Research Department Manager

HYBRID Job Title: Research Department Manager Job Description The Research Department Manager oversees the planning, coordination, and operational execution of clinical research activities in an outpatient practice focused on epilepsy and related neurological conditions. This role supports clinical trials and other research initiatives, provides day-to-day leadership to research staff, and collaborates closely with physician investigators and clinical teams. The manager serves as a key operational contact for study sponsors, contract research organizations, institutional review boards, vendors, and other research partners, ensuring high standards of participant safety, regulatory compliance, data integrity, study performance, and patient-centered research operations. Responsibilities

- Oversee day-to-day operations of clinical trials and research studies conducted within the outpatient practice, with a focus on epilepsy and neurology.
- Coordinate study start-up activities, including feasibility assessments, site activation, regulatory documentation, staff training, and study implementation.
- Develop and maintain study-specific workflows, timelines, tracking tools, and standard operating procedures to support efficient research operations.
- Monitor study enrollment, recruitment, retention, visit completion, and overall study performance, and implement strategies to meet enrollment and timeline goals.
- Coordinate research activities with routine epilepsy and neurology clinical care to ensure seamless integration into existing patient care workflows.
- Identify operational barriers and develop practical solutions to maintain study timelines, quality standards, and protocol adherence.
- Support clinical research involving epilepsy, seizure disorders, antiseizure medications, devices, diagnostics, and other neurological therapies as applicable.
- Coordinate protocol-required patient visits, assessments, laboratory testing, imaging, EEG-related procedures, medication management, and follow-up activities.
- Work closely with physician investigators and clinical staff to ensure protocol requirements are appropriately incorporated into patient care processes.
- Support identification and screening of potentially eligible patients while maintaining privacy, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
- Supervise, mentor, and provide day-to-day direction to research coordinators and other research personnel, including assigning responsibilities and workload based on study needs and staff competencies.
- Develop onboarding and continuing education programs for research personnel to ensure ongoing competency and professional growth.
- Ensure research staff maintain competency in study protocols, informed consent processes, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory requirements, and applicable clinical procedures.
- Participate in recruitment, performance evaluation, professional development, and retention activities for research staff.
- Ensure all research activities comply with study protocols, IRB requirements, GCP, HIPAA, FDA regulations, and applicable institutional policies.
- Oversee preparation, organization, and maintenance of regulatory and essential study documentation, including investigator site files.
- Coordinate IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, safety reports, and study closeout activities.
- Monitor and address protocol deviations and compliance concerns, and implement corrective and preventive actions as needed.
- Maintain readiness for sponsor monitoring visits, audits, and regulatory inspections by ensuring documentation and processes are current and accurate.
- Develop and implement strategies to improve recruitment and enrollment for epilepsy clinical trials.
- Monitor recruitment metrics and identify opportunities to improve participant identification, engagement, and retention.
- Promote a patient-centered research experience that is appropriate and supportive for individuals with epilepsy and their families or caregivers.
- Ensure informed consent and research participation processes are conducted appropriately, clearly, and ethically.
- Coordinate research visits in a way that minimizes disruption to patients routine clinical care and overall experience.
- Oversee accurate, complete, and timely collection of clinical research data, ensuring adherence to protocol and data standards.
- Monitor electronic data capture systems, respond to and resolve data queries promptly, and support clean data for analysis.
- Review study documentation regularly for accuracy, completeness, and protocol compliance.
- Track key performance indicators related to enrollment, data quality, visit completion, and study timelines, and report findings to investigators and partners.
- Implement quality-improvement processes to strengthen research operations and enhance study performance.
- Serve as an operational point of contact for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors, CROs, vendors, and other research partners.
- Coordinate sponsor meetings, monitoring visits, site communications, and follow-up activities, ensuring timely and accurate information exchange.
- Communicate study progress, enrollment status, operational issues, and corrective actions to investigators and study partners.
- Assist with study budgets, contracts, and resource planning to support efficient and sustainable research operations.
- Prepare and send invoices related to clinical research activities, and track financial aspects of studies as appropriate.
- Provide oversight to two research coordinators who manage patient-facing activities, and step in to assist with scheduling tests, tracking reports, and other operational tasks when needed.

Essential Skills

- Minimum of 5+ years of experience in clinical research, with a strong background in clinical drug trials.
- Proven experience managing clinical trials or clinical studies, including operational oversight and coordination.
- Hands-on experience with regulatory requirements, including IRB submissions, continuing reviews, amendments, and safety reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to manage study budgets, contracts, and invoices related to clinical research activities.
- Experience overseeing research coordinators or similar staff, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and providing mentorship.
- Strong understanding of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), HIPAA, FDA requirements, and institutional research policies.
- Ability to coordinate and track patient care activities such as scheduling tests, tracking reports, and ensuring protocol adherence.
- background in clinical research involving patient care, particularly in neurology or epilepsy, or similar therapeutic areas.
- Very independent learner who can quickly understand new protocols, systems, and processes with minimal supervision.
- Eager, ready-to-learn attitude with a strong work ethic and commitment to high-quality research.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple studies and priorities simultaneously.
- Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with investigators, clinical staff, sponsors, CROs, and patients.
- Attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, data entry, and regulatory records.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Nursing exp is highly desirable, and experience as a nurse or in direct patient care would be ideal for this role.
- Prior management or oversight experience in a research or clinical setting is strongly preferred.
- Experience in epilepsy, seizure disorders, or neurology clinical trials is a plus.
- Familiarity with electronic data capture systems and tools used in clinical research.
- Experience developing and implementing study-specific workflows, timelines, and tracking tools.
- Ability to design and deliver onboarding and continuing education programs for research staff.
- Bachelors degree (4-year degree) is preferred but not required.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and build strong relationships with research partners.
- Proactive problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify operational barriers and implement effective solutions.
- Commitment to ethical research conduct and a patient-centered approach to clinical trials.

Work Environment This role operates in an outpatient clinical practice environment focused on epilepsy and related neurological conditions. The Research Department Manager works closely with physician investigators, clinical staff, research coordinators, sponsors, CROs, and other partners in a fast-paced, detail-oriented setting. The position involves regular interaction with patients and families, coordination of clinic and research visits, and use of electronic data capture systems and other clinical research technologies. Work typically follows standard outpatient clinic hours, with the need to align schedules around patient visits, monitoring appointments, and sponsor activities. The environment emphasizes collaboration, patient-centered care, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in research operations, with a professional dress code appropriate for a clinical and research setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Saint Paul, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $100000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Will receive from customer during interview/offer stage
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Saint Paul, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 7, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Saint Paul,MN. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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