Barrington James
Director Clinical Operations
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Clinical Operations Director – UK Clinical Research Site Network
Location: UK
Employment Type: Full-time
Sector: Clinical Research / Site Network
Reporting to: Executive Leadership Team
The Opportunity
A rapidly growing UK clinical research site network is seeking an experienced Clinical Operations Director to provide strategic and operational leadership across its expanding portfolio of research sites. This is a senior leadership position for an individual who has successfully managed clinical research operations across multiple sites, rather than solely within a single research centre.
The successful candidate will be responsible for driving consistency, performance, quality and operational excellence across the network, while supporting the continued growth and development of its UK footprint.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall clinical operations leadership across multiple UK research sites.
- Develop and implement operational strategies to improve performance, productivity and study delivery across the network.
- Lead and develop Site Directors, Heads of Operations and senior clinical research teams across multiple locations.
- Establish consistent SOPs, processes, KPIs and operational standards across the network.
- Monitor site-level performance, including recruitment, retention, study start-up, timelines, quality and financial performance.
- Identify underperforming sites and implement targeted improvement plans.
- Ensure effective resource planning and allocation across the network.
- Work closely with Principal Investigators, Sub-Investigators, Clinical Research Coordinators and wider site teams.
- Provide operational oversight of clinical trials from feasibility and study start-up through to close-out.
- Ensure sites maintain high standards of ICH-GCP, regulatory and quality compliance.
- Partner with Quality, Regulatory, Finance and Commercial functions to ensure operational alignment.
- Support the development and integration of new sites into the network.
- Lead operational integration following site acquisitions, partnerships or network expansion.
- Develop scalable systems and infrastructure capable of supporting continued network growth.
- Use operational data and KPIs to drive evidence-based decision making.
- Represent Clinical Operations at senior leadership and executive meetings.
- Support relationships with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and CRO sponsors.
- Contribute to strategic decisions around therapeutic expansion, site capacity and geographic growth.
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Multi-Site Leadership Experience – Essential
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading clinical research operations across multiple sites within the UK. We are particularly interested in individuals who have:
- Managed multiple clinical research sites simultaneously.
- Led geographically dispersed clinical operations teams.
- Managed Site Directors, Operations Managers or senior research leadership.
- Standardised operational processes across multiple locations.
- Driven improvements in recruitment, delivery and site performance at network level.
- Successfully integrated new sites into an existing research infrastructure.
- Managed operational growth within an expanding site network.
- Balanced local site requirements with centralised network strategy.
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Experience within a site network, SMO, integrated research organisation or multi-site clinical research environment is highly advantageous.
Ideal Background
Candidates may come from backgrounds including:
- Clinical Research Site Networks
- SMOs / Site Management Organisations
- Integrated Research Organisations
- Large multi-site research groups
- CROs with significant site-management responsibility
- Pharmaceutical clinical operations with substantial site-level leadership
The strongest candidates will combine hands-on clinical research understanding with senior operational leadership experience.
Candidate Profile
- Significant experience within clinical research operations.
- Proven experience leading multiple UK research sites.
- Strong understanding of clinical trial delivery and site performance.
- Demonstrable people leadership experience at senior level.
- Strong knowledge of ICH-GCP, UK regulatory requirements and clinical research quality standards.
- Commercially aware with an understanding of site profitability, capacity and operational efficiency.
- Strong analytical and KPI-driven approach.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
- Strong communicator capable of influencing PIs, site leadership, sponsors and executive stakeholders.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, growing organisation.
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