Associate Director, Collaborative Operations for Health Engagement. Representation, and Enrollment (COHERE)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, Collaborative Operations for Health Engagement, Representation, and Enrollment (COHERE) based in the United States.

This senior role will help shape and operationalize a strategy designed to expand patient access to clinical research across the clinical trial lifecycle.

You’ll translate strategic priorities into practical approaches spanning study planning, feasibility, site strategy, enrollment, and performance measurement.

The position combines clinical research operations, data analysis, patient and community insights, and external stakeholder engagement.

You’ll work across clinical, regulatory, medical, and corporate functions to embed patient access considerations into study planning and execution.

Your insights will help identify participation barriers and create more effective pathways for patients and communities to engage with clinical research.

The role offers significant opportunity to influence processes, tools, partnerships, and best practices across a growing clinical research portfolio.

This is a fully remote position for a strategic, collaborative professional located on the U.S. West Coast and working in the Pacific Time Zone.

Accountabilities

• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing evolution of the COHERE strategy, operating model, processes, and priorities.
• Translate strategic objectives into scalable operational approaches that can be applied across clinical research programs and the broader portfolio.
• Integrate patient access considerations into early study planning, strategic feasibility assessments, site strategy, study execution, and enrollment planning.
• Analyze epidemiology, real-world data, patient journeys, social determinants of health, geographic factors, and site capabilities to identify barriers and opportunities related to clinical trial participation.
• Develop and use dashboards, scorecards, metrics, tools, and other decision-support resources to inform site selection, enrollment strategies, study execution, and performance management.
• Collaborate closely with Clinical Operations, Feasibility, Site Partnerships, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, Corporate Affairs, and other relevant functions.
• Support the development and implementation of Diversity Action Plans and other applicable requirements related to patient access and representation.
• Partner with study teams and research sites to monitor enrollment, identify participation barriers, and support data-driven adjustments and corrective actions.
• Develop site-, healthcare institution-, and community-based approaches that strengthen clinical trial education, referral pathways, engagement, and patient access.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with research sites, healthcare institutions, community organizations, advocacy groups, and other external stakeholders.
• Conduct patient journey, landscape, and stakeholder analyses to identify emerging needs, gaps, risks, and opportunities.
• Develop and support COHERE processes, playbooks, governance frameworks, performance measures, and best practices that enable consistent and scalable execution.
• Represent the function at research-site meetings, scientific congresses, industry forums, and community engagements as appropriate.
• Manage assigned projects, workstreams, consultants, vendors, and external partners while communicating progress, risks, insights, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Mentor or support team members as needed and contribute to individual development planning.
• Lead or contribute to additional strategic initiatives and workstreams as organizational priorities evolve.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; a graduate degree such as an MBA, MSc, PhD, MD, or MPH is preferred.
• Academic background in sociology, medicine, pharmacology, epidemiology, clinical science, public health, or a related discipline is advantageous.
• At least 8 years of relevant clinical research operations experience.
• Strong understanding of clinical research operations, study planning, feasibility, site strategy, enrollment, and patient access considerations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex strategic priorities into practical, scalable operational approaches.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, including the ability to use research, real-world data, metrics, and patient insights to inform decisions.
• Experience developing or using dashboards, scorecards, performance indicators, or other decision-support tools.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across clinical, regulatory, medical, and corporate functions.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship-management skills, particularly when working with research sites, healthcare institutions, community organizations, advocacy groups, and external partners.
• Experience identifying barriers to clinical trial participation and developing strategies to improve patient engagement, representation, enrollment, and access.
• Strong project and workstream management capabilities, including experience coordinating consultants, vendors, or external partners.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information, recommendations, risks, and insights clearly to different audiences.
• Demonstrated initiative, entrepreneurial mindset, adaptability, and comfort operating in evolving or ambiguous environments.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to provide and receive honest, actionable feedback.
• Results-oriented approach with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Commitment to continuous learning, operational excellence, and patient-centered decision-making.
• Candidates must be located on the West Coast of the United States within the Pacific Time Zone due to business and collaboration requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive annual base salary of $143,300-$193,300, depending on qualifications, experience, skills, education, certifications, and work location.
• Annual bonus eligibility for applicable non-commercial roles.
• Incentive compensation eligibility for applicable commercial roles.
• Eligibility for discretionary equity awards.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan participation opportunity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Wellness benefits and programs.
• Fully remote work arrangement for eligible employees.
• Opportunity to work on initiatives focused on improving access to clinical research and advancing patient-centered healthcare.
• Professional growth opportunities within a global, collaborative environment.
• Opportunity to influence strategy, operational models, partnerships, and best practices across clinical research programs.