Clinical Research Director Jobs in District of Columbia
Clinical Research Director jobs in District of Columbia are concentrated in Washington, D.C., where federal agencies, major academic medical centers, and global health organizations create one of the most active markets in the country for senior clinical research leadership. Employers with a lasting presence here include NIH, Children's National Hospital, and MedStar Health, with the strongest demand in oncology, infectious disease, and regulatory affairs. The role typically requires deep experience overseeing multi-site trials, FDA regulatory strategy, and cross-functional team leadership. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Location: Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States
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Company: HII's Mission Technologies division
Requisition Number: 29231
Required Travel: 11 - 25%
Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt
Anticipated Salary Range: $115,199.00 - $155,000.00
Security Clearance: Top Secret
Level of Experience: Mid HI
This opportunity resides with All-Domain Operations (ADO), a business group within HII’s Mission Technologies division. All-Domain Operations comprises multi-domain operations, platforms and logistics, and intelligence operations.
HII designs, develops, integrates and manages the sensors, systems and other assets necessary to support integrated ISR operations and accelerated decision-making. With data fusion and mission management capabilities for the Department of Defense, the combatant commands and the intelligence community, HII advances the mission around the globe.
Leadership Mindset at HII – Mission Technologies
Leadership at HII is a mindset, not a title. Through our Leadership Capability Framework, we define how every employee grows, leads, and contributes—regardless of role. It sets the standard for how you can develop yourself and what you can expect from leaders across our organization. We look for candidates who want to grow in alignment with these capabilities:
Know & Grow Your People – Commit to learning and supporting team success.
Build Relationships – Communicate openly, collaborate well, and build trust.
Take Ownership – Deliver on commitments and take pride in your work.
Customer First – Focus on the mission and those we serve.
Shape the Future – Bring ideas, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
Act with Urgency – Take initiative and follow through with purpose.
These capabilities guide how all employees contribute to our shared success across Mission Technologies.
Who We Are
HII – Mission Technologies is seeking a Tech Advisor. The Tech Advisor provides specialized engineering expertise and technical support to mission partners and capability‑development teams. This role serves as a critical liaison between technical developers and mission‑partner personnel, ensuring solutions are aligned with operational needs, methodology requirements, and mission priorities. The advisor gathers customer input, helps refine requirements, instructs users on capability utilization, and collaborates with developers to tailor and optimize technical tools, features, and workflows. The Tech Advisor leverages deep knowledge of mission‑partner areas of responsibility (AORs), tactics, techniques, procedures (TTPs), and operational priorities to ensure that developed capabilities are effectively integrated and provide meaningful mission enhancement. The role also strengthens the broader user community by facilitating cross‑site sharing of best practices, methodologies, and analytic use cases.
STINGRAI: Advancing Mission Success Through Intelligence, Innovation, and Operational Excellence
Every day, HII helps U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and its mission partners stay ahead of evolving threats by delivering the intelligence, technology, and operational expertise needed to protect U.S. interests across the Western Hemisphere. Join our team on STINGRAI and support mission-critical operations through advanced intelligence, surveillance, cyber, engineering, and all-domain capabilities that strengthen regional security, enable informed decision-making, and help defend our nation today while preparing for tomorrow's challenges.
What You Will Do
Provide engineering and technical expertise to mission partners and capability‑development teams in support of system enhancements and operational integration.
Serve as the primary liaison between capability developers and mission‑partner personnel to ensure effective communication and alignment of requirements.
Gather inputs, feedback, and technical requirements to support methodology development, tool improvements, and capability customization.
Deliver assistance, instruction, and on‑site education to mission‑partner personnel to enable effective use and adoption of developed capabilities.
Collaborate closely with developers to refine and tailor capability features and functionality based on mission‑partner needs.
Apply knowledge of mission‑partner AORs, TTPs, operations, and mission priorities to guide technical solutions and ensure they provide operational value.
Facilitate a robust user community by enabling the sharing of analysis methods, workflows, and use cases across partner sites.
Support troubleshooting, workflow optimization, and continuous improvement of mission‑partner technical capabilities.
Promote consistent capability adoption and standardization across multiple mission‑partner locations.
What We Are Looking For
9 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 4 years relevant experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 13 years relevant experience.
Professional experience providing technical, engineering, or systems‑integration support to mission‑focused or operational teams.
Ability to gather, interpret, and translate user requirements into actionable technical tasks.
Experience serving as a liaison between technical developers and end‑users, preferably in a defense, intelligence, or mission‑partner environment.
Strong understanding of mission‑partner operations, AORs, TTPs, and operational priorities.
Ability to provide clear instruction, training, and support to technical and non‑technical personnel.
Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot system or workflow issues.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to facilitate information sharing across multi‑functional teams and geographically dispersed users.
Experience supporting capability customization, tool modification, or feature enhancement based on operational needs.
Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and support multiple mission‑partner sites or stakeholder groups.
Clearance: Must possess and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.
Physical Requirements
May require working in an office, industrial, shipboard, or laboratory environment. Capable of climbing ladders and tolerating confined spaces and extreme temperature variances.
The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.
Meet HII’s Mission Technologies Division
Our team of more than 7,000 professionals worldwide delivers all-domain expertise and advanced technologies in service of mission partners across the globe. Mission Technologies is leading the next evolution of national defense – the data evolution - by accelerating a breadth of national security solutions for government and commercial customers. Our capabilities range from C5ISR, AI and Big Data, cyber operations and synthetic training environments to fleet sustainment, environmental remediation and the largest family of unmanned underwater vehicles in every class. Find the role that’s right for you. Apply today. We look forward to meeting you.
To learn more about Mission Technologies, click here for a short video: https://vimeo.com/732533072
HII is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to build a new future. We offer competitive benefits such as best-in-class medical, dental and vision plan choices; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; Savings Plan Options (401(k)); financial planning tools, life insurance; employee discounts; paid holidays and paid time off; tuition reimbursement; as well as early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships. Bonus/other non-recurrent compensation is occasionally offered for qualified positions, and if applicable to this role will be addressed by the recruiter at the screening phase of application.
Why HII
We build the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.
Recognized as one of America’s top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people’s safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.
Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
Do You Need Assistance?
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to buildyourcareer@hii-co.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. Additionally, you may also call 1-844-849-8463 for assistance. Press #3 for HII Mission Technologies.
See All 129+ Clinical Research Director Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsClinical Research Director Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Research Director Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Children's National Hospital23

- Georgetown University9

- Howard University7

- Johns Hopkins University7

- Council On Foreign Relations5

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services26
- Education19
- Science & Research3
- Technology & Software3
- Government & Public Sector3
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical research director jobs across District of Columbia.
- Advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, or a related clinical field required
- Minimum eight to ten years of clinical research experience including senior leadership roles
- Demonstrated experience managing Phase I through Phase III or IV clinical trials
- Strong working knowledge of FDA regulations, GCP guidelines, and ICH standards
- Experience overseeing IRB submissions and regulatory affairs for multi-site studies
- Proficiency with clinical trial management systems and data integrity protocols
Clinical Research Director Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical research director in District of Columbia?
Clinical research directors in District of Columbia typically hold an advanced degree, such as an MD, PhD, or master's in a clinical or life sciences field, and build toward the role through progressive research management experience. There is no District of Columbia-issued state license specific to this director-level position, but many employers in Washington, D.C. expect candidates to hold or pursue a Certified Clinical Research Professional credential through the Society of Clinical Research Associates as a professional standard.
Which companies hire clinical research directors in District of Columbia?
Companies currently hiring clinical research directors in District of Columbia include Children's National Hospital, Georgetown University, and Howard University, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The Washington, D.C. market is particularly active among federal health agencies, government contractors, and academic medical centers with ties to the NIH campus and Capitol Hill policy environment.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most clinical research director jobs?
Washington and Foggy Bottom account for the most clinical research director openings in District of Columbia. Washington, D.C. itself dominates because it is home to federal agencies including NIH and FDA-adjacent institutions, major academic medical centers like MedStar Georgetown and Children's National, and a dense cluster of global health nonprofits and government contractors that collectively drive consistent demand for senior research leadership.
Are there remote clinical research director jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and more than many clinical roles, since a significant portion of the director's work involves strategy, regulatory oversight, vendor management, and cross-team coordination that can be done off-site. About 48% of clinical research director openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the oversight-heavy nature of the role. Responsibilities tied to on-site trial monitoring or investigator site visits typically require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a clinical research director in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is building a foundation as a clinical research coordinator or associate at one of Washington, D.C.'s large research institutions, such as NIH, MedStar Health, or Children's National Hospital, which regularly hire entry-level research staff and offer structured mentorship within active trial programs. Moving into a clinical research manager or project lead role before pursuing a director position is the standard trajectory. Earning a Certified Clinical Research Associate credential early strengthens a candidate's profile considerably.
Where can I find and apply to clinical research director jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to clinical research director jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the District of Columbia market. Search the roles available, identify the ones that match your experience and research focus, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 129+ Clinical Research Director Jobs in District of Columbia
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