Operations Specialist

The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is seeking an Operations Specialist who will be responsible for supporting population science, genomics, and translational research initiatives across the research enterprise. This position develops and implements operational strategies that facilitate collaborative research programs, biobanking activities, and large-scale national and international studies.

Responsibilities include coordinating biospecimen collection, intake, processing, and distribution; overseeing protocol and project evaluation activities; and ensuring effective research operations that support program objectives. Working closely with faculty, investigators, and staff to develop and implement new research, training, and partnership initiatives, contributing to the growth and strategic goals of the organization while fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary research teams.

The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 136 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists.

They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state. And they partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. In 2024 they treated more than 15,000 patients in almost 105,000 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital.

A total of 2,075 patients participated in cancer clinical trials to study new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The more than 123 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNM Cancer Center were awarded $38.3 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects.

Since 2015, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 750 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery. Website: