Site Director, Clinical Research

Health Haven•West Palm Beach, FL

3d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Research Site Director leads Health Synergy’s multi-site research operations across Florida, overseeing Clinical Research Site Managers, Clinical Research Operations Managers, and overall site performance. Based primarily in West Palm Beach, the Director reports to C-suite leadership and drives regulatory compliance, trial execution, recruitment, team development, financial performance, and sustainable growth. The role establishes operational standards, monitors site-level KPIs, supports organizational expansion, and provides hands-on clinical research support when needed to maintain operational continuity and participant safety. The Director leads business development and strategic partnerships, including identifying study opportunities, evaluating site feasibility, strengthening sponsor and CRO relationships, supporting investigator recruitment, representing the organization at industry events, and developing partnerships that support study acquisition and sustainable growth. The role oversees the study lifecycle from feasibility, startup, and activation through execution, milestones, closeout, and regulatory record archiving, while establishing consistent operational standards and resolving escalated issues. The position partners with Finance and C-suite leadership to monitor budgets, revenue, expenses, staffing costs, and site-level financial performance, and identifies opportunities to improve resource utilization, operational sustainability, and research portfolio growth. The Director develops participant recruitment and retention strategies, strengthens referral relationships, monitors enrollment, and ensures participant engagement follows approved protocols and study requirements. The Director promotes participant safety, confidentiality, informed consent, and protocol adherence. When necessary, the role may provide hands-on research support, including participant visits, phlebotomy, ECGs, and specimen processing, subject to appropriate training, competency, credentials, and authorization. The position establishes and monitors KPIs for enrollment, retention, productivity, study timelines, data quality, compliance, staffing, and financial performance; holds managers accountable for results; and evaluates workflows, SOPs, and systems to improve efficiency, consistency, quality, and scalability. The Director ensures adherence to applicable FDA regulations, ICH-GCP guidelines, IRB-approved protocols, sponsor requirements, and organizational policies. Responsibilities include oversight of sponsor monitoring visits, audits, inspections, documentation accuracy, query resolution, protocol deviations, root-cause analysis, CAPA, and timely resolution of findings. The role recruits, develops, and evaluates managers, sets leadership expectations, supports workforce planning and succession development, and partners with People & Culture on staffing, employee development, and performance management. In partnership with C-suite leadership, the Director supports organizational expansion, evaluates operational risks, oversees staffing capacity and workload distribution, coordinates cross-site coverage, and implements scalable systems for productivity, research quality, and participant safety across existing and future Florida locations. The Director also performs additional responsibilities assigned by C-suite leadership in support of organizational priorities, operational needs, and research growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Life Sciences, Nursing, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant education and experience may be considered.
At least 5 years of clinical research experience, including progressive responsibility for site operations, study management, or research team leadership.
Demonstrated ability to lead managers, develop teams, establish accountability, and oversee multi-site operations.
Working knowledge of FDA regulations, ICH-GCP guidelines, IRB requirements, informed consent, participant protection, and clinical trial processes.
Experience overseeing study startup, recruitment, enrollment, monitoring, documentation, quality management, and study closeout.
Experience evaluating budgets, productivity, operational expenses, KPIs, and financial performance in partnership with Finance or organizational leadership.
Experience with SOPs, CAPA, root-cause analysis, audits, regulatory compliance, and inspection readiness.
Ability to provide hands-on clinical research support when needed, subject to appropriate credentials, training, competency, and authorization.
Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and resolve operational challenges.
Ability to work primarily from West Palm Beach and travel regularly to Stuart and other existing or future Florida research sites as needed.
Must be available to attend training in West Palm Beach and provide after-hours escalation support for urgent study-related matters.

Nice To Haves

Business development experience in sponsor and CRO relationship management, site feasibility, study acquisition, or investigator recruitment.
Experience in psychiatric, behavioral health, CNS, or inpatient clinical research.

Responsibilities

Identify study opportunities, evaluate site feasibility, strengthen sponsor and CRO relationships, support investigator recruitment, represent the organization at industry events, and develop partnerships that support study acquisition and growth.
Lead Clinical Research Site Managers and Clinical Research Operations Managers across all research locations.
Oversee study feasibility, startup, activation, execution, milestones, closeout, and regulatory record archiving; establish consistent operational standards and resolve escalated issues.
Partner with Finance and C-suite leadership to monitor budgets, revenue, expenses, staffing costs, and site-level financial performance; identify opportunities to improve resource utilization and sustainability.
Develop participant recruitment and retention strategies, strengthen referral relationships, monitor enrollment performance, and support participant engagement consistent with approved protocols and study requirements.
Promote participant safety, confidentiality, informed consent, and protocol adherence; provide hands-on research support when needed, including participant visits, phlebotomy, ECGs, and specimen processing, subject to appropriate qualifications and authorization.
Establish and monitor KPIs for enrollment, retention, productivity, study timelines, data quality, compliance, staffing, and financial performance; hold managers accountable for measurable results.
Evaluate workflows, SOPs, and systems to improve efficiency, consistency, quality, and scalability.
Ensure adherence to applicable FDA regulations, ICH-GCP guidelines, IRB-approved protocols, sponsor requirements, and organizational policies.
Oversee sponsor monitoring visits, audits, inspections, documentation accuracy, query resolution, protocol deviations, root-cause analysis, CAPA, and timely resolution of findings.
Recruit, develop, and evaluate Site Managers and Operations Managers; establish leadership expectations; support workforce planning and succession development; and partner with People & Culture on staffing, employee development, and performance management.
Support organizational expansion, evaluate operational risks, oversee staffing capacity and workload distribution, coordinate cross-site coverage, and implement scalable systems across existing and future Florida locations.
Perform additional responsibilities assigned by C-suite leadership in support of organizational priorities, operational needs, and research growth.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical plans
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Employer-paid short-term disability
Employer-paid long-term disability
Employer-paid life insurance
Voluntary benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Paid vacation time
Paid sick time
Paid federal holidays
Professional development opportunities
Collaborative clinical environment
Creative autonomy and opportunities to build new initiatives
Opportunities for professional growth and increased leadership responsibility
Opportunity to contribute to a growing behavioral health and clinical research organization