M4M4 — Director
Associate Director, Clinical Trials/Clinical Operations
Oversees a portfolio of programs or a functional area within clinical operations. Focuses on strategic planning and alignment.
What this level means
Leads a function or department; owns strategy, budget, and outcomes for the area.
- Scope
- A function or department
- Autonomy
- Owns area strategy and budget
- Complexity
- Strategic priorities and cross-functional alignment
- Impact
- Function-level results
- Decision rights
- Owns strategy, budget, and org design for the area
- Leadership
- Leads managers; sets direction for the function
- Typical experience
- 10–15 yrs
What you'd do
- Ensure trial plans align with corporate objectives
- Manage multiple managers
- Represent Clinical Operations in senior project team meetings
- Align trial plans with corporate goals
- Manage clinical operations managers
- Participate in senior meetings
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Portfolio management
- Process optimization
- Leadership
- Strategic alignment
- Advanced negotiation
- Team leadership
- Corporate communication
- Analytical thinking
- Portfolio management techniques
- Process improvement strategies
- Corporate strategy alignment
- Leadership in clinical operations
- Regulatory compliance
- Advanced clinical trial methodologies
- Financial oversight
- Organizational behavior
- Cross-functional coordination
- Process ownership
What good looks like
- Advanced degree preferred
- Experience in portfolio management
- Proven leadership in clinical operations
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (inferred)