Site Manager/Director - Clinical Research

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.

📍 Location: Grand Rapids, MI | 🏥 Site Name: Headlands Research - Grand Rapids | 🕒 Full-Time | 🧪 Clinical Research

Are you an experienced clinical research professional with a passion for advancing medicine? Join a leading, integrated clinical research network dedicated to high-quality data, patient-centered care, and innovation in clinical trials.

We’re seeking a Site Director to help us build our newest clinical research site located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This role drives financial targets, enrollment goals, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) while ensuring strict adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), International Council of Harmonization (ICH), and regulatory requirements.

• Type: Regular Full-time Employee
• Schedule: Mondays through Fridays, 8:00am - 5:00pm
• Location: Onsite in Grand Rapids, MI (no capabilities for remote or hybrid work)
• Reports to: Senior Director of Regional Operations
• Benefits: Our benefits package for full-time employees includes health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Paid Time Off (PTO), a variety of disability, accident, and life insurance options, as well as many more.

💼 What We Offer

Competitive pay + annual performance incentives

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid time off (PTO) and company holidays

A mission-driven culture focused on advancing medicine and improving patient outcomes

🚀 Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a growing, mission-driven organization that values its people. At our core, we’re committed to bringing innovative medical treatments to patients faster—while creating an environment where employees thrive. If you’re passionate about clinical research and ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

Operational leadership and study management

Manage site facilities, workflow, and Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS) to ensure premium experience for subjects, staff, and sponsors

Monitor clinical study progress, review monitor reports, and create risk management/mitigation strategies during study start-up

Lead a site-level quality review program; ensure the site remains in a constant state of audit-readiness for CRO, sponsor, or regulatory inspections

Manage the lifecycle of all site regulatory documentation, from initial start-up through ongoing maintenance

Act as the primary resource for protocol-related questions and ensure all staff are trained on study-specific requirements

Oversee external site partners, including onboarding, training, and performance monitoring

Ensure proper storage and handling of study specimens and investigational products

Lead or assist with various job duties and projects as assigned

People and team management (once site is fully operational and staffed)

Provide coaching, mentoring, and development plans for all direct reports (Clinical Research Coordinators and support staff) to maintain high morale, retention, and an engaged workforce

Manage the full employee lifecycle, including interviewing, hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions in partnership with HR

Proactively assess staffing needs and manage coverage to ensure research subject safety and data integrity

Foster a collaborative and productive work environment that encourages continuous improvement

Lead regular team meetings to discuss status of current projects, plan for future projects, provide updates on new company initiatives, seek feedback regarding team barriers

Manage local team to meet/exceed quality and performance metrics, report key performance indicators to leadership team

Serve as a Culture Champion to support our mission and values, ensure team is compliant with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and all industry standards

Financial management

Manage site expenses, assess Profit & Loss (P&L) reports, and redirect resources to ensure performance and financial targets are met

Support the creation of and managing to an accurate budget and forecast

Business development and relationship management

Drive recruitment strategies to meet or exceed monthly screening, randomization, and patient retention targets

Serve as the primary point of contact between the clinical team, Sponsors, CROs, and community advocates

Participate in study feasibility processes, providing accurate site-specific data to secure future trials

Drive the growth and development of the site by identifying areas for improvement and innovation while staying informed of industry advancements

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in a scientific, health-related, or business administration field or equivalent experience

Previous experience managing or leading others highly preferred

3+ years of experience designated as a Primary Clinical Research Coordinator required

Demonstrated ability to motivate teams and lead planning/organization efforts

Strong critical thinking and proactive problem-solving abilities

Proficiency in Clinical Trial Management Systems and standard office software

Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

Growth mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement

Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills; ability to manage and resolve disputes effectively

Strong ethical standards and professionalism

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.