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Headlands Research

Regional Director of Operations

Escondido, California · Lincoln, California · Riverside, California · Rolling Hills Estates, California · Sacramento, California · San Diego, California

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hirly's read of this role

Seniority
Director
Stated salary
$140,000 – $180,000 per year
Country
US
Work mode
On-site / unstated
First seen by hirly
29 Sept 2026

Derived automatically from the posting. Upload your resume above to see how the role scores against it.

the posting

At Headlands Research, we are dedicated to enhancing clinical trial delivery within our communities. As a leading network of advanced clinical trial sites, we leverage cutting-edge technology and exceptional support services to broaden outreach and participation. Founded in 2018, our rapidly growing company currently operates 20+ sites across the US and Canada, with plans for further expansion.

The Role

Headlands Research is seeking a highly motivated, and seasoned operations leader looking for an opportunity to support and empower site leaders to grow and lead efficient site operations. This individual should bring a strong background in the clinical trial industry with specific experience in research trial execution and multi-site leadership. Candidates should appreciate the atmosphere of a growing company and the need to impact process development while supporting sites. Success in this position requires agility, collaboration and exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Duties

Operations oversight of approximately 6-8 DeNovo and/or integrated clinical trial sites within an assigned region

Successfully integrate newly acquired sites into Headland’s network processes, systems, workflows, etc.

Collaborate with sites and central recruitment services as applicable to ensure sites meet targeted enrollment goals for all studies

Lead and develop site leaders (direct reports) through exceptional people management skills and collaboration to influence positive operational outcomes

Build strong partnerships with Site Directors/Presidents, Business Development, PI’s and central support teams to identify opportunities for strategic site growth and operational excellence

Ensure operational, quality, and financial standards, systems and practices are in place and each site receives the necessary central support to achieve its objectives

Work with site leaders and Finance business partners on forecasting and budgeting resulting in continuously improved revenue and expense management

Support strategy for site level recruitment, training, and employee development to ensure sites are adequately staffed for current and future demand

Conduct in person visits to sites on a regular cadence based on site needs

Plan and set individual and site goals and track the progress of each to ensure that objectives are met

Serve as primary point of escalation for Site Directors in resolving operational challenges

Collaborate with site leaders and Quality and Training business partners to ensure GCP quality standards are in place and all quality and regulatory requirements are adhered to

Support site sponsor interactions by acting as a point of escalation and providing confidence in site operations

Conduct monthly financial and operations reviews with sites to include KPI's, employee and patient retention & enrollment, capacity, revenue, and expense management

Participates and presents at meetings with internal and external representatives as needed

Identify opportunities to expand business within the region through new therapeutic capabilities, equipment, or site development

Collaborate with the business development team to assess site capabilities

Facilitate performance improvement monitoring and discussions between site staff and human resources

Additional project work as assigned

Requirements :

Education – Bachelor's degree in business or a health-related field required; master’s degree preferred

5 years + experience in clinical trials industry (sponsor, IRB, CRO, site)

Proven success in a multi-site healthcare leadership role- experience leading multiple sites and teams across several geographic locations

Demonstrated ability to successfully manage people/projects across a continuum of experience, knowledge, and diversity.

Proactive problem-solving abilities and follow-through

General understanding of GCP, CFR, and state regulations as applicable

Results oriented- demonstrates strong business planning skills, communicates objectives clearly to teams, reviews, and monitors KPI’s and provides coaching and mentoring to achieve goals

Driven- self-starter, excellent time management skills, ready to execute in a tactical and strategic manner, holds themselves and others to high standards of accountability

Collaborative- ability to develop relationships and collaborate along the vertical

5 years + experience managing direct reports

Superior communication skills, written and verbal including emails and presentations both internal and external with sponsors and CROs

Displays professionalism and integrity in all actions – Demonstrated ability to foster concepts of teamwork, cooperation, self- control, and flexibility to get the work done timely with a high degree of responsiveness with multiple stakeholders

Knowledgeable and able to confidently speak in the following areas of clinical research

Business Development

Finance/Accounting

Human Resources

Legal

Clinical Development / Key Therapeutic Areas such as CNS/Psych/Metabolic/Endocrine/Vaccines

Recruitment

Information Technology

Business Operations

California Pay Range

$140,000 — $180,000 USD

Headlands Research will never ask a candidate for personal identifiable information (date of birth, social security number, driver’s license information, etc) via email or messenger tools, or for a financial deposit of any kind.

Headlands Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Need Assistance?

Headlands Research is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected] for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Original posting on Headlands Research's site ↗

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