Clinical Director, Trial Operations

About Haystack HealthHaystack Health is the first clinical trial platform for value-based care. We partner with health plans, ACOs, sponsors, and health systems to connect patients to clinical trials that improve outcomes, expand access, and reduce cost.As a rapidly growing, category-defining company, Haystack operates at the intersection of healthcare delivery, payer strategy, and clinical research – fundamentally rethinking how patients are identified, engaged, and enrolled.Position SummaryHaystack Health is seeking a Clinical Director, Trial Operations to serve as the clinical leader of the company. You will own our patient recruitment and trial enrollment function, serve as the clinical authority in partner and client relationships, and set the standard for how Haystack operates as a clinically credible organization. We're looking for someone with deep, hands-on experience in clinical trial recruitment and patient navigation, with a strong preference for oncology background.You will manage and mentor a team of nurse navigators and clinical research coordinators (CRCs), driving the day-to-day execution of patient recruitment – serving as the clinical SME the team turns to and owning the successful enrollment of patients into trials. You will set the clinical standards for how we recruit and enroll patients, serve as the primary clinical point of contact with trial sites and CROs and sponsors, and represent Haystack as its clinical leader with current and prospective clients.This is a rare opportunity to be the clinical leader of a category-defining company from the ground up – shaping how an entire industry approaches patient recruitment. We're looking for someone who wants to build something that matters and is energized by the challenge of doing it in a fast-moving, early-stage environment.ResponsibilitiesOwn the day-to-day oversight of end-to-end clinical trial recruitment operations – from patient identification and eligibility screening through enrollment – ensuring clinical accuracy, safety, and quality across all patient-facing workflowsDirectly manage and mentor a team of nurse navigators and CRCs, providing clinical guidance, oversight, and professional development as the team scalesDrive pre-screening, eligibility review, and patient engagement workflows specific to active clinical trials, with particular depth in oncology indicationsDevelop and maintain clinical protocols, training materials, and quality assurance processes to support consistent, high-quality operations at scalePartner with operations and product teams to translate clinical requirements into workflows, tools, and technology features that improve patient and site outcomesServe as the primary clinical liaison with trial sites, and coordinate with CROs and sponsors on recruitment strategy, enrollment performance, and protocol-level questionsRepresent Haystack as its clinical leader in conversations with current and prospective clients – bringing credibility, depth, and a clear point of view to commercial discussions, partnership development, and client engagementsAct as the clinical decision-maker for the team's day-to-day questions – resolving eligibility edge cases, guiding navigator and CRC judgment calls, and ensuring the team has the clinical clarity needed to keep recruitment movingIdentify and escalate clinical risks, protocol deviations, or patient safety concerns, and build mechanisms for ongoing clinical oversight as the team growsMaintain deep fluency in the clinical trial recruitment landscape – active oncology protocols, enrollment barriers, site engagement dynamics, and sponsor expectations – and bring that expertise into our operationsQualificationsActive clinical license (RN, NP, or PA strongly preferred)5+ years of direct clinical trial recruitment experience required – hands-on involvement in patient identification, eligibility screening, and enrollment across multiple trials and/or sitesOncology experience strongly preferred – familiarity with common oncology protocols, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the patient journey in cancer care settingsExperience managing or mentoring clinical staff (nurse navigators, CRCs, or similar) in a trial recruitment or research operations contextDemonstrated ability to work in early-stage or growth-stage environments, with comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving settingsStrong clinical judgment paired with operational sensibility – able to translate bedside insights into scalable systems and workflowsExcellent communication skills, with the ability to engage patients, providers, trial sites, CROs, and sponsors, and internal stakeholders with clarity and credibilityFamiliarity with trial site operations, IRB processes, and protocol management; experience interfacing with CROs or sponsors is a plusComfort using technology platforms and data tools in clinical workflowsAdditional InformationThis is a remote position available as part-time or full-time. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, and includes equity participation. Full-time candidates are eligible for a comprehensive company-sponsored benefits package. We prefer candidates available to work East Coast business hours to align with team operations.We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.