Research Director Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Job Summary:

The Perinatal Research Program (PRP) is organized around four major sub-program components with the mission of serving pregnant individuals and their families through excellence in clinical research.

• Pregnancy Research Infrastructure and Support Management (PRISM) was established in 2010 to support research infrastructure within the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences (OB/GYN & RS) at Mission Bay. To date, PRISM has supported over 50 studies, providing comprehensive, on-the-ground research support across the full spectrum of clinical research activities and serving multiple faculty Principal Investigators (PIs). A parallel infrastructure support program has been established at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG), currently supporting an average of 5–6 studies and serving as a base to facilitate research participation and enrollment for UCSF faculty conducting clinical research at ZSFG.
• The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network collaboration was established at UCSF in 2023 under the leadership of the PRP Director. Originally founded in 1986, the MFMU Network conducts large-scale perinatal studies to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Funded by the NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the network includes 14 clinical centers and a data coordinating center. PRP currently participates in three ongoing randomized clinical trials within the MFMU Network, with two additional trials anticipated to begin in 2026.
• The Fetal Sequencing Program (FSP) represents another major component of PRP and positions UCSF as one of the national leaders in the field of perinatal genetics. Supported by NIH and philanthropic funding, this program provides advanced prenatal diagnostic services, including clinical exome and genome sequencing for a wide range of fetal conditions. FSP, with its multiple ongoing studies and extensive database also serves as a hub for UCSF learners (e.g. medical students, residents and fellows).
• The fourth component, Perinatal Clinical Research (PRC), encompasses a diverse portfolio of studies funded by NIH, PCORI, philanthropy and industry sponsors. PRC includes large multicenter randomized controlled trials, long term follow up studies, industry sponsored studies, prenatal diagnostic development, and other treatment studies. Collectively, the PRP portfolio includes approximately 25 active studies with total funding of approximately $7 million.

Under the direction of the PRP Director, the Associate Director of Research (ADR) is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and regulatory compliance of ongoing clinical research activities, requiring advanced expertise in research operations and program leadership.

The ADR works collaboratively with academic faculty, clinical investigators, and external partners—including research consortia and stakeholder groups—to ensure efficient and effective program operations. This role provides administrative and strategic leadership, including development and execution of annual work plans, long-term program strategy, staffing models, and business planning. The ADR oversees daily research operations, managing competing priorities and ensuring timely execution of program objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Determining staffing needs based on operational demands and available funding
• Overseeing financial tracking and resource allocation
• Supporting grant development and submission
• Serving as a liaison with pre- and post-award teams and departmental leadership
• Organizing and managing research oversight committees
• Monitoring study overlap and resource utilization
• Coordinating with internal and external partners (e.g., ZSFG, UCSD, UCSF Highland, UCSF Fresno and other UC campuses) to launch, monitor and supervise clinical research at the sub-sites
• Providing high-level oversight of IRB and regulatory compliance

The ADR meets regularly with the PRP Director and project managers (e.g., PRISM Supervisor, MFMU Coordinator) to guide strategy and address operational priorities. This role also evaluates and negotiates PRISM support requests from investigators and ensures coverage across projects as needed. The ADR works closely with the Program Manager of the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine.

Department Overview:

The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (Ob, Gyn & RS) is a major academic Department in the School of Medicine, engaged in clinical, research and training activities at the Parnassus, Mount Zion, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital campuses, the new Betty Irene Moore Women’s Hospital at Mission Bay, as well as satellite locations throughout the Bay Area, with an annual operating budget of $150 million. The Department has 134 full-time faculty, 117 other academic appointees, 13 post-doctoral fellows, 22 clinical fellows, 32 residents, 138 voluntary clinical faculty and 270 staff.

The mission of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences is to improve the lives and health of all women through excellence, innovation and leadership in patient care, scientific discovery, education, advocacy, and diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to providing quality health care services; educating health care providers and investigators; and conducting research to advance knowledge in our field.

Reasonable accommodation(s) to qualified individuals with disabilities are available as part of the application and interview processes. If you would like to request accommodations, please contact the recruiter or hiring manager. If workplace accommodations are needed after a job offer is made, please contact the supervisor and/or Disability Management Services (DMS) at (415) 476-2621 to initiate the interactive process.

Required:

• Terminal degree in a related area (PhD, MD, etc.) and / or equivalent experience / training required.
• Minimum of 6+ years experience with OBGYN or Women’s Health working environment
• Minimum of 5+ years' prior experience in a supervisory/lead, management or leadership role directly involved in managing staff. Experience providing supervision, mentorship, or functional oversight of staff or program activities. Ability to support staff development, delegate tasks, and ensure accountability.
• Academic or research background and recognized expertise in reproductive and perinatal research. Advanced knowledge of reproductive, maternal, and perinatal health research, including familiarity with research methodologies, clinical practices, and regulatory requirements. Ability to apply this knowledge to support program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Expert oral and written communication skills. Strong ability to communicate complex academic, clinical, and programmatic information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences. Experience developing reports, presentations, grant materials, and program communications with minimal supervision.
• Leadership experience in academic, government or non-profit agencies in a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, initiatives, or functional areas within academic, healthcare, or mission-driven organizations. Ability to independently manage program components and contribute to strategic planning efforts.
• Demonstrated expertise with program building within a leading academic institution and administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices.
• Proven ability to manage program operations, including budgeting, financial tracking, HR coordination, and resource allocation. Experience overseeing program budgets, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring compliance with institutional and funding requirements.
• Expert ability to work with dynamic and diverse group of faculty, staff and students.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with demonstrated ability to build relationships and work across disciplines and organizational levels. Commitment to equity, inclusion, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Managerial experience and proven success in managing a complex research or academic program(s). Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple components of complex programs, including planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Ability to track outcomes, identify issues, and implement solutions.
• Strong organizational and customer service skills to effectively manage multiple important priorities.
• Highly effective organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders. Demonstrated commitment to high-quality service and responsiveness in supporting program needs.
• Substantial experience in clinical, research, or administrative settings related to obstetrics, gynecology, or women’s health. Strong understanding of operational and programmatic needs within this specialty.
• Experience working in an academic medical institution. In-depth familiarity with academic health systems, including coordination across clinical, research, and educational missions, and understanding of institutional policies and compliance requirements.
• Strong negotiation skills and verbal and written communication skills; ability to influence / persuade all levels of staff. Demonstrated ability to analyze issues, develop solutions, and influence decision-making across a range of stakeholders. Skilled in facilitating discussions, resolving conflicts, and building consensus.

Preferred:

• Leadership experience in academic, government or non-profit agencies in a related field.
• CITI Human Subject Research Protection Training, Good Clinical Practices Training

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.