Operational Director, Clinical Trials & Research

Bayside Health

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff are focused on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive. Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.

• Permanent ongoing Full-time – 76 hours per fortnight  
• Managers and Administrative Workers Grade 7 (HS7) - Competitive remuneration package 
• Drive research excellence and clinical trial leadership
• Alfred Care Group
• Staff benefits

Position Summary
The Operational Director, Clinical Trials & Research provides strategic and operational leadership for research governance, clinical trials, Sponsor Office functions, research quality systems, and research partnerships across Bayside Health – Alfred Care Group.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Research, the role is responsible for ensuring compliance with national and international research, ethical and regulatory frameworks, while strengthening the organisation’s position as a leading centre for clinical trials and research excellence.

A key priority of the role is establishing and leading the Sponsor Office, creating a contemporary governance framework that supports high-quality, compliant and efficient sponsored clinical trials across the organisation. It also oversees research funding and financial sustainability, supports the development of a skilled and agile research workforce, and drives initiatives that enhance research quality, patient outcomes, operational performance and strategic growth. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the Operational Director plays a key role in advancing organisational research strategy and influencing precinct-wide and national research initiatives. This role will also have one direct report. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Institutional research governance and regulatory compliance
• Establishment and oversight of the Sponsor Office
• Research strategy, sector leadership and precinct partnerships
• University and Precinct partner relationship oversight
• Performance, safety, quality and risk Management
• Consumer and community engagement
• Strategic planning and executive engagement
• Research promotion, communications and capability building
• Workforce, culture and sustainable workforce development
• Financial oversight and research financial stewardship

Qualifications/Experience Required

Essential

• Relevant tertiary qualification in health, biomedical science, clinical research or a related discipline
• Extensive experience in research governance, clinical trials operations and institutional compliance in a large health service
• Expertise in ICH GCP E6 (R3) and sponsor-level responsibilities
• Demonstrated capacity to establish and manage advanced research quality management systems
• Strong understanding of accreditation frameworks (NSQHS Standards, NCTGF).
• Demonstrated experience in financial governance of research portfolios.
• High-level leadership and change management capability in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional interpersonal, stakeholder management, negotiation and written communication skills.
• Experience managing risk, audit, regulatory inspections and performance oversight.
• Demonstrated experience developing teams, uplifting capability and building sustainable workforces.

Desirable

• Experience establishing or leading a Sponsor Office or equivalent function.
• Strong understanding of academic–health service partnership governance.
• Knowledge of digital research platforms (ethics/governance systems, monitoring tools).
• Postgraduate qualifications in health administration, research management, public health or a related field.

Benefits

• Influence clinical trials, research governance and research capability
• Work within a highly regarded health and research sector alongside other leaders, researchers and clinicians.
• Opportunities for ongoing learning & development
• Salary packaging and employee benefits

Please submit your application with a resume and cover letter, responding to the key selection criteria as per the position description.

For more information about the role, please refer to the position description.

For any enquiries, please contact Professor Terry O’Brien at te.obrien@alfred.org.au

Applications close: 11pm, Thursday 23rd July 2026.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption.