Research Specialist, ONC - (Budget Analyst)

Purpose:

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is internationally recognized for its leadership in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and is the region's only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute.  As the preeminent institution in western Pennsylvania for the delivery of cancer care, the performance of basic, translational, and clinical research, and the education of the next generation of cancer researchers and physicians, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is exceptionally well-positioned to contribute to the global effort to reduce the burden of cancer.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is currently hiring a regular full-time Research Specialist - Budget Analyst, ONC to help support the Oncology Clinical Research Services team located at the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside/Pittsburgh, PA.  This role will support the Financial Compliance team working Monday through Friday daylight hours with a remote schedule.

This position is necessary to build clinical trial budgets and coverage analysis for clinical trials. The Clinical Trial Budget Analyst is responsible for ensuring the financial compliance and proper coverage of clinical trial procedures. This role involves reviewing clinical trial protocols to determine what is billable to third-party payers, ensuring alignment with Medicare and other insurance coverage rules, and identifying study-related costs that should be covered by the study sponsor. The specialist collaborates with clinical research teams, finance departments, and compliance to ensure accurate financial planning and billing for clinical trials. This position works with various systems including EPIC EHR and OnCore CTMS for the purpose of segregating charges to ensure compliant billing for research services as well as providing pricing for budgeting purposes.

The Clinical Research Services (CRS) team is made up of nearly 200 staff members who facilitate the development, implementation, coordination, internal data monitoring, and completion of oncology-focused trials at Hillman. These trials include institutional (investigator-initiated), multi-center cooperative group/National Clinical Trial Network (NCTN), consortium, and industry-sponsored trials. Using a disease-specific centers model for conducting clinical trials, CRS provides study development and implementation assistance, submissions to the FDA, IRB processing, patient recruitment, study coordination, study-specific training, data collection, and specimen collection and processing.
 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, analysis, and maintenance of comprehensive clinical trial budgets, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with protocol requirements, coverage analysis outcomes, and institutional standards.

• Build, enter, and maintain study budgets within the Clinical Trial Management System (OnCore CTMS), ensuring synchronization with final protocols, contracts, and coverage analysis documentation.

• Conduct detailed coverage analyses in accordance with Medicare’s Clinical Trial Policy, CMS guidelines, and commercial payer requirements to appropriately distinguish study-related costs from routine care.

• Apply appropriate CDM and CPT coding to identify billable versus sponsor-covered services, supporting compliant billing workflows and downstream claims review.

• Negotiate clinical trial budgets with sponsors and CROs in collaboration with contracting and finance teams, advocating for institutional cost recovery and policy adherence.

• Ensure institutional policies, financial compliance standards, and payer regulations are consistently enforced throughout budget development, negotiation, and study activation.

• Collaborate closely with investigators, clinical research coordinators, finance, contracting, and compliance teams to resolve budget questions and align financial expectations across stakeholders.

• Communicate coverage analysis determinations and finalized budget details clearly to research teams to support accurate study conduct and billing execution.

• Support resolution of billing discrepancies or compliance concerns related to clinical trial services by reviewing documentation and coordinating with appropriate teams.

• Maintain current knowledge of clinical trial financial regulations, reimbursement guidelines, and payer coverage policies, incorporating updates into budgeting and coverage analysis practices.

• Provide education and guidance to research staff regarding clinical trial budgeting, coverage analysis interpretation, and compliant financial practices.

• Bachelor's degree in health-related field. 

• 3 years of experience in clinical trials. 

• 1 year of experience in Medicare coverage determination preferred. 

• Knowledge of clinical research protocol and budgeting is required. 

• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail. 

• Strong organizational and time management skills. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

• Clinical Research Professional Certification or related certification is a plus.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran