The Director of Clinical Operations in the Discovery Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences plays a central role in the execution of Phase 1 clinical studies conducted in healthy volunteers at Alkermes. This role provides operational leadership for healthy volunteer studies across the clinical development lifecycle, ensuring studies are conducted in compliance with GCP, FDA regulations, ICH guidelines, company SOPs, and project timelines.
The Director will partner closely with Clinical Pharmacology, Translational Medicine, Medical, Biometrics, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Supply, Quality Assurance, Pharmacovigilance, and CRO partners to ensure successful execution of first-in-human (FIH), SAD, MAD, food effect, relative bioavailability, DDI, QTc, and other early development studies in healthy volunteers.
The successful candidate will be responsible for study budgets, forecasting, resource planning, operational strategy, inspection readiness, eTMF oversight, vendor management, and continuous process improvement and proactive risk identification to ensure on-time delivery of quality trials that meet the highest level of compliance.
Alkermes has recently adopted a hybrid working environment to support and meet the needs of employees and this role will operate in a flexible environment with 60% of time in the office and 40% from home. This position is eligible for the hybrid workplace model, requiring work to be completed onsite at our Waltham, MA office at least 3 days per week. This role is not eligible for fully remote work.
ResponsibilitiesLead planning, execution, and delivery of Phase 1 clinical studies, including FIH, SAD/MAD, food effect, BA/BE, HAP, TQT, DDI, and other studies in healthy volunteers.
Develop and manage study timelines, budgets, forecasts, and resource plans to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.
Provide operational input into protocol development, study design, feasibility assessments, and risk mitigation strategies.
Oversee CROs, Phase 1 units, laboratories, and clinical vendors, ensuring quality, performance, and adherence to study objectives.
Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, ICH-GCP guidelines, company SOPs, and applicable global regulatory requirements.
Partner with Clinical Pharmacology, Translational Medicine, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Medical, Safety, and Clinical Supply teams to support study execution and development objectives.
Maintain inspection readiness and oversee eTMF quality, completeness, and timely document filing throughout the study lifecycle.
Monitor study progress, enrollment, safety, data quality, and operational metrics, proactively addressing risks and issues.
Support IND submissions, protocol amendments, regulatory inspections, audit readiness, study closeout, and CSR activities.
Participate in SOP development, process mapping, and other departmental activities.
Lead, mentor, and develop Clinical Operations staff while driving operational excellence, process improvements, and a culture of quality and accountability.
Basic Qualifications:
- B.S, M.S or Ph.D in basic sciences with 12+ years of Clinical Operations experience at biotechnology or pharmaceutical company or CRO
Minimum of 5 yrs managing Phase 1 Studies in healthy volunteers
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior people management experience preferred.
- Expertise in Subject Matter and competent in application of standard business procedures (SOPs, ICH, Global Regulations, Ethics and Compliance)
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $219,000 to $235,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here
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About UsWhy join Team Alkermes?
Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts’ Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.
Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.
Skills Required
- B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in basic sciences
- 12 or more years of Clinical Operations experience at a biotechnology company, pharmaceutical company, or CRO
- At least 5 years managing Phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers
- Prior people management experience
- Subject matter expertise and competence applying SOPs, ICH guidelines, global regulations, ethics, and compliance procedures
What We Do
Alkermes focuses on the development of innovative medicines that seek to address unmet needs of people living with serious mental illness, addiction, and cancer. As a fully-integrated, global biopharmaceutical company, we apply our scientific expertise and proprietary technologies to develop products that are designed to make a meaningful difference in the way patients manage their disease. We are inspired by some of the most pressing public health challenges of our time to help advance innovation with the potential to improve treatment options and outcomes for patients. Beyond our important mission of developing medicines, we believe it is our responsibility to take a holistic approach as we seek to support patients, caregivers, and broader impacted communities. In this context we also work to help support and enhance the systems through which these complex diseases are treated. We are committed to patient engagement, disease education and awareness, and advocacy for important policies that support equitable access to quality treatment. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, we have an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. See our Community Guidelines: https://www.alkermes.com/social-community-guidelines
