Clinical Operations Lead Jobs in Bethesda, MD
Clinical Operations Lead jobs in Bethesda are concentrated in the biotech and pharmaceutical corridor along the Bethesda-Chevy Chase border, in the central business district near the NIH campus, and in the White Flint area north of downtown, with steady demand from Westat, Lockheed Martin, and Total Wine & More and others across clinical research, contract research organizations, and federal health contracting. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Our evidence-based findings help clients in government and the private sector accelerate advancements in health, education, transportation, and social and economic policy. Our dedication to improving lives through research and our approach to projects grounded in investigative curiosity, statistical and data rigor, adaptive methods, and advanced technology are why clients find exceptional value in our work.
Westat is seeking a detail-oriented and talented IT Business Analyst to bridge the gap between our software development and project research teams. You will collaborate in the end-to-end process of identifying stakeholder needs, analyzing requirements, and delivering solutions to support our clients’ missions to improve outcomes in public health, education, social policy, and transportation.
This is a full-time position with a hybrid work arrangement at our corporate headquarters (1-2 days per week) in Bethesda.
Job Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and document business requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
- Conduct detailed analysis of business processes, workflows, and systems to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
- Develop and maintain requirement documentation, including use cases, process flows, and functional specifications.
- Work closely with IT teams to ensure that technical solutions align with project goals and requirements.
- Assist in the design, testing, and implementation of new systems and enhancements to existing systems.
- Perform gap analysis to identify discrepancies between requirements and current capabilities.
- Facilitate communication between users, stakeholders, IT, and project management teams.
- Provide support and training to end-users to ensure successful adoption of new systems and processes.
- Support the monitoring of project progress and provide regular updates to IT project managers and stakeholders.
- Support the administration and implementation of projects via the Agile methodology.
- Ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance, requiring consistent U.S. residency for the majority of the last five years.
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in business analysis or equivalent role.
- Demonstrated success in leading requirements gathering and documentation process in collaboration with clients, stakeholders, and development teams.
- Demonstrated experience applying QA methodologies to drive testing efficiency and accuracy, supported by detailed test plans and documented results.
- Proven experience crafting purposeful documentation to clearly communicate business requirements and foster stakeholder alignment, leveraging analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working in a professional services research environment.
- Knowledge of Agile methodologies.
- Experience producing high-quality documentation for requirements, solution options, business cases, and recommendations on proposed solutions.
- Familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools.
- Experience working with change management committees, prioritization processes, and end user groups.
- Knowledge of industry best practices and emerging technologies.
- Demonstrated proficiency with change control and DevOps management tools (e.g., GitLab, JIRA, etc.).
Westat offers a well-rounded and comprehensive benefits program focused on wellness and work/life balance. Subject to plan requirements, employees may participate in:
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Paid Parental Leave
- Vacation Leave (15 days per year)
- Sick Leave (9 days per year)
- Holiday Leave (7 government holidays and 2 floating holidays)
- Professional Development
- Health Advocate
- Employee Assistance Program
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Short Term Disability Insurance
- Long Term Disability Insurance
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
Any offer of employment may be contingent upon receipt of acceptable results from a post-offer background screening, if required for the specific position, which may include, for example, identity verification, employment history, motor vehicle driving record history, and criminal or sexual offender records history. Any background screening results will be evaluated through an individualized assessment based on the individual’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the position.
This opportunity will be posted for a minimum of 5 days and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
Employment Eligibility: This is a U.S.-based position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Westat does not offer employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) for this role. Depending on project requirements, some positions may require employees to meet specific residency criteria.
Westat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable law. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
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Find Clinical Operations Lead JobsClinical Operations Lead Job Market in Bethesda
Who's Hiring
- Westat4

- Lockheed Martin4

- Total Wine & More4

- Marriott International3

- General Dynamics Information Technology3

Top Industries Hiring
- Retail2
- Hospitality & Tourism2
- Consulting & Professional Services2
- Insurance1
- Human Resources1
Clinical Operations Lead Jobs in Bethesda: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a clinical operations lead job in Bethesda?
Bethesda's clinical operations lead market is driven by its dense concentration of biotech firms, contract research organizations, and federal health agencies clustered near the NIH campus and the central business district. Candidates with hands-on trial management experience and familiarity with FDA regulatory frameworks stand out most with local CROs and government contractors. Targeting employers in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase and White Flint corridors directly, rather than casting a broad regional net, accelerates the search considerably.
Which companies hire clinical operations leads in Bethesda?
Bethesda clinical operations lead roles are posted by Westat, Lockheed Martin, and Total Wine & More and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The local employer mix skews heavily toward established biotech companies, CROs with federal contracts, and research-focused health organizations tied to the NIH ecosystem in and around Bethesda.
Are there remote clinical operations lead jobs in Bethesda?
Yes, but with limits since clinical operations leads often oversee on-site trial activities and vendor coordination that requires in-person presence. About 60% of clinical operations lead openings tied to Bethesda are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with the arrangement varying by employer and trial phase. Protocol management, reporting, and cross-functional coordination tasks are the parts of the role most commonly performed remotely by Bethesda-based teams.
How can I get a clinical operations lead job in Bethesda with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Bethesda is moving through a clinical trial coordinator or clinical research associate role at a local CRO or NIH-affiliated research organization before stepping into a lead position. Bethesda's heavy concentration of government health contractors and academic medical research programs means entry-level coordinator openings are available across multiple employers simultaneously. Demonstrating proficiency with clinical trial management systems and ICH-GCP guidelines gives early-career candidates a concrete edge with local hiring managers.
Which industries hire the most clinical operations leads in Bethesda?
Bethesda clinical operations lead roles concentrate in Retail, Hospitality & Tourism, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Bethesda's position adjacent to the NIH campus and its long-established biotech and federal health contracting community make those sectors the primary and most consistent sources of local demand for this role.
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