Clinical Research Administrator

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Benefits At a Glance

• 28 Vacation Days, 12 State Holidays, and 4 Days to volunteer;
• Continuing education for undergraduate and graduate tuition for a maximum of 6 credits per semester;

• Professional development opportunities encouraged and offered for employees as part of annual career development, e.g. certifications, seminars, courses, annual conferences, mentorship;
• Medical, Dental and Vision Health Benefits to meet the needs of employees and their eligible family members from the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as optional FSA; 
• Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and other retirement saving options;
• Parental and Caregiver Leave, Short Term Disability (STD), Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program.

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Mission: To reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians by addressing the confluence between biological, social, and policy drivers through high-impact, cutting-edge research; person-centered care across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship; community integration; and training the next generation of community-centric researchers and healthcare professionals

Vision: To be a premier community-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity research and ensuring optimal health outcomes for all

Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities

This position will support the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) Leadership team and the operations associated with the programmatic activities related to Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The Clinical Research Administrator must be onsite at least 3 times per week and present during the programmatic activities (3-5 times a month) as their decision-making has a significant impact on CTO service delivery. Responsibilities include program activities management with significant levels of independence often supporting the day-to-day of research portfolios and programs for CTO, requiring superior communication skills, alongside maintaining a polite and professional demeanor. The Clinical Research Administrator must resolve issues by using administrative guidelines and established University and VCUHS policies and procedures. Position will report to the Director for Clinical Research Operations and Management.

• Research and collect accurate clinical research information;
• Create reports, documents, and other deliverables as requested by CTO leadership for CTO Clinical Research programming and initiatives;
• Assist in process improvements and project management as requested by CTO leadership to move research forward;
• Conduct all necessary research meeting logistics (e.g., catering, conference room scheduling, IT support, and advertising) for small and large-scale research meetings as assigned, for CTO internal meetings or public events;
• Prepare communications, such as memos, emails, invoices, reports and other correspondence;
• Provide fiscal administrative support by preparing/processing expense and reimbursements authorizations with specific attention to budgeting and VCU procedures/regulations;
• Maintain research meeting agendas, minutes, and attendance;
• Schedule and maintain daily calendar for CTO Executive Director and Director;
• Answer and return calls to CTO Main Phone Line and maintaining metrics on said calls;
• Coordinate travel logistics;
• Represent CTO at internal organizational meetings.

Minimum Hiring Standards

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training;
• 2 years’ experience of previous research administrator or research project management;
• 2 years’ experience reporting to and coordinating middle management or executives;
• 2 years’ experience coordinating/managing division activities/tasks and projects and synchronizing input from multiple stakeholders;
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Access and Outlook with the ability to adapt to a range of database applications.

Candidates whose resumes highlight the following previous experience will be prioritized:

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU;
• Intermediate proficiency with data entry and word processing skills, with the ability to analyze and interpret information effectively;
• Intermediate organizational abilities and a keen eye for detail to ensure accuracy and efficiency in all tasks;
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with colleagues and stakeholders;
• Interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships and collaborating with team members at all levels to gather information and support compliance efforts;
• Problem-solving and organizational aptitude, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment;
• Must be flexible and willing to adapt to change (e.g., shifting priorities);
• Demonstrated history of positions each with increasing levels of responsibility and accountability;
• Experience as a self-motivated clinical researcher who has worked independently as well as within a team setting (e.g., on and off-site colleagues, consultants and outside agencies);
• Demonstrated experience and excellence coordinating/managing division activities/tasks and projects and synchronizing input from multiple stakeholders.

Please note that if you are employed as a university employee working in any of the health system's facilities, you will need to follow VCU Health System policies, which will include but will not be limited to, vaccination requirements.

Preferred Hiring Standards

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training;
• 4 years or more experience supporting clinical research administrator tasks at an academic and/or medical center;
• 4 years or more experience of previous research administrator or research project management;
• 4 years or more experience reporting to and coordinating middle management or executives;
• 4 years or more experience coordinating/managing division activities/tasks and projects and synchronizing input from multiple stakeholders;
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training or knowledge of regulations regarding the use of human subjects in clinical trials, outcomes research, nursing research, and other research areas or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training;
• Certification from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA), the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) or CRA certification for Research Administration;
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Access and Outlook with the ability to adapt to a range of database applications.

Please let us know if you were referred by a current Massey employee to ensure we honor our commitment to the Employee Referral Program.

MasseyHR@vcu.edu