SC
START Center for Cancer Research
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Director of Nursing

Registered Nurse 8.0 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations and time off.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

The START Center for Cancer Research (“START”) is the world’s largest early phase site network, fully dedicated to oncology clinical research. Throughout our history, START has provided hope to cancer patients in global community practices by offering "Hope Through Access” to cutting edge trials throughout the United States and Europe.

We are seeking a Director of Nursing to provide supervision to all clinic nurses, infusion nurses, nurse navigators, referral intake team and schedulers. The Director of Nursing provides professional guidance and development to the nurses and staff that he/she supervises, ensures organizational goals and objectives are met by the departments under their responsibility, and ensures on-going training, education and high-quality care are delivered through effective processes and systems in his/her respective departments.

Work Schedule: M-F 8a-5p

Essential Responsibilities

Provide effective, proactive leadership to team members, including but not limited to managers, clinic nurses, infusion nurses, nurse navigators, schedulers, and referral intake coordinators.

Provide effective training and ensure competency of staff and management team for respective job roles.

Maintain adherence and demonstrate ongoing compliance for all departments with internal standard operating procedures and participate in ongoing review and updates as needed for the good of the patients, sponsors and organization.

Ensure high quality, coordinated care by communicating care plans and schedules to patients, return patient calls promptly and provide same-day/ next day visits for patients with time-sensitive issues.

  • Provide clinical support and guidance for study coordinators, primary nurses, and treatment room nurses.
  • Serve as nurse educator / preceptor for new clinical research staff, including treatment room nurses, triage LVNs, primary nurses and study coordinators.
  • Develop and deploy necessary training and education to support compliance with internal quality standards.

Ensure departments are using efficient, effective processes and systems to support patient care workflows and compliant care delivery in the context of clinical research protocols.

Use continuous process improvement techniques to proactively identify and address areas of improvement for the good of the patient and the organization.

Review all incoming protocols for feasibility with respect to nursing operations and study coordinator teams. Manage study allocation equitably across study coordinator team members.

Track and maintain effective standards and metrics with respect to referral intake, new patient visit, enrollment, and screening steps in research process.

Lead efforts related to growth in enrollment; identify and prevent any barriers to new patient visits and enrollment.

Ensure effective inter-departmental interaction and communication with other support departments including regulatory, quality, site development, pharmacy and finance to ensure successful care delivery and compliance with all federal, GCP and regulatory agency requirements.

Support effective use and implementation of CTMS system, EHR system, and other necessary software to ensure appropriate and accurate documentation and data capture in the departments of responsibility.

Supervise nurse navigators and support growth goals of clinical research program with respect to new patient referrals and accruals.

Required Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing.
  • RN license in good standing with state.
  • ONS/ONCC chemotherapy immunotherapy certificate course.
  • Knowledge of GCP, GDPR and federal clinical research regulations required in US and Europe.
  • Must be familiar with Microsoft Office applications and clinical documentation systems.

Preferred Education and Experience

  • Advanced degree in nursing or leadership.
  • Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN).
  • Previous experience in oncology clinical research.

Physical and Travel Requirements

  • Required to travel up to 5% of the time.
  • Approximately 80% of time is spent sitting.
  • Very fast-paced and ever-changing healthcare environment.
  • Demanding deadlines and time frames.
  • Constant demand for updating knowledge.
  • Works closely with physicians and ancillary personnel in caring for and treating oncology/hematology patients.

Best-in-Class Benefits and Perks

We value the time, talent, and dedication our employees bring to START. Our commitment to your well-being and growth is reflected in a competitive compensation package—based on experience—along with comprehensive benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally:

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
  • Eligibility for an annual performance bonus, based on role and company results
  • Generous paid time off and paid holidays
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and optional insurance options
  • Company paid life and disability insurance for added financial protection
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential, no ‑cost support for you and your family from day one
  • Flexible FSA and HSA plans to support your financial wellness
  • Commitment to a supportive environment that values balance, wellbeing, and flexibility

We’re committed to fostering a collaborative, creative workplace where every team member is encouraged to contribute. At START, you’ll join a team that values continuous learning, professional growth, shared ideas, and a culture built on inclusivity and innovation.

More About START

START clinical trial sites have conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials, including dozens of therapies that were approved by the FDA or EMA. START represents the world’s largest roster of early-phase principal investigators across its Network of clinical trial sites. Committed to accelerating passage from trials to treatments, START delivers hope to patients, families, and physicians around the world via our mission of “Hope Through Access”.

  • Learn more at STARTresearch.com.
  • Ready to be part of a team changing the future of cancer treatment?

Join us in our mission to conquer cancer, one clinical trial at a time. Your expertise and dedication can help us bring hope and healing to patients worldwide. Please submit your application online.

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Nursing provides leadership and supervision to clinical staff, ensuring high-quality patient care and adherence to clinical research protocols. They are responsible for staff training, process improvement, and maintaining compliance with federal and regulatory standards.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in nursing and a valid RN license, along with ONS/ONCC chemotherapy immunotherapy certification. Familiarity with GCP, GDPR, and clinical research regulations is required, with preference given to those with oncology clinical research experience.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Nursing leadershipStaff supervisionClinical operationsRegulatory compliancePatient care managementNurse educationEHR systemsProtocol feasibilityTeam training

Oncology — Registered Nurse Career Context

Of the 50 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 50% have no call, 76% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Pennsylvania is 97.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 61.7% of Pennsylvania clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

START Center for Cancer Research holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 80/100, 14 active listings.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Director of Nursing at START Center for Cancer Research a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Nursing Leadership — ranked against 1,187 active Nursing Leadership listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Top Registered Nurse Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution36 jobs · 30 employers

9
<$95k
10
$95k-115k
9
$115k-135k
6
$135k-155k
2
$155k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
21%
CME allowance
7%
Loan repayment
4%
Relocation assistance
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Case Manager, RN

Welbe Health · San Jose, California

$61.21-$78/hr
#2

Nurse Educator - Critical Care

Providence · Portland, Oregon

$50.14-$77.83/hr
#3

Travel Registered Nurse Case Management Job

$143k-$151k
#4

Asst. Director of Nursing - Ambulatory Care - Newkirk Avenue

$136,708 - $150,000
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 1.5this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Nursing Leadership listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,187 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
  • On-site

Living in Pittsburgh

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$234k
Typical market rent
$1,545/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
94.7
State income tax
Up to 3.1%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Pittsburgh, PA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

SC

About START Center for Cancer Research

Biotechnology Research
San Antonio, Texas
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
Annual performance bonus
Generous paid time off and paid holidays
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company paid life and disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Flexible FSA and HSA plans