medical Director of the CRO/CPDM&I and ultimately to the UNMCCC Director & CEO.

• May serve as Executive Director of the New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance (NMCCA), overseeing all cancer clinical trials activities in a statewide network of UNM community-based affiliate sites, member institutions, and groups.

• Design, establish, and maintain an organizational structure and staffing levels to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives.

• Responsible for the recruitment, education and training, supervision, performance management, and performance evaluation of subordinate managers and staff. Develop metrics to determine appropriate staff workloads and staff mix.

• Responsible for the monitoring, oversight and review of all clinical trials conducted at UNMCCC and affiliate sites; develop and implement policies and procedures that are consistent with SOM Human Research Protections policies, FDA Good Clinical Practices guidelines, and all institutional, state, and federal auditing and compliance requirements.

• Interacts with pharmaceutical and clinical research organization leaders to promote the UNMCCC and the CRO/CPDM&I and gain access to appropriate clinical trials; interact with faculty, staff, and other cancer-related organizations to raise awareness of clinical trial offerings.

• Oversee and coordinate the development, negotiation, implementation, and administration of contracts and budgets with clinical trial sponsors, vendors, and the SOM HRRC for constituencies wishing to access UNMCCC services.

• Develop marketing and communication plans designed to attract pharmaceutical companies into trial sponsorships with the UNMCCC CRO/CPDM&I and the statewide network; work with UNMCCC Marketing and Communications to develop strategies and resources to raise general awareness of clinical trials and to assist the primary site and affiliates in their subject recruitment efforts.

• Direct the establishment of continuing education and training programs for CRO/CPDM&I staff and UNMCCC physicians and research staff, and ensure that all educational requirements are met.

The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 125 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 500 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provided cancer care for nearly 60 percent of the adults and children in New Mexico affected by cancer. They treated 11,249 patients in 84,875 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital. These patients came from every county in the State. More than 12 percent of these patients participated in cancer clinical trials testing new cancer treatments and 35 percent of patients participated in other clinical research studies, including tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The 130 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNMCCC were awarded almost $60 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects and published 301 high quality publications. Promoting economic development, they filed more than 30 new patents in FY16, and since 2010, have launched 11 new biotechnology start-up companies. Scientists associated with the UNMCCC Cancer Control & Disparities have conducted more than 60 statewide community-based cancer education, prevention, screening, and behavioral intervention studies involving more than 10,000 New Mexicans. Finally, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 230 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu. 

See the Position Description for additional information.


Conditions of Employment: 

• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver's license is a requirement for this job.
• Employees in this job title are subject to the terms and conditions of an employment contract. Employment contracts are typically subject to review and renewal on an annual basis.