Director of Clinical Research

Model Oncology • Nashville, TN

13h

About The Position

Model Oncology partners with community health systems to build and operate sustainable oncology programs. The organization does not function as a conventional consultancy that delivers a strategy and exits, nor as a traditional management services organization administering back-office functions at a distance. Model Oncology embeds directly within each partner organization, operating alongside health system teams and assuming accountability for program outcomes over the long term.
The organization’s work encompasses program design, physician recruitment, clinical research, pharmacy strategy, and the technology and operational infrastructure required for community health systems to deliver high-quality cancer care locally. The through line is clinical and scientific excellence: bringing trials, advanced therapies, and capability normally reserved for academic centers into the communities that need them. Model Oncology holds itself to the standard of a genuine, accountable partner rather than a vendor.

Model Oncology is seeking a Director of Clinical Research to help build and lead the clinical research program that expands access to investigational cancer therapies within partner health systems. Reporting to the Vice President of Clinical Transformation, this individual will help design the clinical research infrastructure, standard operating procedures, and site-readiness processes needed to bring trials into partner health systems. This role requires deep clinical research expertise, business development experience, and the ability to translate sponsor and regulatory requirements into practical, site-level execution in an environment where partner needs and the trial portfolio are constantly evolving.

Requirements

• Advanced clinical or scientific degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, DNP) or equivalent experience in oncology clinical research
• Minimum 7 years of oncology clinical research experience, including direct experience managing trial operations in a community or health system setting
• Demonstrated experience building clinical trial infrastructure, protocols, or standard operating procedures for research programs
• Deep working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), FDA regulations, and IRB processes governing oncology trials
• Experience integrating clinical trials into standard of care and health system workflows
• Strong communication and teaching skills, with the ability to engage physicians, nurses, and research staff as a peer expert
• Comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced, growing organization with significant latitude and accountability

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience building or leading clinical research programs across multiple sites or a health system preferred
• Epic and clinical trial management system (CTMS) experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert on oncology clinical trial operations, including sponsor and CRO relationships, regulatory compliance, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards
• Serve as a clinical research resource, fielding and answering complex trial feasibility, eligibility, and protocol questions escalated from internal stakeholders and partner teams
• Partner with health system leadership, physicians, and research staff to assess site readiness for new trials and build implementation plans for safe, compliant activation
• Develop and deliver training programs that prepare partner research coordinators, nursing, and pharmacy teams to support trial conduct with confidence
• Design and build clinical research protocols, workflows, and standard operating procedures for trial start-up, patient screening, informed consent, monitoring, and adverse event reporting
• Proactively evaluate the evolving clinical trial landscape and sponsor pipeline and incorporate new opportunities into the trial portfolio ahead of broader community availability
• Expand patient access to investigational therapies by integrating clinical trials into established care pathways across partner locations
• Oversee regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and audit readiness for clinical trial activity across partner sites
• Execute on internal Model Oncology goals and metrics, leading in areas of ownership and partnering in areas where ownership lies with another team
• Represent Model Oncology as a credible clinical research voice in partner relationships, positioning the company as a trusted authority in oncology research
• Represent Model Oncology externally and contribute to the broader oncology knowledge base through conference presentations, publications, and speaking engagements, building the organization’s reputation as a thought leader in community oncology clinical research

Benefits

• expanding access to cancer care in the communities that need it most
• opportunity for immediate, visible contribution
• meaningful influence over how the clinical research function is built as the organization scales

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director