Position Summary
The Buck Institute's Clinical Research Core is looking for an organized, motivated clinical research leader to run the in-person visits for THRIVE and serve as the operational heart of our on-site clinic.
THRIVE is the clinical validation arm of PROSPR, an ARPA-H-funded program working to design the first FDA registration trial for a gerotherapeutic. THRIVE is developing the aging-relevant outcome measures such a trial would rely on, seeing how they perform with real participants, and testing them in a YMCA-guided lifestyle intervention.
Why join us
- Real ownership. Clinical research is growing fast at the Buck, and our team is small. You'll have high visibility and a direct hand in every stage of planning, conducting, and reporting research.
- Variety. Your time splits roughly evenly between leading THRIVE study visits and managing a clinic that runs 6-10 diverse studies on-site.
- Great colleagues. You'll work alongside our Clinical Research Co-Directors (Dr. Newman, MD, PhD, a practicing geriatrician, and Dr. Brianna Stubbs, PhD, a clinical research scientist with more than a decade of experience) and an experienced Clinical Operations Manager.
- A mission that matters. Your work helps lay the groundwork for testing interventions that could extend healthy years of life.
Key Responsibilities
THRIVE Study Leadership (~50%)
- Lead day-to-day execution of THRIVE in line with the protocol, GCP, ICH guidelines, and Buck Clinical Research SOPs.
- Translate the protocol into participant flow and scheduling across the clinic and community sites, adapting quickly when one change affects staff, rooms, and equipment at once.
- Lead a team of two senior and two junior research associates who collect data at community locations 2-3 days per week.
- Partner with the Recruitment Specialist to keep enrollment on pace; track milestones and flag risks to study leadership.
- Own IRB compliance (continuing reviews, amendments, documentation), data quality and query resolution, biospecimen tracking, and protection of participant PHI and sponsor confidential information.
- Run THRIVE team meetings, implement protocol amendments, and manage relationships with consortium partners, collaborators, and vendors while keeping stakeholders informed.
Clinic Management (~50%)
- Be the clinic's quarterback: stay on top of visits, staff coverage, and emerging issues across all studies, and resolve bottlenecks, coverage gaps, role confusion, and conflicts before they affect participants or data.
- Oversee procedure quality by observing procedures and reviewing source documentation.
- Oversee safety reporting and escalation for adverse events, serious adverse events, adverse events of special interest, and protocol deviations, including corrective and preventive actions.
- Lead, mentor, and train Clinical Research Associates; balance workloads, provide feedback, and maintain the SOP library and training records.
- Serve as first point of contact for staff, collaborators, and participants, and coordinate with study medical staff, study leaders, and project managers.
- Manage clinical equipment, supplies, biospecimen inventory and LIMS, clinical space, and vendors for lab analysis and other services.
- Support new-study intake with operational reviews and budget inputs, and coordinate participant payments with finance.
- Pitch in on study visits, sample processing, and data entry as needed; help improve clinic practice; and promote cultural respect and multilingual recruitment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
One of the following in clinical research or project management in a biomedical or clinical research setting:
- High school diploma/technical degree and 8+ years of experience
- Bachelors degree and 4+ years of experience i
- Masters or PhD degree and 2+ years of experience
Skills
- Clinical skills/background sufficient to train, mentor, and oversee quality for study staff performing clinical procedures
- Supervisory or team leadership experience
- Experience preparing or submitting IRB protocols, amendments, or continuing reviews
- Strong organization across concurrent studies and priorities, with reliable follow-through, initiative, and proactive problem-solving
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication; comfortable working independently, as part of a team, and with all levels of management
- Attention to deadlines and budgetary guidelines
Nice to have
- Professional certification such as PMP, ACRP-CP, SOCRA CCRP, or equivalent
- Experience with project management software (e.g., Wrike, MS Project) and EDC systems (e.g., REDCap)
- Phlebotomy certification/experience
- Clinical research experience in a non-profit/academic setting
Compensation & Job Details
- Full-time, 40 hours per week, onsite. You'll be available in person or on call during clinic visit hours (7:30 am - 2:00 pm)
- Salary: $90,000 - $100,000 / year commensurate with experience
- Benefits include health insurance, paid parental leave, PTO, and a 401(k) with 5% employer match
About the Buck
At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations. We're an independent, non-profit institute in Marin County, CA, bringing together passionate scientists from many disciplines to understand and slow the ways we age. Aging is the number one risk factor for diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes, and the Buck is globally recognized as a pioneer in targeting it so people can live better longer.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. We are an equal opportunity employer and strive to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background is welcomed, valued, and supported. Candidates who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Click APPLY to submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why you're a great fit for this role.