Senior Program Coordinator - Research

Mayo Clinic•Scottsdale, AZ

21h

About The Position

Oversee the Research Center or Program which serves as the research administrative base for a small to medium size research program(s) potentially involving multicenter clinical trial/research groups with national/international participation. Provides leadership, management, and direction and is responsible for the operation of the program within the designated Research Center or Program. Works with leadership to coordinate resources and workloads to achieve objectives and strategies. Works with Scientific and Administrative leadership in development of strategic plans, programmatic budgets, and process improvements. Manages partnerships with national/international consortium or program members. Interacts and works collaboratively with federal and/or industry sponsors and agencies for items related to the Research Center or Program. Participates in grant renewal processes and progress reports. Initiates and maintains positive working relationships with internal (e.g. IRB, Compliance Office, all shields, etc.) and external customers (e.g., FDA, NIH, OHRP, etc.). Manages projects and serves as a primary resource for issues and communications relating to the Research Center or Program. Perform’s duties independently and initiates judgment in handling a variety of programmatic issues. May have supervisory responsibilities. Additional job specific duties as assigned by reporting work unit leadership. Additional Information: The Senior Program Coordinator (SPC) will support the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic Arizona, serving as a key operational lead for a broad and growing research portfolio. This portfolio includes multi‑center clinical trials, investigator‑initiated studies, industry‑sponsored trials, and federal and foundation‑funded research projects. In this role, the SPC works closely with the Associate Chair for Research, clinical research coordination teams, and shared research support services — including regulatory affairs, finance, grants administration, legal contracting, and other specialized groups — to ensure efficient study start‑up, compliant study conduct, strong enrollment performance, and responsible financial oversight. Core responsibilities include supporting study feasibility assessments, coordinating protocol and regulatory submissions, maintaining portfolio dashboards and risk tracking, aligning staffing needs with supervisory teams, and providing guidance and onboarding support for learners and research temporary professionals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in management, business administration, health care or science related field with a minimum of 2 years of research-related experience.
In lieu of Bachelor’s degree, Associate's degree/college Diploma/Certificate Program with 5 years of experience in clinical research/related field OR HS Diploma with at least 7 years of clinical research coordination/related experience may be considered.
Broad-based management or project management experience is preferred to coordinate a wide range of activities.
Working knowledge of clinical research, research programs, data management, and computer/related systems are required.
Strong leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills as well as demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple disciplines, i.e., physician, administrative, supervisory, and allied health staff, and external agencies is required.
Must have the ability to independently manage a varied workload of projects and assignments with multiple priorities in a rapidly changing environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
SoCRA or ACRP certification preferred.
Strong Clinical Research & Research Operations Foundation Deep knowledge of clinical research operations, including feasibility, start‑up, regulatory pathways, IRB/HRPP, contracting workflows, and study closeout. Experience with multi‑center trials, investigator‑initiated studies, and industry/federal projects. Fluency in study documentation, source planning, protocol implementation, monitoring expectations, and remediation approaches for low‑accruing trials.
Portfolio, Program, & Project Management Skills Leading complex research portfolios across multiple investigators and disease areas (IBD, hepatology, motility, esophageal). Prioritizing tasks, sequencing work across teams, and managing multiple ongoing timelines. Using structured tools (portfolio dashboards, risk logs, report cards) to track progress and drive accountability. Anticipating bottlenecks and proactively coordinating solutions.
Regulatory, Compliance & Quality Rigor Knowledge of IRB processes, DUAs/DTAs, sponsor requirements, FDA‑relevant documentation, and Mayo enterprise compliance workflows. Comfort operating within environments that require impeccable accuracy and documentation control.
Financial & Effort Management Acumen Understanding of research budgets, expenditure tracking, cost‑sharing, and effort allocation rules. Skill in budget interpretation and study feasibility from a financial standpoint.
Cross‑Functional Leadership & Influence Without Authority Ability to work horizontally across investigators, clinical research coordinators, clinic leadership and administrative offices. Comfort guiding stakeholders toward best practices, even when they do not report directly to the SPC. Ability to negotiate priorities and maintain alignment among diverse teams.
Communication Excellence (Written, Verbal, and Executive-Level) Clear, concise communication with clinicians and administrators. Ability to translate complex research operations issues to leadership and investigators. Strong presentation and summarization skills.
Systems Thinking & Process Optimization Mindset Identifies operational inefficiencies and refines workflows. Understands how clinic, endoscopy, scheduling, CSU operations, and research activities interlock. Manages complexity with a structured, methodical approach. Supports innovation (AI-enabled processes, automation opportunities).
High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) & Collaboration Skills Patience, diplomacy, and professionalism under pressure. Relationship-building ability with faculty, clinical research coordinators, finance partners, admins, and scheduling teams. Sensitivity to the challenges of busy clinicians and study teams, while still enforcing process discipline.
Adaptability & Comfort with Ambiguity Manage shifting priorities and investigator needs. Adjust when trials scale up, pivot, or stall unexpectedly. Balance precision with flexibility.
Commitment to Excellence & Accountability Ownership of outcomes. Reliability and follow‑through. High standards for accuracy, timeliness, and professional conduct. A proactive, solution‑oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

Oversee the Research Center or Program
Provide leadership, management, and direction
Coordinate resources and workloads
Develop strategic plans, programmatic budgets, and process improvements
Manage partnerships with national/international consortium or program members
Interact and work collaboratively with federal and/or industry sponsors and agencies
Participate in grant renewal processes and progress reports
Initiate and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external customers
Manage projects and serve as a primary resource for issues and communications
Perform duties independently and initiates judgment in handling a variety of programmatic issues
Support study feasibility assessments
Coordinate protocol and regulatory submissions
Maintain portfolio dashboards and risk tracking
Align staffing needs with supervisory teams
Provide guidance and onboarding support for learners and research temporary professionals