Divisional Manager of Clinical Research Operations - Psychiatry Department - Mood Disorders Division

*This Position will be onsite at Empire Central with hybrid opportunities*

About Center for Depression Research & Clinical Care

The Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC) in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern is nationally recognized for its cutting-edge research in mood disorders and associated disorders, such as substance use disorder and anxiety. Built on a quarter-century of research in mood disorders, the CDRC was established in 2015 to realize a future free from the burden of depression. In the last seven years, our Center has demonstrated its impact in lives changed. We have led research into new treatments, including brain and blood tests, for depression and suicide. We have established evidence-based programs that transform our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat depression. Critically, we have built networks and established research-driven programs that extend our reach to adolescents; addressing youth depression and suicide with mental health promotion and resilience training that encourages a conversation long overdue. We have witnessed the difference our efforts make for people with mental disorders and their families. Such results speak to the value of the work to which we have dedicated ourselves.

Job Summary

The CDRC is seeking a clinical Research Office Operations Manager to lead and work collaboratively across our center to oversee our research, grants, data, & finances. In this role, you will play a central role to plan, organize, coordinate, and guide major medical and scientific research projects. In collaboration with center managers and faculty this will include development and implementation of research protocols and new care-based initiatives. The CDRC currently has federal, state, and industry funded programs, including 16 active research protocols that include intervention and non-intervention-based studies. The successful candidate will demonstrate business intelligence and management skills, have team research experience, and knowledge of healthcare data collection.

Preferred Experience and Education

• At least 10 years research and administrative experience.
• Experience managing a large center/team.
• PhD in a science related field or Psychology preferred.

Departmental Job Duties

In addition to the standard duties below, you will:

• Provide support and oversight to the program leads to ensure high level of performance of in the various research programs within the CDRC.
• Report Directly to the Division Chief of Mood Disorders, and will collaborate with the Departmental Administrator
• Develop and implement best practices for clinical trials compliance and assurance. Provide overall oversight and management of center activities and operations.
• Provide grant support to the principal investigators. Each year, PIs and CDRC faculty submit twenty or more grant applications, as well as multiple proposals to foundations.
• Design and implement research; develop grant methodology and prepare grant applications, including study design, budget, and other grant materials; the CDRC has an annual budget of over $15M per year for the past 5 years.
• Confer with industrial, governmental, and other groups concerning progress or results of research project, and expand research portfolios by developing and fostering institution, local, national, international, academic, private, and public institution collaborations.
• Assist CDRC Director with faculty recruitment and development.
• Ensure best-practices SOPs are developed and implemented for all CDRC programs and ensure collaborating partner institutions conform to UTSW standards.
• Collaborate with other divisions within the Psychiatry Department
• The manager will have three direct reports with oversight over 90 employees

Experience and Education

• Master's degree in science, social science, healthcare administration, or a related field, and at least 5 years of experience managing clinical trials required.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of Master's degree.

Job Duties

• Oversees the organizational and operational activities of the Disease-Oriented Teams (DOTs).
• Develops performance standards and expectation for DOT managers and teams, and periodically assess the attainment of these standards.
• Consults with DOT managers and faculty leaders to set performance expectations for research nursing and technical staff managing clinical trials.
• Works with the members of the team to identify, develop and evaluate key core competencies of clinical research personnel in an effort to tailor training needs.
• Maintains peer-level working relationships with faculty and academic departments across UTSW to oversee the conduct of clinical trials.
• Fulfill duties of DOT managers in their absence.
• Oversees the financial and administrative resources available for the management of clinical trials by DOTs, working closely with leadership, staff and faculty from various departments with UTSW Medical Center.
• Develops budget, fee, cost recovery and revenue recommendations for DOT functions.
• Works with DOT Managers to analyze and review study budgets to ensure that all studies are fiscally sound and that all study costs are recovered or minimized.
• Develops and implements best practices for DOT compliance and assurance.
• Develop and manage all DOT internal monitoring programs to ensure compliance with all relevant rules, regulations and policies.
• Coordinates and oversees the management affiliate networks conducting clinical trials.
• Analyzes and makes recommendations regarding internal process improvements related to optimal time-to-protocol activation.
• Leads a committee comprised of faculty and staff to annually review and develop new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); recommends new and drafts updates to existing SOPs as necessary.
• Directs and oversees the processes for ensuring timely and accurate electronic data capture (EDC) for investigator-initiated clinical trials (IITs).
• Maintains high-level expertise in EDC for IITs, and implement training and education for managers and staff performing these functions.
• Oversees and optimizes the process for collecting, storing and tracking clinical biospecimens, working closing with institutional resources.
• Ensures storage space is available and managed appropriately.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, organizational, and administrative skills to effectively organize plans and programs in a highly technical research environment.
• Skilled as both a leader and participant in cross-functional and interdepartmental teams and excellent communicator. Administrative expertise including working with technical operational support functions and multidisciplinary research programs/grants
• . Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and listening skills.
• Analytical and strategic thinker.
• Strong Editorial and writing skills.
• Strong instructional and speaking skills
• Ability to master medical research regulations and proposal development.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

To learn more, please visit: https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/why-work-here/diversity-inclusion