The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator independently coordinates and is accountable for the overall operation of the Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository (IELB) and its associated clinical research studies at UCSF. Requiring advanced-level knowledge and skills, the incumbent serves as the operational and regulatory lead for the biorepository—overseeing biospecimen collection, processing, annotation, and distribution—and provides leadership to other clinical research coordinators and support personnel within the program.
This position is critically important to the operational management of the IELB and the liver disease research it supports. It has direct responsibility for managing a biospecimen repository—including blood, serum, plasma, and liver tissue linked to richly annotated clinical data—along with the longitudinal cohort studies and investigator-initiated protocols that feed it. The incumbent prepares and maintains IRB (CHR) applications and approvals, coordinates studies, and actively publicizes the biorepository’s available samples to investigators at UCSF and externally to maximize their scientific use.
The role requires expert integration of regulatory, operational, and data-management activities, applying a sophisticated medical and immunology knowledge base and substantial leadership skills, and working effectively with clinicians, investigators, clinical staff, the Committee on Human Research, and contracts and grants staff at UCSF, as well as with external collaborators, sponsors, and NIH. Reporting to the Principal Investigator/Director, the incumbent has central responsibility for ensuring IRB approval and ongoing compliance for the biorepository and its protocols; managing consent, specimen accessioning, inventory, and chain-of-custody; coordinating biospecimen requests and material transfers; and building and maintaining the IELB website to communicate available samples, governance policies, and request procedures to the research community.
The incumbent also leads experienced personnel and implements quality improvement processes. This is a position of leadership whose main purpose is to ensure that the biorepository’s scientific, regulatory, and operational commitments are met and that the program maintains a reputation for excellence in all activities. The Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository (IELB) at UCSF is a translational research resource within the Department of Medicine dedicated to advancing the study of liver disease..
The IELB collects, processes, annotates, and stores high-quality biospecimens—including blood, serum, plasma, and liver tissue and makes these samples available to investigators across UCSF and the broader scientific community. By pairing rigorous regulatory and quality oversight with active outreach to the research community, the IELB accelerates discovery in liver biology and the development of curative therapies.
We are a collaborative, mission-driven team seeking an experienced Senior Clinical Research Coordinator to lead the operational, regulatory, and biorepository activities of the program. Responsibilities % of time (Nothing less than 5%) Essential Function (Yes/No ) Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor) 20 Yes Research Operations Management: Develop project plans, interview key sponsors, and deliver tangible project results Provide periodic status reports to project executives and coordinate documentation and archiving of project deliverables Design and perform ad-hoc performance analysis of the projects and the project staff Build flexible pricing and cost models to test recommended solutions against a range of outcomes/scenarios within the clinic trials and research projects Perform business process review, operational reviews and design and implement workflow and controls Develop project-related presentation material for study Monitor key operating potential for risk to clinics, physicians, staff, and the University (e.g., inappropriate marketing, poor hiring practices, etc.) 20 Yes Clinical Trials Management: Serve as the primary regulatory coordinator for the biorepository and associated studies: prepare, submit, and maintain IRB (CHR) applications, continuing reviews, modifications, and safety reports; ensure all protocols, consent forms, and biospecimen collection activities remain in continuous compliance with IRB and institutional requirements.
Determine interest of groups in trial participation, assess ability to execute protocol safely and properly (analysis of infrastructure, staff, funding needs), negotiate pre-trial agreement and budget, work with Research Services Analyst and Industry Contracts to execute agreement, set up ancillary departments, train staff, assign tasks, create documentation, and ensure local and federal research law compliance. Provide ongoing staff training, ensure continued compliance, coordinate amendment updates, maintain study files, ensure audit readiness, recruit patients, and track enrollment; lead staff to ensure proper close-out of studies, discuss subjects’ options, and ensure that documentation and storage of study files meets legal requirements.
Ensure optimal systems are in place to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for the safe conduct of clinical research. Ensure all CHR documents are up to date. Oversee preparation of new CHR applications; arrange paperwork for renewal of existing protocols; respond to CHR requests for revisions; and coordinate protocol changes with study sponsors.
Ensure reporting of protocol violations to study sponsors and reporting of adverse events to the CHR in a timely manner. Respond to requests and reviews of studies from sponsors, study monitors, FDA, and other entities, including complex audits of study performance. 25 Yes Longitudinal Cohort Studies: Manage infrastructure before and during study execution, including database management, space allocation, equipment procurement, and specimen/sample storage and transportation; work with leadership to ensure proper execution of studies.
Manage activities for cohorts in various areas of studies and disciplines; and for clinical trials in various disciplines. Collaborate with other Universities, clinical entities, and industry using collected data to understand disease progression and predictors. May contribute to or lead scientific presentations and publications based on study data collected.
May contribute to the development of new grant proposals. 10 Yes Risk Management: Protect the University from non-compliance and potential litigation by ensuring contract compliance, meeting local and federal laws, and ensuring compliance with hiring and supervision laws; implement safeguards and proper compliance with federal and local regulations to ensure audit prevention and success. Act as regulatory authority and advisor by training and educating employees and advising leadership and PI’s.
Manage audits. Help institute and maintain a Quality Improvement Process. 15 Yes HR Management/Administration Provide guidance and day-to-day leadership to other clinical research coordinators and support staff within the IELB, including assigning and reviewing work, training, mentoring, and coordinating workload to meet collection, regulatory, and data-quality goals. Assist department with recruit and train clinical research coordinators in collaboration with leadership.
Provide guidance to clinical research coordinators and assistants, and help them successfully perform functions including recruitment, scheduling, visit management, subject characterization, and data entry. Train others in federal and local research laws and guidelines. Help manage personnel needs as needed. 10 Yes Financial Management: Oversee budgets, invoices, and reimbursements.
Ensure billing is appropriate and accurate to avoid improper billing of Medicare, private insurance, or patients. Guide subjects through financial process (private vs. federal trials and their relationship to insurance reimbursement) to ensure accurate payments are made and subject not held responsible Review budget reports on a monthly basis. Along with the PI, create and maintain the annual study budget, monitoring all items posted on ledgers, and ensuring that future budget projections are consistent with remaining funds.
Responsible for ensuring that the use of research funding is in compliance with funding agency protocols. Assist PI in grant development, focusing on budget development. Required
Bachelor’s degree in related area and sufficient experience and demonstrated skills to successfully perform the assigned duties and responsibilities and/or equivalent experience/training. Demonstrated ability to develop recruitment strategies in complex environments and differing patient pools, independently identifying recruitment leads, implementing new strategies, and continually adjusting strategies to meet current recruitment goals.
In-depth knowledge of clinical research contracts and grants, clinical trials, protocols Project management skills to oversee the administrative operations of the clinical trials program; knowledge of strategies for recruiting human subjects. Exceptional analytical skills to evaluate the importance and urgency of problems; excellent demonstrated interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Ability to analyze complex and non-routine issues requiring innovative solutions.
Ability to operate effectively in a changing organizational and technological environment. Ability to assess and respond to audit risk; ability to develop project plans/schedules and motivate team to meet deadlines. Ability to interpret and apply policies and regulations.
Financial analysis skills; demonstrated skills in preparing and presenting financial and quantitative analyses, including financial projections and budgets. Significant project and clinical trial management experience or progressively responsible experience in a related position including regulatory and compliance responsibilities. Experience using database software, such as MS Access or FileMaker Pro.
Required Licenses and/or
Ability to obtain certification by the Society of Clinical Research Associates or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals within one year of date of hire.
Fluency in spreadsheet software; ability to develop complex spreadsheets independently; demonstrated skills in audit preparation, execution, and follow-up. Experience in risk management regarding study subjects, federal and non-federal sponsors and regulating bodies. Experience with grant application procedures, personnel documentation, contract generation and subcontracting, preferably at UCSF.
Certification by the Society of Clinical Research Associates or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals
Full time · Day shift