Sr. Director of Research Operations

• Balboa Nephrology is the largest kidney care practice in California and participates in a national Medicare program focused on value-based care.
• Through our joint venture with Evergreen Nephrology we are a growing organization with opportunities for professional and personal growth.
• We will help you grow in your leadership experiences while learning the new value-based care world.
• Comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental & vision on the 1st of the month 30 days after hire.
• Employer contribution of up to 10% of annual pay for your 401K.
• Generous paid time off plus 8 paid holidays, a birthday float day off and a mental health day!
• Join a fast-growing field - employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
• Voted 4 years in a row as a Top Workplace of San Diego !

Our Values: Patient-centered I Accountability I Respect I Innovation I Data-Driven

Our Mission: to consistently deliver superior care – Balboa Care – to every patient with kidney disease.

Work Location: Hybrid

The Senior Director, Research Operations – SMO will serve as the P&L leader and strategic driver for our clinical research operations. This hybrid business development and operations executive will forge and strengthen relationships with CROs and sponsors, especially in nephrology and adjacent therapeutic areas, while overseeing study execution, financial performance, and team leadership.

This is a highly visible, high-impact role where business growth, financial stewardship, and operational excellence converge. The Senior Director, Research Operations – SMO will build the growth engine and discipline to ensure our research arm is both profitable and scalable.

Business Development & Sponsor Engagement

• Be the primary business development executive, cultivating new relationships with CROs, sponsors, and investigator networks.
• Position the SMO as a multi-therapeutic research partner, emphasizing opportunities in nephrology and adjacent disease states where we have clinical expertise.
• Partner with PIs by highlighting their strengths in CRO/sponsor meetings to generate study opportunities.
• Represent the SMO at conferences, speaking engagements, and clinical/R&D forums to enhance visibility and build pipelines.
• Optionally coordinate with external BD firms on contingency contracts as supplementary resources.

Operational & Financial Leadership

• Develop detailed financial and operational forecasts that account for the inherent variability of study revenue driven by patient enrollment timing and volume.
• Translate enrollment activity into revenue projections by tracking current enrollment and projecting out peaks/valleys in revenue and workload across the year.
• Set enrollment goals that balance financial targets with clinical and operational feasibility.
• Build labor models to align staffing with enrollment demand, including:
• Forecasting workload far in advance given long study lead times.
• Determining when contract staff may be needed for enrollment surges.
• Evaluating whether sustained demand warrants new FTE hires while avoiding future overstaffing.
• Create proactive study pipelines to smooth revenue cycles and support sustainable growth.

P&L and Strategic Planning

• Own the SMO research business P&L: monitor profitability, identify growth opportunities, and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and manage a study pipeline to support budget goals and long-term financial sustainability.
• Recommend strategic reinvestment of surplus into expansion, new sites, or distributions.
• Directly supervise the Director and Manager of Research; establish performance goals, career development plans, and cross-training initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-oriented work culture with strong operational discipline and accountability.
• Establish clear expectations and foster a culture of accountability, growth, collaboration, and fun across all research staff, including coordinators and assistants.
• Ensure team alignment with both BD and operational objectives to meet study and financial targets.