Director, Clinical Research and Cancer Center Advisory Services

Attain Partners is an innovative consulting firm dedicated to disrupting the status quo to change the world and improve the lives of those we touch. From strategy to technology and everywhere in between, our experts use their unique skills to advance the important missions of education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government clients.  

People are at the center of all we do, and that’s why we empower career growth, provide industry-leading benefits packages, encourage a flexible work environment, and foster a culture of inclusion to support the needs of our team. We share a collective passion for our mission and our people. Guided by our seven core values, The Attain Way, our vision is the foundation of our culture—to be and attain the best. 

Attain Partners is seeking a Principal Consultant to help drive the continued growth of its clinical consulting practice, with a particular focus on academic medical centers, cancer centers, clinical research operations, and research administration organizations.

This individual will combine deep industry expertise, executive relationship development, business development, consulting delivery, and practice-building capabilities to help clients solve complex operational, organizational, financial, and strategic challenges. The Principal Consultant will serve as a trusted advisor to healthcare and research leaders, develop new client opportunities, lead high-impact consulting engagements, and contribute to the growth of Attain's clinical and research practice.

The ideal candidate brings a blend of healthcare, research administration, clinical research operations, academic medicine, or cancer center experience, along with a demonstrated track record of developing client relationships, leading consulting engagements, building teams, and driving revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships across cancer centers, academic medical centers, research institutions, healthcare systems, and related organizations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leaders by providing strategic insight and practical solutions to operational and organizational challenges.
• Identify, qualify, and shape consulting opportunities that align with client priorities and Attain capabilities.
• Lead business development efforts from relationship cultivation through proposal development, contracting, and transition to delivery.
• Support annual revenue, pipeline, and growth objectives for the practice.
• Represent Attain at industry conferences, professional associations, webinars, and client events.
• Develop thought leadership content that strengthens Attain's market presence and credibility.

Consulting Delivery

• Lead client engagements focused on:
• Cancer center strategy and operations
• Clinical research operations
• Research administration
• Organizational design and governance
• Operational assessments and process improvement
• Workforce strategy and transformation
• Financial performance and sustainability
• Technology enablement and modernization
• Research compliance and regulatory operations
• Facilitate executive workshops, stakeholder interviews, and strategic planning sessions.
• Guide project teams in data gathering, analysis, solution development, and implementation planning.
• Ensure delivery excellence, client satisfaction, financial performance, and achievement of engagement objectives.
• Present findings and recommendations to executive leadership and governing stakeholders.

Practice Development & Leadership

• Help develop methodologies, assessment frameworks, benchmarks, and reusable intellectual property.
• Create and enhance service offerings that address emerging client needs across cancer centers, research administration, and clinical research operations.
• Mentor and develop consulting team members.
• Support recruiting, staffing, resource planning, and team development activities.
• Foster collaboration across Attain's healthcare, research administration, technology, data, and transformation teams.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and thought leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in one or more of the following:
• Academic medical centers
• Cancer centers
• Clinical research operations
• Research administration
• Healthcare administration
• Healthcare consulting
• Professional services organizations supporting healthcare or research institutions
• Demonstrated expertise in cancer center operations, clinical research operations, research administration, healthcare transformation, or related functions.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining trusted advisor relationships with executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success generating new business, expanding client relationships, and contributing to revenue growth.
• Experience leading complex consulting engagements, transformation initiatives, organizational assessments, or operational improvement programs.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with physicians, scientists, administrators, researchers, and institutional leadership.
• Experience leading teams and mentoring professionals.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel based on client and business development needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting NCI-designated or comprehensive cancer centers.
• Experience within a consulting, advisory, or professional services organization.
• Experience leading clinical research, research administration, grants management, or research operations functions.
• Experience developing managed services, training programs, assessment frameworks, or new service offerings.
• Existing relationships with leaders across academic medicine, oncology, clinical research, healthcare administration, or research administration.
• Active participation in organizations such as:
• Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI)
• Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC)
• National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)
• Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI)
• Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
• Other relevant healthcare, oncology, or research administration organizations.

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to build long-term client partnerships that result in repeat business and sustained growth.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for practice development and innovation.
• Ability to operate independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
• Flexibility to travel periodically based on client and business needs, up to 20%.

Additional Information

Attain Partners values your mental, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package starts on your first day of employment and includes benefits such as:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage, HSA and FSA accounts, life and disability insurance, fertility and family planning benefits, and employee assistance and discount programs
• 11 paid federal holidays and flexible unlimited time off (UTO)
• Generous 401(k) matching with immediate vesting
• Flexible career paths – our career tracks provide advancement, mobility, and flexibility as you continue to grow with us
• A healthy environment where we value unique experiences, and care about everything that makes you, you.

Attain Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. For more Information visit EEO, EEO Poster Supplement, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). 

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.