Full-Time
Laboratory Technician
Headlands Research
51-200 employees
Runs clinical trial sites and recruitment
Compensation Overview
$24 - $27/hr
Escondido, CA, USA
In Person
On-site role only; no remote work. Must be based in Escondido, California.
Bachelor's
 Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1) |
|---|
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- High School Diploma or GED; Bachelor's degree preferred
- Phlebotomy certification or equivalent
- Minimum 1 year of experience in a clinical lab setting
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word) and database systems
- Ability to handle infectious and potentially hazardous materials safely
- Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs and endure periods of standing/movement
- Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication; strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
- Customer-service mindset and high level of professionalism
- Laboratory & Clinical Procedures: Perform phlebotomy, urine collection, and sample processing (centrifuging, aliquoting, labeling)
- Prepare lab kits for each subject based on study protocols
- Ship biological specimens following IATA guidelines and protocol requirements
- Maintain specimen logs, shipping records, temperature logs, and other documentation
- Conduct point-of-care tests (e.g., urine drug screens, pregnancy tests)
- Assist with patient procedures including vital signs, ECGs, and physical/neurological exam setups
- Clean and sanitize lab equipment and work areas daily
- Perform and document equipment calibration and ensure safety compliance (OSHA, HIPAA)
- Data & Documentation: Accurately record lab results and maintain electronic and paper logs in systems such as CRIO or eCRFs
- Respond to and resolve electronic data queries
- Verify accuracy and completeness of data entries and study documentation
- Participate in quality control and assurance initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance
- Operational Support: Monitor and maintain inventory of lab kits and supplies
- Order dry ice and other lab necessities
- Destroy expired kits and log per protocol
- Support preparation of study-specific training materials and lab manuals
- Collaborate with study coordinators and medical staff to meet visit protocol requirements
- May assist with infusion monitoring under clinician supervision
- Familiarity with Phase I-IV clinical trials and relevant regulatory environments (GCP, GLP, ICH) preferred
Headlands Research runs a network of clinical trial sites across North America to support the development of new medicines. It provides research services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies by running and managing clinical trials, with a strong focus on recruiting and keeping diverse patient populations involved. What it does is coordinate and conduct trials at its sites, manage study logistics, and collect data so sponsors can evaluate safety and efficacy of therapies. Its differentiators include a large multinational network of sites, a dedicated emphasis on diverse and inclusive recruitment, and end-to-end trial management from site operations to data collection. The goal is to accelerate the development of new medical therapies by delivering high-quality, efficient, and inclusive clinical trials for sponsors.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$23.4M
Headquarters
California
Founded
2018
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Bellingham opened August 5, 2026, tapping 615,000 residents for CNS enrollment.
- CTR added Sacramento and Lincoln on June 30, 2026, strengthening California reach.
- THL’s 2025 thesis funds technology, centralized infrastructure, and continued site rollups.
What critics are saying
- THL’s 2025 buyout invites aggressive leverage and EBITDA pressure from private-equity owners.
- Integration after CTR’s June 30, 2026 acquisition can distract teams and delay startup.
- Sponsors consolidate vendors; if Headlands misses enrollment targets, they shift studies to larger rivals.
What makes Headlands Research unique
- Headlands ran 5,000-plus trials before THL bought it in August 2025.
- It targets diverse, specialty populations across 25-plus sites in North America.
- Its 2026 Bellingham and California openings deepen CNS and cardiometabolic coverage.
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Benefits
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -2%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↑ 0%Landmark Funeral Group names Jackie Short chief operating officer. Landmark Funeral Group has announced the appointment of Jackie Short as chief operating officer. Short joins Landmark from Headlands Research, where she served as chief operating officer of the private equity-backed clinical research network operating across the United States and Canada. Throughout her career, she has led multi-site organizations through rapid growth, integration and operational transformation, building the leadership teams, operating models and infrastructure that enable local teams to deliver exceptional care while adapting to change. Short's appointment reflects Landmark's continued investment in the leadership and operational excellence that support its growing network of locally owned and operated funeral homes. As the company expands, Landmark is strengthening the systems and local leadership that allow each funeral home to preserve its legacy while continuing to serve families in the community. "As Landmark continues to grow, we're building an organization that gives our partner funeral homes the leadership, support and resources they need to succeed," said Seb D'Appolonia, president and CEO of Landmark Funeral Group. "Jackie has spent her career leading complex, multi-site organizations while developing strong teams and a culture of operational excellence. Her experience, leadership style and commitment to people make her an outstanding addition to Landmark as we continue investing in the long-term success of our funeral homes." As COO, Short will oversee Landmark's operations across its partner firms, with a focus on developing local leadership, establishing scalable operating models, and strengthening the cultural foundation that connects the network. Her focus will be on giving funeral directors and their teams the resources and operational structure to best serve families, while preserving the autonomy and identity that make each funeral home unique. In addition to her most recent role as COO of Headlands Research, Short's career spans some of health care's most operationally demanding environments. Previously, as vice president of central operations at Marathon Health, she guided the merger of Marathon Health and Its Health through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also held regional and division leadership roles at DaVita Kidney Care and Trilogy Health Services, where she specialized in strengthening operations, developing leaders and building scalable operating models across multi-site organizations. "The most important lesson I've learned is that organizations succeed when the people closest to the families they serve are trusted, supported and empowered," said Short. " That's what drew me to Landmark. The company is committed to strengthening community funeral homes while preserving the values and local relationships that make each one unique. I'm excited to help build the operational foundation that allows our funeral professionals to focus on what matters most: serving families." About Landmark Funeral Group Landmark works alongside dedicated funeral professionals who share a commitment to compassionate care, operational excellence and preserving the legacy of community funeral homes. With advanced technology integrations, strategic resources, and thoughtful investment, Landmark helps independent funeral homes grow and thrive while enabling local teams to continue serving families with the care and trust that define the profession. Learn more at www.landmarkfuneralgroup.com. Leave a message. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Headlands Research has opened a new clinical research site in Bellingham, Washington, led by board-certified psychiatrist Dr Matthew Bogoyas. The facility targets central nervous system research in an underserved market covering more than 615,000 people within a 50-mile radius. Dr Bogoyas, recently elected Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, brings experience in Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies across major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD. Local physicians recorded over 1,200 diagnosis claims for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and insomnia in 2025. The opening follows Headlands Research's recent acquisition of Clinical Trials Research, which added sites in Sacramento and Lincoln, California. The company has completed more than 5,000 clinical trials.
Headlands Research expands pacific northwest presence with new clinical research site in bellingham, washington. August 5, 2026 WOBN news, syndication comments off on Headlands Research expands pacific northwest presence with new clinical research site in bellingham, washington. Led by a board-certified psychiatrist and 2025 APA Fellow, the site gives sponsors access to more than 615,000 participants in an untapped CNS research market WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. and BELLINGHAM, Wash., Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Headlands Research, a leading clinical trial site...
Headlands Research acquires CTR, expands California. Overview of the acquisition. Headlands Research, a leading clinical trial site network, has acquired Clinical Trials Research (CTR) - a privately owned clinical research organization based in Sacramento and Lincoln, California. The announcement came on June 30, 2026, marking a significant step in Headlands' strategy to deepen its California presence. Following the acquisition, CTR's two locations will rebrand as Headlands Research - Sacramento and Headlands Research - CTR Lincoln. Together, they add two fully operational research sites to Headlands' growing North American and European network. Why this deal matters for clinical research. Clinical trial site consolidation is accelerating across the U.S. Yet not all acquisitions bring equal value. This one does. CTR offers something rare: two well-established sites, a 25-year operational history, and an investigator team that pharmaceutical sponsors already know and trust. Kyle Burtnett, Chief Executive Officer of Headlands Research, explained the rationale clearly. "By pairing that depth with Headlands' infrastructure, we advance our objective of being the partner of choice for pharmaceutical companies and CROs by providing additional capabilities and scale to our cardiometabolic therapeutic area," he said. Furthermore, the acquisition accelerates Headlands' ability to offer sponsors faster study startup, stronger patient recruitment, and reliable data quality - all at scale. CTR's 25-year track record. Therapeutic areas of expertise. CTR brings deep clinical expertise across a range of cardiometabolic and metabolic indications. Specifically, the sites have run trials across the following conditions: * High cholesterol and hypertension * Heart failure prevention * Obesity and overweight management * Type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain * Fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH) * Chronic idiopathic constipation This breadth of indications strengthens Headlands' existing cardiometabolic portfolio. Moreover, it positions the network to pursue more complex, multi-indication studies for both sponsors and CROs. Key clinical trial metrics. These numbers reflect a site that performs. Rapid study startup and high-quality data retention are core strengths that sponsors value most - and CTR consistently delivers both. Meet the leadership: Dr. Jeffrey D. Wayne. Dr. Jeffrey D. Wayne, MD, leads CTR's clinical operations. He has served as a principal investigator since 1992, building one of California's most respected community-based research practices over more than three decades. Dr. Wayne holds his medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. He also serves as clinical faculty at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. His research spans cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions, and both women's and men's health. His perspective on the acquisition reflects a practitioner-first mindset. "Clinical research has been my career passion, and our team has built a trusted research practice," Dr. Wayne noted. "Joining Headlands Research gives us the infrastructure and network to bring more patients into research, expand the therapeutic areas that we can offer our community, and maintain the quality our sponsors rely on." Notably, Dr. Wayne's long tenure and board certification in internal medicine give CTR - and now Headlands - strong investigator credibility with regulatory bodies and sponsors alike. Strategic impact on Headlands Research. Strengthening the cardiometabolic portfolio. Headlands already conducts trials across CNS, vaccines, metabolic diseases, obesity, and respiratory disease. However, cardiometabolic disorders represent one of the highest-demand therapeutic areas for sponsor investment globally. As a result, adding CTR's concentrated cardiometabolic expertise directly enhances Headlands' competitive positioning. Additionally, the Sacramento market offers access to a large and diverse patient population - a key driver for trial enrollment success in chronic disease studies. Network growth across North America. This acquisition follows a broader pattern of strategic growth. Earlier in 2025, Headlands opened a Twin Cities clinical research site to extend its Upper Midwest reach. The company also entered the Caribbean with the acquisition of CMRCenter. California, therefore, represents another deliberate geographic move - not an opportunistic one. Each site Headlands acquires strengthens the overall network's ability to deliver enrollment scale, therapeutic depth, and operational consistency to pharmaceutical partners. What this means for sponsors and CROs. For pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations, this acquisition delivers three immediate benefits: Faster Study Startup - CTR's teams have refined startup processes across 300+ trials. Sponsors gain access to a site that reduces the time between contract execution and first patient enrolled. Stronger Enrollment Capabilities - The Sacramento and Lincoln sites serve a large, diverse Northern California patient base. This expands enrollment potential for cardiometabolic, metabolic, and chronic disease protocols. Proven Investigator Relationships - Dr. Wayne's three decades of principal investigator experience translate directly into sponsor confidence. Experienced investigators reduce protocol deviations and improve data integrity throughout a study. Together, these advantages make the combined Headlands-CTR network a stronger partner for sponsors seeking speed, quality, and geographic reach. About Headlands Research. Headlands Research is a leading clinical trial site organization with a mission to improve lives by advancing innovative medical therapies. The company operates a growing network of wholly owned clinical research sites across North America and Europe. Headlands provides sponsors and CROs with access to experienced investigators, diverse patient populations, and centralized operational support across therapeutic areas including CNS, vaccines, metabolic diseases, obesity, respiratory disease, cardiometabolic disorders, and more.
Private equity continues consolidating Clinical Trials: Headlands Research expands California footprint. TrialSite Staff | Making Biomedical Research Evidence Accessible to All Jul. 1, 2026, 2:30 p.m. The consolidation of clinical research sites continues to accelerate as private equity-backed site networks expand across the United States. On June 30, Headlands Research, backed by global investment firm THL Parnters, announced its acquisition of Clinical Trials Research (CTR), adding two established sites in Sacramento and Lincoln, California. The acquisition brings more than 25 years of cardiometabolic research experience and over 300 completed Phase I-IV clinical trials into the growing Headlands platform. Headlands Research was spurred to growth by KKR, founding the clinical trial site network in 2018. The private equity firm helped build it into one of North America's leading site organizations, the firm sold Headlands to private equity investor THL Partners in August 2025 in a transaction reportedly valued at approximately $600 million. Under THL ownership, Headlands has continued its strategy of acquiring independent clinical research sites while investing in operational scale, technology, and therapeutic-area expansion, underscoring the continued role of private equity in consolidating the fragmented clinical trial site industry. Quality journalism costs money to produce. Subscription options start at $5 per month which is less than a Starbucks coffee!