Trial Activation Manager - Oncology Clinical Trials
We've made a lot of progress since opening the doors in 1942, but one thing has never changed - our commitment to serve, heal, lead, educate, and innovate. We believe that every award earned, every record broken and every patient helped is because of the dedicated employees who fill our hallways.
At Ochsner, whether you work with patients every day or support those who do, you are making a difference and that matters. Come make a difference at Ochsner Health and discover your future today!
The Trial Activation Manager - Oncology Clinical Trials provides direct operational leadership for the startup and activation of oncology clinical trials across industry-sponsored, cooperative group, investigator-initiated, translational, and federally funded research.
This role manages the end-to-end activation process including clinical trial submissions, protocol navigation, milestone tracking, regulatory readiness coordination, budget/contract workflow alignment, and stakeholder communication.
The Trial Activation Manager is accountable for driving timely study activation, reducing startup delays, ensuring adherence to organizational deadlines, and maintaining a high-performing activation pipeline that supports accrual and revenue growth.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Trial Activation Oversight
- Direct and lead the management of oncology clinical trial submissions, protocol navigation, and study activations.
- Coordinate startup activities from feasibility handoff through activation readiness.
- Ensure timely progression through internal approvals, committee reviews, regulatory submission milestones, contract execution, budget finalization, and system readiness.
- Maintain readiness for first patient enrollment upon activation.
Startup Timeline Management
- Identify delays impacting study activation and proactively engage responsible teams to resolve barriers.
- Develop and maintain activation dashboards, milestone trackers, and aging reports.
- Monitor cycle times from intake to activation and escalate at-risk studies.
- Drive accountability to deadlines across departments.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Serve as central operational liaison among investigators, research staff, regulatory teams, finance, contracts, pharmacy, imaging, lab, IT, and executive stakeholders.
- Support communication of study updates to sponsors, investigators, research staff, and applicable committees and boards.
- Coordinate startup meetings and status reviews.
Operational Standards & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to institutional startup processes, SOPs, and quality standards.
- Confirm required documentation, training, delegation readiness, and operational resources are in place prior to activation.
- Maintain accurate startup records and audit-ready documentation.
Team Leadership
- Supervise trial activation coordinators or startup staff as assigned.
- Provide coaching, workload management, performance oversight, and development.
- Standardize workflows and cross-train team members.
Executive Reporting
- Prepare regular startup pipeline reports for leadership.
- Provide visibility into projected activations, barriers, sponsor delays, and internal performance metrics.
- Support strategic forecasting for accrual readiness and staffing needs.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 5+ years clinical research experience to include 2 years of supervisory/management experience (or) 3 years clinical research experience to include two years of supervisory/management with Master's degree.
- 2+ years' experience managing clinical trial startup, activation, or research operations.
- Experience with CTMS systems (OnCore preferred).
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree
- CCRP, CCRC, PMP, or equivalent certification
- Academic medical center or cancer center experience
- Knowledge of IRB, PRMC, contracts, coverage analysis, and sponsor startup workflows.
- Experience with oncology protocol activation strongly preferred
- Experience managing multiple complex oncology activations simultaneously
Within 12 months, this role is expected to create a disciplined startup engine that consistently converts approved opportunities into enrolling oncology trials with speed, visibility, and accountability.
- Reduction in startup cycle time
- Increase in studies activated
- Reduction in aged startup backlog
- On-time milestone completion rate
- Stakeholder satisfaction with activation process
Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!
Ochsner Health does not consider an individual an applicant until they have formally applied to the open position on this careers website.
Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site. Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.
Ochsner Health endeavors to make our site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website, or if you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact our HR Employee Solution Center at [click to reveal phone number] (select option 1) or [click to reveal email address]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.