"Senior Trials Manager"

Job Description:

• Faculty Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
• Full-time, fixed-term position through to 31st December 2028
• Base salary will be in the range $135,300 - $143,081 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 9)
• Based at our Herston Campus

About This Opportunity

At The University of Queensland, we’re creating change through research excellence, innovation and collaboration—and we’re looking for people who want to be part of that impact.

As a Senior Trials Manager at the UQ Clinical Trials Centre, you will play a key leadership role in advancing high-quality, investigator-initiated clinical trials that improve health outcomes and support UQ’s strategic research goals. This role is responsible for providing strategic oversight and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of clinical trials, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, governance frameworks, and Quality by Design principles

You will lead and support multiple Trial Management Teams, ensuring trials are delivered efficiently, ethically, and in compliance with all relevant regulations. Through mentoring and team development, you will help build a high-performing, solutions-focused workforce committed to clinical trial excellence. Working closely with the Centre’s Directors, you will also contribute to the strategic growth of the research program and foster strong partnerships across the university and the broader clinical research community. Join a university that values curiosity, collaboration and integrity—and help drive meaningful change in the world of clinical research.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of investigator-initiated trials, contributing to pre-award planning, stakeholder engagement, long-term sustainability, and the implementation of innovative trial methodologies aligned with UQ CTC’s strategic goals.
• Lead and supervise Trial Management Teams, applying Quality by Design principles to ensure high-quality trial execution and compliance with governance, regulatory, and ethical standards across all trial phases.
• Oversee operational management including trial start-up, site coordination, resource allocation, recruitment performance, financial management, and continuous improvement of administrative and quality systems.
• Drive governance, quality assurance, and data integrity through proactive risk management, audit readiness, committee coordination, and the development of a high-performing team culture focused on mentorship, training, and professional growth.
• Some travel to UQ Campuses may be required.

For a full position description please contact talent@uq.edu.au

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
• 17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave.
• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
• Salary packaging options

About You

We are seeking a motivated and highly experienced Senior Trials Manager with postgraduate qualifications or relevant professional certification in Health, Science, Project Management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. In this strategic leadership role, you will manage a portfolio of clinical trials and support the establishment and daily operations of the UQ Clinical Trials Centre. Working within a dynamic and high-performing team, you’ll contribute to an exciting new initiative with strong opportunities for professional growth. Success in this role requires excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, along with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently in a fast-paced, complex environment.

• Strategic and Operational Leadership: Proven ability to provide strategic direction and oversight for clinical trial operations, ensuring governance, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Clinical Trial Management Expertise: Extensive experience managing multi-centre randomised clinical trials from initiation to completion, including compliance with ICH-GCP, ethics, and institutional governance.
• Research Methodology & Data Management: In-depth understanding of clinical research methodologies and regulatory compliance, with existing or developing knowledge of adaptive and innovative trial designs.
• Project and Resource Management: Demonstrated capability to lead multiple projects simultaneously, manage resources effectively, and deliver milestones on time and within budget.
• Financial Oversight: Skilled in developing and managing trial budgets, maintaining accurate financial records, and ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Leadership & Team Development: Experience in supervising, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams, fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build productive relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Change Management & Transformation: Ability to lead change initiatives and adopt emerging tools, systems, or platforms—technological, procedural, or operational—to enhance clinical trial efficiency and quality.
• Technological Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of clinical trial management systems, platforms and tools

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Roberta Littleford r.littleford@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory.

Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close Tuesday 11 November 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-56832). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for week commencing 24th November.