[Hiring] Associate Director, Research Administration @Advocate Health

Role Description

Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research financial operations supporting industry-sponsored clinical research across Advocate Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Responsible for directing pre-award and post-award research finance activities, supervising research finance personnel, ensuring compliance with research billing regulations, monitoring operational performance, implementing process improvements, and collaborating across stakeholders to accelerate study activation, optimize sponsor reimbursement, and support the financial sustainability of the clinical research enterprise.

• Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research financial operations supporting industry-sponsored clinical research across the clinical research lifecycle.
• Designs and directs the work of the clinical research finance team, including selection, coaching, development, performance management, and workload allocation for research finance professionals and financial analysts.
• Oversees pre-award financial activities including coverage analysis, research billing calendars, budget development and negotiation, financial feasibility assessments, and financial system builds necessary for study activation.
• Oversees post-award financial activities including sponsor invoicing, payment reconciliation, accounts receivable management, collections, financial reporting, and study closeout processes.
• Monitors operational metrics, budget negotiation performance, study activation timelines, invoicing activities, collections, workload distribution, and service level performance to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Implements standardized financial processes, workflows, policies, and best practices that improve operational efficiency, billing compliance, sponsor reimbursement, customer service, and financial controls.
• Collaborates with contracting, compliance, revenue cycle, regulatory, information technology, investigators, sponsors, and study teams to coordinate financial activities that support timely study activation and successful study execution.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex financial, operational, and compliance issues related to industry-sponsored clinical research and provides guidance on resolution strategies.
• Supports implementation, optimization, and utilization of research administration and financial systems including OnCore, Epic, Huron, ClinCard, and related technologies supporting research operations.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and ensuring that research financial activities and supervised employees comply with organizational policies, applicable regulations, and governing laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration, or related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience supporting clinical research financial operations, research administration, healthcare finance, grants administration, or related functions.
• Minimum three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience overseeing research finance, research administration, or related professional staff.
• Experience supporting pre-award and post-award financial activities for industry-sponsored clinical research.

Requirements

• Knowledge of clinical research financial management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of coverage analysis, Medicare research billing compliance, budget development and negotiation, sponsor invoicing, payment reconciliation, and accounts receivable management.
• Knowledge of federal, state, sponsor, institutional, and regulatory requirements governing clinical research financial operations.
• Knowledge of clinical trial management systems, financial systems, and electronic research administration platforms.
• Strong financial analysis, operational analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret financial data, identify operational trends, and develop recommendations for process improvement.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, and personnel management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with investigators, sponsors, research personnel, revenue cycle teams, compliance offices, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making in resolving complex operational and financial issues.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.