Lead Site Manager

Why RTI

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

RTI International, an independent nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition, is seeking a Lead Site Manager to support a large, NIH-funded Long COVID clinical trials program. This role will partner closely with the Site Managing Director to oversee site management activities and support a team of Site Managers across a national network of clinical trial sites. The successful candidate will provide operational leadership, oversight, and hands‑on support to ensure high‑quality, compliant, and timely execution of site-level activities across multiple protocols.

• Oversee and support site management functions in collaboration with the Site Managing Director, ensuring consistent execution of site management activities across the portfolio of trials.
• Provide day-to-day operational leadership and support for site management team staff, including workload planning/assignments, issue resolution, and implementation of standardized processes.
• Support site identification, feasibility/qualification, start‑up, activation, maintenance, and close‑out activities, with respect to coordination of associated timelines and deliverables.
• Serve as an escalation point for site‑related operational challenges and partner accordingly with cross‑functional teams to implement effective solutions.

• Support and coordinate site contracting activities in collaboration with the contracts and finance team, including resolving site-level issues that may impact start-up timelines.
• Oversee and support site management team staff in the collection, review, and maintenance of essential regulatory documents (e.g., CVs, medical licenses, training documentation, FDA Forms 1572, financial disclosures) in accordance with protocol, GCP, and NIH requirements.
• Partner with regulatory affairs and central IRB teams to help oversee site IRB submissions, approvals, continuing reviews, and amendments.
• Ensure regulatory readiness of sites prior to activation and throughout trial conduct.

• Serve as a primary operational interface with key external vendors supporting site management activities, including CROs or vendors responsible for site monitoring and oversight, patient recruitment, and statistical analysis and data management (e.g., EDC vendor, etc.).
• Coordinate closely with monitoring vendors to align site management and monitoring activities, address findings, and support timely issue resolution.
• Review and track vendor deliverables related to site performance, monitoring outcomes, and compliance.
• Escalate site‑or vendor-related risks and collaborate with internal teams and vendors to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support vendor onboarding, communication workflows, and ongoing collaboration to ensure efficient integration with site operations and relevant cross‑functional teams.

• Support interactions with NIH program staff and external stakeholders related to site operations, contracting progress, regulatory compliance, and vendor-supported activities.
• Contribute to preparation for NIH meetings, reviews, reporting, and audits.
• Ensure clear, consistent communication between program leadership, vendors, and participating sites.