Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Location

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Job Description

General Summary of Position Responsibility:      

The Senior Director of Clinical Research Nursing Operations will champion the mission and vision of Lurie Children’s and the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. The Sr. Director is responsible for strategic planning, operational and administrative coordination, communication, and execution of nursing research initiatives and clinical trial protocols originating from and executed in various settings from across the Lurie Children’s enterprise.   The Senior Director is dedicated to fostering a climate of transparency, openness, operational excellence, and mutual respect while delivering measurable results in a fiscally responsible manner. Provides leadership for change management, serves as a resource regarding evidence-based practice initiatives and implementation strategies, removes barriers to progress, and inspires teams to new levels of research and practice excellence. Develops objectives and operational practices that ensure critical success factors related to clinical research nursing. This leader will ensure Lurie Children’s is established as a desirable study site destination and is well positioned as a research-ready environment across inpatient and outpatient settings including within the Clinical Research Unit (CRU). This readiness will further the goals of attracting and hiring the best clinical research talents in a highly competitive market and supporting Lurie Children’s research growth.

This leader serves to ensure compliance with policies and procedures standardized by the Joint Commission and the State of Illinois as well as FDA. Facilitates the creation of a work environment that engages staff in the attainment of organizational, institute, departmental and unit-based mission, vision, and goals.

Essential Job Functions:

Provides administrative oversight of nursing research, nursing evidence-informed practice, clinical research operations; including Clinical Research Unit (CRU), nurse scientists, and clinical research nurses across Lurie Children’s divisions that are supporting clinical research investigators and protocols. Assuring sound, compliant, efficient, effective, and safe practices in the evaluation, implementation and conduct in congruent with the SMCRI/ Lurie Children’s research enterprise.

Assists senior nursing leadership and senior research leadership in defining organizational goals and developing strategic plans for continued growth and advancement of research enterprise; makes tactical decisions related to overarching clinical research program/s.

Serves as a key leader in partnering with OCCT/SMCRI senior leaders and researchers, Lurie Children’s nursing leadership as well as IRB, ORIC, and NUCATs.  

Develops and sustains strong and effective relationships with SMCRI and Lurie Children’s research support offices, clinical departments (e.g., medical divisions/departments, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory), and institutional leaders to enhance and expand clinical research.

Collaborate with stakeholders, such as EBP developers, academic partners, provider agencies, community organizations and cross-system partners to support EBP initiatives and implementation.

Contribute to identifying strategic priorities for supporting successful EBP implementation.

Directs the Clinical Research Unit Manager with improving efficiency and effectiveness of daily operations to support protocol implementation. Assures PIs include protocol execution costs into early budget development.

Accountable for operational management of protocol fidelity, resource development and utilization, and cost recovery for services provided.

Accountable for partnership with study auditors, monitors and for the research conduct of clinical research staff research nurses and other staff.

Responsibility for capital and operating budgets in collaboration with the executive leadership team. Ensure alignment of resources and budgets across clinical research programs by evaluating timelines and prioritizing tasks.

Promotes the ethical conduct of research that is compliant with all applicable institutional, local, and federal regulations and policies and procedures and ICH GCP guidelines, in collaboration with the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance. Maintains current knowledge of pertinent laws and regulatory requirements.

Utilizes data to drive strategic decisions to deliver on mission and vision.

Contributes to effective marketing and communication across the organization, the research community, and key stakeholders, to build and promote a positive image as a premier organization for the conduct of clinical research involving children and families. Partners with Marketing and other departments including Nursing Excellence to highlight clinical research initiatives and research findings.

Participates in various hospital committees relating to research operations to ensure clinical and research representation.

Participates in the recruitment, development, and retention of high caliber team members.

Determines philosophical and policy direction related to clinical research human resources: responsible for the selection and development of the directors and leaders/staff within assigned area.

Dedicated to professional growth and seeks opportunities to enhance professional advancement of self and staff.

Knowledge, SKILLS, and Abilities:

Requires RN licensure in the State of Illinois.  Master’s degree in Nursing, Business or Healthcare Administration is required. Advanced degree in related field required (healthcare administration, clinical research, research administration, business, etc.); expert/comprehensive knoweldge of all functional areas of clinical nursing and research nursing.

8-10 years leadership experience or progressive healthcare management/operations experience, preferrably in an academic center. A minimum of eight years of clinical and research administration experience with at least five years management responsibility. Highly experienced program development and problem-solving techniques.

Certification in Clinical Research (ACRP, SOCRA, PRIM&R, etc.) preferred.

Demonstrated ability to ensure the provision of quality patient care in a dynamic and fiscally challenging environment

Competent in strategic thinking, interpersonal/interdisciplinary communication, group process, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Demonstrated skill in developing and managing strategic initiatives, formulating policy recommendations, and addressing issues raised in either internal or external reviews, inspections, and/or audits.

Excellent written and oral communication skills to develop high level strategic planning documents, reports, position papers and deliver oral presentations that effectively communicate needs and engage stakeholders regarding research compliance initiatives and priorities.

Ability to network and interact, as well as support effective partnerships with key groups and individuals.

Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with faculty, investigators, senior-level management, staff, colleagues as well as local, state and federal regulatory agencies.

Provides leadership to others in a collaborative and facilitative style within a matrix reporting structure as well

as a complex organizational setting.

Demonstrates and sets high standards of behavior, performance, quality, credibility, and integrity. Exhibits

judgment and business acumen necessary to effectively advocate for clinical research.

Education

Pay Range

$141,440.00-$233,376.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability

Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage

Tuition assistance

Student loan servicing and support

Adoption benefits

Backup Childcare and Eldercare

Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members

Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities

Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Lurie Children’s we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Support email: candidatesupport@luriechildrens.org