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 access to cutting edge trials throughout the US and Europe. Today, with over 1,300 studies completed, and with research facilities in the United States and in Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, START’s mission is to accelerate the development of new anticancer drugs that will improve the quality of life and survival for patients with cancer and lead to its eventual cure. To date, over 43 therapies conducted at START locations have obtained FDA/EMA approval. Incredibly, while Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) conduct 80% of cancer trials, such trials reach only 20% of the patient population – leaving the majority of patients who are treated in community practices and hospitals without access to a clinical trial when their care journey calls for one. START serves the many – by bringing cancer trials to physicians and their patients in community hospitals and practices when hope is needed most. 

We are hiring for a Vice President, Patient Journey & Referral Networks. This is a remote role.

The Vice President, Patient Journey & Referral Networks is accountable for designing, building, and operating the end-to-end patient acquisition, matching, and progression engine across START’s Phase-1 and Late-Phase oncology clinical research portfolio.

This role owns the operating model, systems, processes, and performance management required to strengthen START’s reputation with referring oncologists and sponsors, reliably move patients from initial referral through screening, enrollment, treatment participation, post-trial transition, follow-on care, and progression to future trial opportunities. The VP is responsible for converting patient demand into enrolled patients at scale, while maintaining ethical standards, regulatory alignment, and patient trust.

The ultimate outcome of this role is to maximize the number of appropriate patients matched to START’s active and upcoming trials, through disciplined operations, technology-enabled workflows, and continuous improvement of a complex, cross-functional value chain.

Essential Responsibilities

Referral Network Strategy & Demand Operations

• Design, build, and scale national and regional oncology referral networks focused on Phase-1 and Late-Phase trial populations.
• Work closely with Marketing and Corporate Strategy to increase START brand and capability awareness and expand patient access to trials targeting specific tumor types and molecular/genetic markers.
• Translate portfolio needs into targeted, measurable referral and awareness strategies.
• Define referral value propositions tailored to academic, community, and advocacy-based referrers.

Patient Referral Intake & Trial Matching Systems (Efficiency & Enrollment Ownership)

• Serve as the executive owner of referral-to-enrollment efficiency, accountable for reducing time-to-trial matching and improving enrollment outcomes.
• Ensure timely acquisition, coordination, and management of patient medical records required for protocol inclusion/exclusion assessment and accurate trial matching.
• Establish and operationalize Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) across START site markets to enable compliant electronic medical record acquisition.

End-to-End Patient Journey Design (Technology-Enabled Execution)

• Define, architect, and deploy the START Patient Journey Framework spanning awareness, referral, education, consent support, screening, active treatment participation, post-trial transition, and ongoing engagement.
• Lead development of digital tools and platforms supporting patient education, expectation-setting, consent reinforcement, and engagement throughout trial participation.
• Establish standardized, IT-enabled communication pathways with referring offices, including referral status visibility, progress-note exchange, and structured feedback loops.

Patient Navigation, Reimbursement & Operational Enablement

• Design and lead a robust patient navigation model that proactively accelerates patients through complex Phase-1 clinical trial processes.
• Oversee development, deployment, and governance of patient concierge services, including travel, lodging, parking, stipends, and reimbursement support, where appropriate.
• Ensure concierge and reimbursement offerings are aligned with sponsor budgets, contractual expectations, and ethical standards.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement of Patient Journey Effectiveness

• Establish the patient journey as a managed operating system with defined inputs, outputs, constraints, and performance targets.
• Continuously assess and optimize marketing channels, referral pools, and trial matching logic based on real performance data.

Referral Source Strategy, Channel Productivity & New Network Development

• Own the end-to-end referral source portfolio across community oncology, academic centers, subspecialty practices, advocacy organizations, diagnostic networks, and other patient access channels.
• Segment and manage referral sources by tumor type, molecular/genetic marker, geography, and historical match and enrollment yield.
• Establish source-level performance metrics including referral volume, eligibility rate, match accuracy, enrollment conversion, and cycle time.

Best-in-Class Benefits and Perks 

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by a competitive compensation, depending on experience, and an extensive benefits package including: 

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options provided
• Robust retirement planning: 401(k) plan available with employer matching
• Financial security: Company-paid life and disability insurance for added protection
• Flexible financial options: Health savings and flexible spending accounts offered
• Well-being and work-life balance: Paid time off, flexible schedule, and remote work choices provided
• Plus, we work to maintain the best environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning, and culture. 

More about The START Center for Cancer Research 

Deeply rooted in community oncology centers globally, The START Center for Cancer Research provides access to specialized preclinical and early-phase clinical trials of novel anti-cancer agents. START clinical trial sites have conducted more than a thousand early-phase clinical trials, including for 43 therapies that were approved by the FDA. START represents the world’s largest roster of Principal Investigators (PIs) across its eight clinical trial sites. Committed to accelerating passage from trials to treatments, START delivers hope to patients, families, and physicians around the world. 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.