VP Clinical Research

The VP will assess current operations, establish standards and processes, create a scalable operating model, and position PRISM as a preferred research partner for CROs and sponsors. The ideal candidate will bring deep clinical research experience, executive-level operational acumen, and the ability to lead in both strategy and execution. Based in the area spanning Northern New Jersey through the DMV region with plans to continue to expand nationwide, this role requires a hands-on leader eager to build and execute a growth roadmap while fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Growth & Clinical Trial Sourcing
  • Define and execute the strategy to scale research revenue from ~$5M to $20M+ over the next 3-5 years.
  • Proactively engage CROs and sponsors to expand PRISM's clinical trial pipeline, leveraging site capabilities and patient data.
  • Leverage internal data infrastructure to evaluate disease burden and align trial sourcing with PRISM's patient population and site capacity.
  • Develop trial sourcing and business development frameworks that position PRISM as a strategic, repeat partner to key sponsors and CROs.

• Operational Excellence & Expansion
  • Assess current research operations across 14 sites, identifying gaps in staffing, workflows, infrastructure, technology, and sponsor readiness.
  • Build and implement a strategic roadmap to professionalize and scale PRISM's research function - starting with operational consistency and leading toward revenue growth from $5M to $20M+ over the next 3-5 years.
  • Optimize clinical trial infrastructure, including physical space, coordinator coverage, and technology tools (e.g., centralized EMR data, AI-driven patient matching).
  • Oversee resource allocation, site budgeting, and staffing models to support efficient trial execution and enrollment.
  • Introduce scalable SOPs, training, and compliance frameworks to support future growth.
  • Ensure visibility into performance metrics and operational workflows across sites to drive accountability.
  • Regularly visit PRISM research sites to engage with PIs and research leaders, align on execution, and reinforce consistency across the network.

• Leadership & Change Management
  • Drive enterprise-wide transformation by implementing a unified research operating model, including SOPs, team structure, and performance standards.
  • Lead by example in the early phases, rolling up your sleeves to stabilize and optimize operations before selectively building out the team and structure as needed.
  • Integrate research as a core business function within the broader organization, establishing it as a central lever for long-term growth.
  • Foster a mission-driven culture that prioritizes operational excellence, physician partnership, and team engagement during change.

• Physician & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Strengthen relationships with Principal Investigators (PIs), referring physicians, and sponsors to maximize trial participation and outcomes.
  • Act as a liaison between clinical and operational teams, resolving friction points and ensuring strategic alignment with PRISM's mission.

• Performance Monitoring & Accountability
  • Establish and track KPIs to monitor trial revenue, enrollment, site performance, and operational efficiency.
  • Deliver a 30/60/90-day diagnostic of current operations, followed by a clear execution roadmap for the first 6-12 months.
  • Implement a reporting cadence and performance infrastructure to support decision-making and accountability across the research network.

• Industry Leadership & Representation
  • Represent PRISM to sponsors, CROs, and the broader ophthalmology research community as a strategic and credible research partner.
  • Stay ahead of evolving trends in retina research, trial innovation, and regulatory changes to shape PRISM's competitive positioning.
  • Ensure full compliance with FDA regulations and Good Clinical Practice standards across all trials and research activity.
  • Participate in relevant conferences, forums, or collaborations to raise PRISM's visibility as a high-quality trial destination.

Experience
Experience

• 10+ years in clinical research or related fields, with a focus on scaling multi-site trial programs in high-growth or provider-based environments.
• Demonstrated success growing clinical trial revenue and leading sponsor and CRO relationships from strategy through execution.
• Proven ability to lead in ambiguity - setting vision, executing near-term operational fixes, and evolving structure as the business scales.
• Strong P&L and budget management experience, with a track record of hitting revenue and performance targets.
• Deep understanding of trial operations, regulatory compliance (FDA, IRB), and ethical standards for human research.
• Technically adept, with experience implementing tools and infrastructure to improve trial efficiency (e.g., centralized data, AI-driven matching).
• A player-coach who leads from the front, rolls up their sleeves, and builds high-performing teams over time.

Key Skills

Ownership and Mastery of Craft: Focused on outcomes and accuracy of work-product. Able to deliver on commitments while installing the right amount of process to enable steady performance. Flexible in approach to deliver best-in-class work-output, in the face of high growth and unexpected twists and turns. A relentless execution expert with confidence in her/his expertise in core areas. Always learning, optimizing and improving. Incredible attention to detail.

Team Leadership: Passionate, high integrity leader who can grasp and drive the PRISM DNA. Genuinely excited to spend time with other business leaders, team members and customers. Balances inspiration and accountability and is seen as a "trusted partner" to the business.

Strategic Orientation and Growth/Scale Mindset: Has an ability to both develop a strategy and lead the organization in its execution. Eager to take on new challenges with open-mindedness and respect for team, peers, and leaders. Can think high and low. Possesses the intellectual horsepower/problem solving ability to lead the charge on tackling complex problems.

Collaboration and Influencing: Will have the gravitas, willingness, and ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization. Facilitates connection and collaboration across the business. Brings the "playbook" to the table but has the flexibility and humbleness to adapt to business and stakeholder needs. Will contribute skill and experience with generosity, willing to work with anyone to drive real business impact. Balances strong quantitative and analytical skills with the emotional intelligence needed to influence organizational outcomes. Possesses the confidence to "push back" on other leaders using facts and data to support opinions.

Effective Communication Skills: High integrity, no-nonsense approach. Knows how to communicate through the brand voice and at all levels of the organization. Understands how to communicate through a decentralized organization. Quick and to the point. Welcomes radical candor from above and below. An active listener.

Innovation and Entrepreneurialism: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Relentless focus on improvement and raising the bar. Leans in harder when times are good. Balances scrappiness and execution with business maturity, prioritization and thoughtfulness. Is curious, agile, a self-starter and welcomes challenge as a conduit to improvement. Can be creative with resources and has a history of getting things done in complex environments and flat hierarchies

Vital Images is an Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/Vets/Disability.