Manager Clinical Research - Anatomy & Cell Biology - Full-time

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Business Unit: Rush Medical Center

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: Anatomy & Cell Biology-Res Adm

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (7:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page ( ).

Pay Range: $45.59 - $66.16 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush's anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

Summary:

The Clinical Research Manager is responsible for overseeing a defined portfolio of clinical research studies and supervising a team of clinical research staff. This position ensures that studies are conducted in accordance with institutional, federal, and sponsor regulations, while supporting departmental planning, feasibility reviews, financial accountability, and quality improvement initiatives. The Clinical Research Manager also plays a key role in staff supervision, training coordination, and workload distribution to ensure operational excellence and compliance. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Other information:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Experience:

• 4+ years of management experience in a healthcare, research, or administrative setting
• Experience managing clinical trials from startup through close-out phases or 3+ years coordinating clinical trials
• OR

Experience (in lieu of a degree)

• 5 years of experience overseeing clinical trial operations and managing staff, including hiring, performance management, and strategic planning for multiple studies.

Certifications:

• Research certification is required, including CCRP (Certified Clinical Research Professional), CCRC (Certified Clinical Research Coordinator), or Certified IRB Professional (CIP) research certification obtained within 1 year of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Regulatory Knowledge - Applies GCP, FDA, NIH, and IRB rules across multiple studies; supports staff in understanding and applying complex regulatory requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance - Tracks team-wide compliance, identifies gaps, and corrects reporting or documentation issues before they escalate.
• Project & Time Management - Leads timelines, task tracking, and team coordination for multiple studies; adjusts resources to meet study goals.
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking - Uses good judgment to solve study and team-level problems; handles complex challenges and makes protocol-aligned decisions.
• Detail & Organization - Reviews and standardizes documentation across study teams; ensures records are accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
• Participant & Vendor Interaction - Maintains respectful, professional communication with participants, sponsors, vendors, and partners; ensures team alignment with protocols.
• Communication Skills - Communicates clearly with staff, sponsors, CROs, and auditors; prepares summaries, updates, and responses as needed.
• Team Collaboration - Supports clinical research staff by providing feedback, resolving questions, and helping the team meet performance expectations.
• Flexibility & Availability - Adjusts work schedule to support high-priority study tasks, staff supervision, or sponsor visits.
• Travel Readiness - Able to travel locally or regionally to support site visits, sponsor meetings, or team supervision.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

Education:

• Master's degree or equivalent

Experience:

• Managing NIH, pharmaceutical, or device clinical trials
• Prior supervising or mentoring research staff

Physical Demands:

Competencies:

Disclaimer: The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Responsibilities:

Clinical Research Operations

• Oversee the lifecycle of clinical research studies, including feasibility assessments, initiation, execution, monitoring, and close-out.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), FDA regulations, and sponsor requirements.
• Develop and implement SOPs to standardize research processes and enhance efficiency.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise and mentor clinical research staff, providing guidance on protocol implementation, data collection, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate training and professional development opportunities to build a skilled research team.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support career progression pathways.

Regulatory and Compliance Oversight

• Ensure timely submission of regulatory documents, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, amendments, and continuing reviews.
• Lead preparation for audits and inspections by regulatory agencies and sponsors.
• Monitor adherence to protocols and manage reporting of adverse events and protocol deviations.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with finance and grants administration to develop study budgets and monitor expenditures.
• Ensure accurate billing and reconciliation of study-related costs.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and resource optimization.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between the research team, investigators, sponsors, and institutional departments.
• Facilitate communication to resolve operational challenges and align study objectives.
• Participate in departmental meetings and contribute to strategic planning initiatives.

Quality Assurance and Improvement

• Implement quality control measures to ensure data integrity and protocol compliance.
• Analyze performance metrics and develop action plans to address areas for improvement.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and research excellence.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.