E-3 Visa Clinical Research Director Jobs
Clinical Research Director roles in the U.S. require a bachelor's degree in a life sciences or related field, and most positions at sponsor-active CROs, pharma companies, and academic medical centers qualify as E-3 specialty occupations. Australian nationals can secure E-3 visa sponsorship without entering a lottery, making this one of the most direct paths to leading U.S. clinical trials.
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Get Access To All JobsWHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Under minimal supervision, this high-level position provides strategic administrative, operational, and fiscal leadership of research facilities, information systems supporting research including supervision of and administrative support for clinical research programs.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
5 years of experience to include at least
3 years in supervisory capacity and clinical research experience.
Preferred
Education
Graduate degree preferred.
JOB DUTIES
- Direct and coordinate activities for the Clinical Research Services unit.
- Facilitate timely and appropriate communication with Principal Investigators and Research Nurses/Coordinators on all aspects of clinical research administration.
- Lead continuous process and operational improvement initiatives to reduce cycle-times, improve overall compliance posture, and remove unnecessary administrative burdens. Ensures the office will provide knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and timely support to clinical research community.
- Oversee the clinical trial coverage analyses process and reviews, contract development, and budget negotiation for industry-funded clinical trials and complex non-industry clinical trials.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of Velos, the institutional clinical trial management system. Oversee the process to register all clinical trials within institutional clinical trial management system and, as necessary, with federal clinicaltrials.gov registry and within institutional clinical trial registries.
- Participate and/or facilitate discussions around the integration between Velos and other sponsored award management systems, specifically PeopleSoft and eGrants (Click solution).
- Oversee the process to register all clinical trial participants within Velos and, as necessary, with affiliated electronic medical record systems.
- Ensure that clinical research income is billed in a timely manner, received timely, and accounted for accurately in institutional financial systems.
- Serve as the primary Department of Surgery point of contact with affiliate institutions on clinical trial needs, working continually to improve processes and services to ensure limited to no disruption in clinical services.
- Establish key operational metrics, publish periodic performance reports to research community, and maintain maximum efficiency and meet performance objectives.
- Implement and oversee an ongoing educational and training program for faculty and staff relating to conducting clinical research in partnership with Research Administration.
- Establish and maintain policies and procedures related to clinical research billing compliance. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Oversee supervisors and/or subordinate managers to include establishing priorities.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Under minimal supervision, this high-level position provides strategic administrative, operational, and fiscal leadership of research facilities, information systems supporting research including supervision of and administrative support for clinical research programs.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
5 years of experience to include at least
3 years in supervisory capacity and clinical research experience.
Preferred
Education
Graduate degree preferred.
JOB DUTIES
- Direct and coordinate activities for the Clinical Research Services unit.
- Facilitate timely and appropriate communication with Principal Investigators and Research Nurses/Coordinators on all aspects of clinical research administration.
- Lead continuous process and operational improvement initiatives to reduce cycle-times, improve overall compliance posture, and remove unnecessary administrative burdens. Ensures the office will provide knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and timely support to clinical research community.
- Oversee the clinical trial coverage analyses process and reviews, contract development, and budget negotiation for industry-funded clinical trials and complex non-industry clinical trials.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of Velos, the institutional clinical trial management system. Oversee the process to register all clinical trials within institutional clinical trial management system and, as necessary, with federal clinicaltrials.gov registry and within institutional clinical trial registries.
- Participate and/or facilitate discussions around the integration between Velos and other sponsored award management systems, specifically PeopleSoft and eGrants (Click solution).
- Oversee the process to register all clinical trial participants within Velos and, as necessary, with affiliated electronic medical record systems.
- Ensure that clinical research income is billed in a timely manner, received timely, and accounted for accurately in institutional financial systems.
- Serve as the primary Department of Surgery point of contact with affiliate institutions on clinical trial needs, working continually to improve processes and services to ensure limited to no disruption in clinical services.
- Establish key operational metrics, publish periodic performance reports to research community, and maintain maximum efficiency and meet performance objectives.
- Implement and oversee an ongoing educational and training program for faculty and staff relating to conducting clinical research in partnership with Research Administration.
- Establish and maintain policies and procedures related to clinical research billing compliance. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Oversee supervisors and/or subordinate managers to include establishing priorities.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
See all 67+ E-3 Visa Clinical Research Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new E-3 Visa Clinical Research Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding E-3 Visa Sponsorship in Clinical Research Director
Align your credentials to FDA-regulated trial standards
U.S. employers hiring Clinical Research Directors expect familiarity with FDA 21 CFR Part 312 and ICH E6 GCP. Before applying, reframe your Australian TGA experience in terms of FDA equivalency so hiring managers and DOL reviewers see a direct specialty occupation fit.
Target CROs and pharma companies with LCA history
Contract research organizations and mid-to-large pharmaceutical companies file LCAs regularly and have established HR processes for E-3 visa sponsorship. Searching DOL's Foreign Labor Application Gateway disclosure data by job title filters these employers from those with no filing history.
Address E-3 sponsorship early in recruiter conversations
Many U.S. recruiters default to H-1B visa when they hear 'visa sponsorship.' Clarify upfront that you hold Australian citizenship and that E-3 requires only an LCA and consular appointment, with no lottery and no cap exposure, so the employer's cost and timeline are significantly lower.
Prepare a specialty occupation support letter with your offer
Consular officers assess whether a Clinical Research Director role genuinely requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Ask your employer to draft a letter linking the job duties to your degree discipline before your DS-160 appointment, not after a 221(g) administrative processing delay.
Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service for your LCA and paperwork
The LCA must be DOL-certified before you can attend your consular interview. Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service to handle your LCA submission, prevailing wage compliance, and consulate preparation so nothing stalls your start date with your new employer.
Negotiate your E-3 renewal cycle into your employment contract
E-3 status is granted in two-year increments and requires a new LCA each renewal. Before you sign your offer, confirm the employer will sponsor renewals and that your role title and duties won't shift enough between cycles to trigger a new specialty occupation assessment at the consulate.
E-3 Visa Clinical Research Director: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Clinical Research Director jobs that offer E-3 visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for Australian professionals searching for U.S. roles with E-3 sponsorship. You can filter by job title and industry to find Clinical Research Director positions at employers who already understand E-3 requirements. Because E-3 has no cap or lottery, any employer willing to file an LCA with the DOL can sponsor you, which broadens the field considerably compared to H-1B-only searches.
How much does it cost to get an E-3 visa?
Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service covers the entire process for $499, including the Labor Condition Application, visa document preparation, and consulate appointment guidance. Traditional immigration lawyers charge $2,000–$5,000+ for the same work. The E-3 has less paperwork than most work visas, so paying thousands for legal help is usually unnecessary.
Does a Clinical Research Director role qualify as a specialty occupation for E-3 purposes?
Yes, Clinical Research Director positions consistently meet the E-3 specialty occupation standard because they require a bachelor's degree or higher in life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, or a related discipline as a normal entry requirement. The role involves applying specialized knowledge across protocol design, regulatory submissions, and trial management, which satisfies the DOL's definition. Roles that blend clinical and general management functions may require a stronger degree-nexus justification letter from the employer.
How does the E-3 visa compare to the H-1B for Clinical Research Directors?
The E-3 is available only to Australian citizens, but it has two major structural advantages over the H-1B for this role: there is no annual cap and no lottery, so your start date depends on consulate scheduling rather than a random draw. H-1B registration opens once a year in March, and selection is not guaranteed. E-3 applications can be filed year-round and are processed at the consulate, typically within a few weeks of your interview.
What happens to my E-3 status if I change employers mid-trial or take a new role?
E-3 status is employer-specific, so a change in employer requires a new LCA filed by the incoming employer and a new consular stamp before you begin working for them. You cannot port E-3 status the way some other visa categories allow. If you're transitioning between CROs or moving from a sponsor company to an academic medical center, build in enough lead time for the new LCA to be DOL-certified, which the DOL targets within seven business days under standard processing.