TN Visa Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs
Associate Director Clinical Operations roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA treaty's scientist and engineer categories. Canadian professionals can apply without a lottery or cap. Mexican nationals have a limited annual allocation. Your degree in a life sciences or health field, paired with a qualifying U.S. job offer, is the foundation for a clean TN filing.
See All Associate Director Clinical Operations JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 6+ Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?
See all 6+ Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Director Clinical Operations roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
Associate Director, Clinical Operations
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills with very strong experience in executing Phase 1-3 global clinical trials.
- Experience leading a team managing international trials using CROs from set-up through to close out.
- Global clinical research expertise with excellent line and matrix management skills.
- Excellent teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to effectively develop talent.
- Highly developed critical thinking, prioritization and risk management skills to drive successful execution of trials.
- Strong knowledge of GCP and related international regulations.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
Experience Required
- 5+ years global experience, with 5+ years at Senior Manager level or above in a Biotech/Pharma/CRO.
- Proven track record of effective leadership in a multi-disciplinary team.
Education Required
- Bachelor’s Degree
Travel Required
- Yes (up to 15%)
Job Summary
The Associate Director is accountable for the day-to-day management of the assigned clinical operations team. Provide strategic direction and leadership for the execution of trials. Accountable to ensure the delivery of appropriately skilled resources so that trials are delivered according to corporate objectives. Responsible for the delivery of clinical study milestones. Provide hands-on operations as necessary. Overseeing vendor activities with appropriate risk mitigations and contingency planning. Contribute strategic clinical operations input to the clinical development of Protagonist assets.
Core Responsibilities and skills
- Primary operational leader of the clinical program implementation.
- Participate in resource allocation, prioritization and budgeting to ensure department goals and milestones are aligned and tracking to corporate objectives. Line management responsibilities include hiring talent, performance development and mentorship.
- Ensure ongoing strong vendor interactions and collaborations, including hands-on interactions and management.
- Develop and manage integrated study timelines and leads study strategy meetings to review trial status/progress.
- Provide input on strategy in the development of realistic project milestones and deliverables. Apply appropriate project management tools and processes.
- Lead ongoing risk assessments with accompanying mitigation plans and contingency plans. Strong abilities to problem-solve and diagnose the root causes and implement the appropriate corrective actions.
- Provide input to the development and review of study and overall clinical program budgets. Take corrective measures as necessary to keep project(s) in line within agreed timelines, quality, budget and performance metrics. Assess the impact of project scope changes to understand the implications on agreed plans and budgets.
- Help develop site recruitment, enrollment and engagement strategies. Present overall scorecard and analysis to senior management.
- Manage interdisciplinary activities to ensure clinical operations team collaborates effectively to set achievable goals, milestones and timelines. Establish strong cross-functional relationships and manage cross functional resources and study deliverables.
- Identify and implement best practices and leverage lessons learnt and process improvements. Collaborate with Clinical Quality Assurance to develop a strategic plan for CRO and vendor audits. Proactively seek out, recommend and execute process improvements.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, succinctly and credibly to all organizational levels. A proven ability to anticipate and respond quickly to key emerging information.
- Maintain oversight and contribute to the development of the department’s standard operating procedures (SOPs). Ensure plans are developed in accordance with SOPs, and there is compliance with all controlled document requirements and other requirements to help guarantee quality deliverables.
- Maintain knowledge of product areas, current trends, and literature to help ensure compliance.
- Drive excellence in the overall clinical operational activities across multiple clinical trials. Creative, dynamic and results-oriented. Act with integrity and respect at all times.
- Proficient in the use of computer and software systems (e.g., Excel, MS Project).
- Perform other duties, initiatives and assignments as requested for the overall performance of the function and the company.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $185K and $205K / year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. The Company's proprietary peptide technology platform enables de novo discovery of peptide therapeutics. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are at or near commercialization. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ICOTYDE is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for further development and commercialization. An NDA for rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide that is being co-developed with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered in 2024, is under priority review with the FDA. Protagonist holds an option to co-commercialize rusfertide in the U.S. through a 50/50 profit and loss share structure or can opt-out of this structure. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets including an oral IL-17 peptide antagonist, obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin programs.

Associate Director, Clinical Operations
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills with very strong experience in executing Phase 1-3 global clinical trials.
- Experience leading a team managing international trials using CROs from set-up through to close out.
- Global clinical research expertise with excellent line and matrix management skills.
- Excellent teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to effectively develop talent.
- Highly developed critical thinking, prioritization and risk management skills to drive successful execution of trials.
- Strong knowledge of GCP and related international regulations.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
Experience Required
- 5+ years global experience, with 5+ years at Senior Manager level or above in a Biotech/Pharma/CRO.
- Proven track record of effective leadership in a multi-disciplinary team.
Education Required
- Bachelor’s Degree
Travel Required
- Yes (up to 15%)
Job Summary
The Associate Director is accountable for the day-to-day management of the assigned clinical operations team. Provide strategic direction and leadership for the execution of trials. Accountable to ensure the delivery of appropriately skilled resources so that trials are delivered according to corporate objectives. Responsible for the delivery of clinical study milestones. Provide hands-on operations as necessary. Overseeing vendor activities with appropriate risk mitigations and contingency planning. Contribute strategic clinical operations input to the clinical development of Protagonist assets.
Core Responsibilities and skills
- Primary operational leader of the clinical program implementation.
- Participate in resource allocation, prioritization and budgeting to ensure department goals and milestones are aligned and tracking to corporate objectives. Line management responsibilities include hiring talent, performance development and mentorship.
- Ensure ongoing strong vendor interactions and collaborations, including hands-on interactions and management.
- Develop and manage integrated study timelines and leads study strategy meetings to review trial status/progress.
- Provide input on strategy in the development of realistic project milestones and deliverables. Apply appropriate project management tools and processes.
- Lead ongoing risk assessments with accompanying mitigation plans and contingency plans. Strong abilities to problem-solve and diagnose the root causes and implement the appropriate corrective actions.
- Provide input to the development and review of study and overall clinical program budgets. Take corrective measures as necessary to keep project(s) in line within agreed timelines, quality, budget and performance metrics. Assess the impact of project scope changes to understand the implications on agreed plans and budgets.
- Help develop site recruitment, enrollment and engagement strategies. Present overall scorecard and analysis to senior management.
- Manage interdisciplinary activities to ensure clinical operations team collaborates effectively to set achievable goals, milestones and timelines. Establish strong cross-functional relationships and manage cross functional resources and study deliverables.
- Identify and implement best practices and leverage lessons learnt and process improvements. Collaborate with Clinical Quality Assurance to develop a strategic plan for CRO and vendor audits. Proactively seek out, recommend and execute process improvements.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, succinctly and credibly to all organizational levels. A proven ability to anticipate and respond quickly to key emerging information.
- Maintain oversight and contribute to the development of the department’s standard operating procedures (SOPs). Ensure plans are developed in accordance with SOPs, and there is compliance with all controlled document requirements and other requirements to help guarantee quality deliverables.
- Maintain knowledge of product areas, current trends, and literature to help ensure compliance.
- Drive excellence in the overall clinical operational activities across multiple clinical trials. Creative, dynamic and results-oriented. Act with integrity and respect at all times.
- Proficient in the use of computer and software systems (e.g., Excel, MS Project).
- Perform other duties, initiatives and assignments as requested for the overall performance of the function and the company.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $185K and $205K / year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. The Company's proprietary peptide technology platform enables de novo discovery of peptide therapeutics. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are at or near commercialization. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ICOTYDE is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for further development and commercialization. An NDA for rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide that is being co-developed with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered in 2024, is under priority review with the FDA. Protagonist holds an option to co-commercialize rusfertide in the U.S. through a 50/50 profit and loss share structure or can opt-out of this structure. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets including an oral IL-17 peptide antagonist, obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin programs.
See all 6+ Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Director Clinical Operations roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as an Associate Director Clinical Operations
Align your credentials to TN categories
Clinical operations leadership roles typically qualify under the scientist or engineer category. Confirm your degree field maps directly to the category before applying, as a mismatch in credential framing is the most common TN denial trigger for this title.
Target employers with active IND or NDA portfolios
Sponsors running active investigational new drug or new drug application pipelines need experienced clinical ops directors urgently and are far more practiced at TN filings than early-stage biotechs with no regulatory history.
Search TN-sponsored roles through Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters Associate Director Clinical Operations openings by TN visa sponsorship availability, so you're not wasting applications on employers who don't understand USMCA treaty worker categories or won't support the filing.
Request a support letter detailing specialty occupation
Ask your prospective employer to draft a TN support letter that explicitly names your degree field, your clinical operations responsibilities, and the regulatory frameworks you'll oversee. Vague letters citing general management duties draw scrutiny at the port of entry.
Understand Canadian versus Mexican filing differences
Canadian citizens can get TN status adjudicated at a U.S. port of entry the same day. Mexican nationals must apply at a U.S. consulate in advance, which adds processing time you'll need to factor into your offer acceptance timeline.
Negotiate TN renewal terms before accepting an offer
TN status is granted in three-year increments with no cap on renewals. Before signing, confirm your employer commits to supporting renewals and will provide the necessary documentation if your circumstances change during your employment.
Associate Director Clinical Operations jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Associate Director Clinical Operations JobsAssociate Director Clinical Operations TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Director Clinical Operations role qualify for TN visa status?
Yes, if your degree is in a qualifying field such as biology, chemistry, pharmacy, or engineering and your job duties are primarily technical or scientific in nature. Clinical operations leadership roles that involve protocol design, site management, and regulatory compliance typically satisfy the TN specialty occupation standard. Pure general management duties without a defined scientific component can complicate the classification.
How does TN visa sponsorship compare to H-1B for this role?
TN visa sponsorship for Associate Director Clinical Operations positions is significantly faster and more predictable than H-1B. There is no annual lottery, no cap for Canadians, and no multi-month USCIS petition queue. Canadian professionals can receive TN status at a U.S. port of entry the same day. H-1B requires a lottery selection that occurs once per year, making TN a more reliable path for qualified USMCA nationals.
Which employers sponsor TN visas for clinical operations director roles?
Pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and biotechs managing Phase II through Phase IV trials are the most active sponsors for this title. Organizations running active IND portfolios need experienced clinical operations leadership and are generally familiar with TN filings. Migrate Mate lets you search Associate Director Clinical Operations openings filtered specifically by TN visa sponsorship so you can focus on employers already set up to support your filing.
What documents do I need for a TN application at this seniority level?
You'll need a valid Canadian or Mexican passport, a TN support letter from your employer on company letterhead that details your job title, duties, degree requirement, and compensation, and official transcripts or a certified copy of your degree. At this seniority level, border officers may ask for evidence connecting your specific degree field to your clinical operations responsibilities, so a well-drafted support letter is essential.
Can I switch employers while on TN status as an Associate Director?
Yes, but your TN status is tied to your specific employer and role. If you change employers, you'll need a new TN authorization before starting with the new company. Canadian nationals can typically get a new TN adjudicated at a port of entry within a day. Mexican nationals will need to schedule a new consular appointment. Plan the transition carefully to avoid a gap in authorized employment status.
See which Associate Director Clinical Operations employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs