Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs in New Hampshire

Position Purpose

The Associate Director of Administrative and Scientific Affairs provides senior‑level leadership at the intersection of research operations, scientific program management, and institutional administration for Dartmouth Cancer Center. The Associate Director partners with the Center Director, researchers, and Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Health leadership to ensure that the Center’s scientific enterprise operates efficiently, complies with all regulatory and funding requirements, and is positioned for strategic growth in support of the Center’s mission. The Associate Director oversees grant administration, management of the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), fiscal management, compliance, personnel policies, and scientific review processes while serving as a trusted liaison between investigators, administrative staff, stakeholders and partners (e.g. Dartmouth Health, funding agencies, industry collaborators).

Description

Dartmouth Cancer Center is seeking a dynamic, senior‑level leader to serve as the Associate Director of Administrative and Scientific Affairs, partnering with the Director, researchers, clinicians, and senior leaders. This role ensures the highest standards of administrative excellence, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration. Dartmouth Cancer Center is one of just 58 NCI‑designated comprehensive cancer centers and the only one north of Boston and east of Buffalo. DCC is headquartered at the Dartmouth Health campus in Lebanon, NH, and our Director dually reports to the President of Dartmouth Health and the Dean of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Our mission is to accelerate transdisciplinary research to prevent and cure cancer, enhance survivorship, promote cancer‑related health equity, and train an ever more diverse oncology workforce for the future. We seek to optimally serve our local and regional communities while creating important new knowledge and clinical impact for the world.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Masters or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Education: Master’s in a biomedical, life‑science, or health administration‑related field or MBA/MSHA or an equivalent combination of education and experience with 10+ years of senior research‑administration experience.

Experience:

- 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, grant management, or scientific affairs within an academic health‑center or cancer research environment.
- Minimum 10 years of supervisory/managerial experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated success managing large, multi‑site, federally funded research portfolios.

Skills and Knowledge:

- Proven ability to partner with senior faculty, institutional leaders, and external partners.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; experience preparing high‑stakes reports, presentations, and policy documents.
- Proficiency in financial budgeting, forecasting, and reporting tools.
- Deep knowledge of NIH/NCI grant mechanisms, the NCI CCSG, and other major cancer‑research funding streams.
- Demonstrated capacity to translate scientific vision into operational plans, with measurable outcomes.
- Strong collaborative mindset, cultural competence, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Ability to travel as work requires.
- Strong administrative and financial management and negotiation skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and exceptional oral and written communication and presentation abilities.
- Flexible, diplomatic, inclusive leadership style and ability to work productively with contacts at all levels.
- Knowledge of university‑industry collaborations.
- Highly developed degree of confidentiality, tact, judgement, and initiative.
- Broad understanding of the scientific process, especially as related to cancer.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) operations.
- Prior involvement in translational research pipelines (bench‑to‑bedside).
- Experience managing large contracts and sub‑awards with industry partners.
- Familiarity with data‑science platforms and metrics dashboards.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

Alicea Bursey

Department Contact Phone Number

603-646-5221

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title

Dr. Konstantin Dragnev, Interim Dartmouth Cancer Center Director

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Background Check

Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre‑employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non‑discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?

Preferred, but not required

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is funded by a grant. Continuation is based upon available funds.

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco‑Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco‑based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership:

With the Cancer Center Director, co‑leads the development and execution of the Cancer Center’s multi‑year CCSG plan, aligning administrative resources with scientific priorities and the Center’s mission.
- Advises the Director on policy development, organizational structure, and resource allocation for research programs, clinical trials, and translational initiatives.
- Chairs or serves on cross‑functional committees (e.g., Cancer Research Committee, Executive Council) to ensure integrated decision‑making and continual development of best practices; coordinates convening of annual External Advisory Board and ad hoc site visitors.
- Provides data‑driven recommendations addressing the Center’s research portfolio, planning, and emerging initiatives.
- Oversees all phases of the National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center designation lifecycle (e.g. CCSG P30 award, RPPR, supplements).
- Represents the Cancer Center at national conferences, consortium meetings, and stakeholder gatherings to promote the Center’s capabilities and secure collaborative opportunities.
- Participates in collaborative research planning and implementation with the Dartmouth Office of Sponsored Projects and the Dartmouth Health Office of Research Operations.
- Oversees and contributes to the preparation of high‑visibility documents (e.g., NCI CCSG renewal, strategic plans, public reports).
- Facilitates DCC engagement in multi‑Cancer Center collaborations.

Percentage Of Time 20%

Grant & Research Administration:

Oversees high‑level, end‑to‑end management of federally‑funded, state, private foundation, and industry grants.
- Ensures accurate and timely submission of grant applications, progress reports, and financial reports; monitors award budgets against actuals and forecasts future funding needs.
- Oversees Development fund planning and reporting; facilitates funding initiatives for continued growth.
- Oversees the development and implements practices and policies for grant preparation, sub‑award administration, metric collection and reporting, and data management.

Percentage Of Time 20%

Scientific Program Management:

Facilitate cross‑cutting scientific collaborations among investigators, clinical departments, and external partners.
- Oversees the scientific review process (e.g. peer review, scoring, funding recommendations) for internal and collaborative research programs.
- Supports investigators in portfolio development, career advancement (e.g., K‑, R‑ series, career development awards), and translation of discoveries to clinical trials or commercial partnerships.
- Oversees the tracking and reporting of key scientific metrics (e.g. publications, citations, patents, clinical trial accrual) for internal dashboards and NCI reporting.
- Ensures regulatory compliance (e.g. NIH Open Access Reporting, compliance with internal training, etc.)

Percentage Of Time 20%

Management:

Oversees a multidisciplinary team of research administrators, grant managers, researchers, and administrative staff.
- Conducts performance evaluations, mentoring, and professional development plans; promotes a culture of continuous improvement, and high ethical standards.
- Oversees and partners with the Administrative Services Manager to coordinate recruitment, onboard, and retention strategies for all researchers and staff.
- Serves as a senior point of contact for funding agencies, industry partners, and collaborative networks.
- Oversees administration of research space, facilities policy development, and facilities management in Cancer Center‑assigned space (e.g., Rubin Building) to ensure that research infrastructure meets the needs of faculty, research staff, students, and administrators, and to ensure research safety and security. Works in collaboration with Geisel Medical School facilities management on matters related to laboratory and dry research space in research facilities elsewhere at Dartmouth Health and Geisel Medical School as they relate to the cancer research enterprise.

Percentage Of Time 20%

Financial Stewardship:

Partners with the Center’s Finance Team to develop annual research operating and capital budgets; monitor expenditures, identify variances, and initiate corrective actions.
- Conducts periodic financial analyses (e.g. cost‑benefit, ROI, programmatic efficiency) to inform strategic research investments and resource reallocation.
- Oversees the preparation of fiscal reports for internal leadership, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), and external sponsors.
- Partners with Financial Services Director to facilitate and track commitments, financial forecasting, and use of philanthropic funds.
- Partners with Executive Director of Development to facilitate regular reporting of philanthropic goals and status related thereto.

Percentage Of Time 10%

Information Management & Systems Optimization:

Oversees the implementation and maintenance of research administration systems.
- Ensures data integrity, security, and appropriate access for investigators and administrators.
- Oversees process‑improvement initiatives to streamline workflows and reduce administrative burden.

Percentage Of Time 10%

• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.