Clinical Trial Innovation Program Director

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

 

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

 

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

 

The Director, Clinical Trial Innovation Program will oversee Project Rainier, a strategic clinic research transformational initiative focused on streamlining clinical trial startup, optimizing the delivery of research in the clinic, and increasing clinical trial accruals. Project Rainier will expand access to clinical trials, enhance patient experience, and strengthen scientific leadership.

 

Based on recommendations from a comprehensive diagnostic, the Sr. Director will design, establish, govern, and lead an enterprise transformation operating structure to deliver the intended outcomes of Project Rainer. They will provide overall program thought leadership, planning, stakeholder engagement, and day-to-day project management to ensure successful execution of initiatives across cross functional workstreams. The role will build and execute a detailed implementation plan by defining specific actions, timelines, owners, and dependencies; ensuring strong linkage across workstreams; and tying all efforts directly to measurable outcomes and defined north star goals. The Program Lead will work closely with operational leaders to create governance structures that establish clear decision pathways and lead the development of change management deliverables.

 

This role will have the opportunity to work partially at our campus and remotely.

 

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, all employees are expected to show a commitment to our values of collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity, and respect.

• Direct strategic planning, operating model development, and implementation of a large, multi-workstream initiative by coordinating across workstreams and underlying workgroups, ensuring alignment, identifying interdependencies, and driving integrated execution across all efforts.
• Establish, lead, and continuously refining governance structures that span clinical and research operations; serve as the central escalation and governance point by proactively surfacing risks and issues, identifying gaps in structure or stakeholder representation, and providing decision support to executive leadership.
• Define, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and value realization metrics to ensure program outcomes align with strategic objectives. Ensure alignment of program initiatives with enterprise strategy and drive prioritization decisions across competing efforts and resource constraints.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and change management efforts at levels of the organization, ensuring organizational alignment, adoption, and clear communication across clinical, operational, and executive audiences.
• Drive end-to-end project management across 10+ workstreams, ensure individual workgroups stay on track, risks are mitigated, and deliverables are met within timelines.
• Socialize future-state designs and implementation plans across diverse stakeholder groups to build consensus and readiness for change.
• Partner with clinical and research data analytics leaders to inform decision-making, monitor performance trends, and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Establish and maintain a structured risk management framework, including identification, mitigation planning, and ongoing monitoring.
• Build and direct a team of program and project managers; augment team with contract and consulting resources to support surges in activity and expertise in targeted areas.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business, healthcare administration, or related field
• 12+ years of experience leading business strategy, transformational change management, or performance improvement.
• Proven success leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives and change management in complex environments
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience managing a team including third party vendor relationships and resources
• Demonstrated expertise in program, project, and change management methodologies

Preferred:

• Master's degree in business, healthcare administration, or related field
• Project Management Professional (PMP or Program Management Professional (PgMP)
• Change management certification
• Experience working in research, clinic, or clinical trial operations
• Experience working with C-Suite executives
• Prior experience working for a top-tier consulting firm
• Strong understanding of business financials and operating metrics
• Familiarity of Change Management methodologies

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The annual base salary range for this position is from $172,910.40 to $288,142.40, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.  

 

This position may be eligible for a sign-on bonus.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks). 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.