Site Director - Clinical Research

At Headlands Research, we are dedicated to enhancing clinical trial delivery within our communities. As a leading network of advanced clinical trial sites, we leverage cutting-edge technology and exceptional support services to broaden outreach and participation. Founded in 2018, our rapidly growing company currently operates 20+ sites across the US and Canada, with plans for further expansion.

Are you an experienced clinical research professional with a passion for advancing medicine? Join a leading, integrated clinical research network dedicated to high-quality data, patient-centered care, and innovation in clinical trials.

We’re seeking a Site Director to help us build our newest clinical research site located in Escondido, California. Reporting to the Senior Director of Regional Operations (RDO), the Site Director (SD) oversees daily operations at the site to ensure participant safety, sponsor satisfaction, and high-quality data. This role drives financial targets, enrollment goals, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), while ensuring strict adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), International Council of Harmonization (ICH), applicable regulatory requirements and Company and site level policies and procedures.

This role requires strong leadership and communication skills to guide and mentor staff, provide strategic direction, manage resources, and foster a collaborative environment to achieve research objectives.

Type: Regular Full-time Employee
Schedule: Mondays through Fridays, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Onsite in Escondido, CA (no capabilities for remote or hybrid work)
Benefits: Our benefits package for full-time employees includes health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Paid Time Off (PTO), a variety of disability, accident, and life insurance options, as well as many more.

• Competitive pay + annual performance incentives
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) and company holidays
• A mission-driven culture focused on advancing medicine and improving patient outcomes

You’ll be part of a growing, mission-driven organization that values its people. At our core, we’re committed to bringing innovative medical treatments to patients faster—while creating an environment where employees thrive. If you’re passionate about clinical research and ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

• Manage site facilities, workflows, and Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS) to ensure premium experience for study participants, staff, and sponsors
• Monitor clinical study progress, review monitor reports, and create risk management/mitigation strategies during the full lifecycle of a study
• Ensure that all studies are conducted in compliance with all applicable regulations, GCP, ICH, policies, and procedures. This work is supported by the RDO, Therapeutic Area Leadership (TA Leadership) and Quality team, which provides SOPs, training, best practices, quality reviews, issue resolution and expertise to ensure high-quality trial execution and that the site remains audit-ready for customer or regulatory inspections
• Responsible for the lifecycle of all site regulatory documentation, from initial start-up through ongoing maintenance
• Provide operational support for protocol-related questions and ensure all staff are trained on study-specific requirements, in coordination with the principal investigator
• Oversee external site partners/vendors, including onboarding, training, and performance monitoring
• Ensure proper storage and handling of study specimens and investigational products
• Partner with Headlands’ Shared Services teams,…