Application Guide
How to Apply for Program Director, Clinical Trial Abundance
at 1Day Sooner
🏢 About 1Day Sooner
1Day Sooner is a unique nonprofit that champions the rights and interests of clinical trial participants, advocating for those who volunteer in high-impact medical studies. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that aims to accelerate medical progress by reducing barriers to clinical research. The team is passionate, lean, and focused on tangible policy changes.
About This Role
As Program Director for Clinical Trial Abundance, you will lead a groundbreaking initiative to lower clinical trial costs and enhance the value of health evidence. Your work will directly shape federal policy, influence legislation, and build a field of stakeholders committed to making clinical trials faster, cheaper, and more informative. This role is high-impact, combining strategic vision with hands-on advocacy and team leadership.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a check-in with the Advocacy Director to review Hill meetings and adjust strategy. Then you could draft legislative text for a new bill, followed by a call with a partner organization to align on a joint campaign. Afternoon could involve budget planning for the next fiscal year and a meeting with potential funders to pitch the program.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who 1Day Sooner Is Looking For
- Experienced in policy advocacy or legislative strategy, ideally with a focus on clinical trials, drug development, or health regulation.
- A strong leader who can manage a small team (including an Advocacy Director and external lobbyists) and coordinate complex campaigns.
- Skilled in budget management and fundraising partnerships, with the ability to secure resources for program growth.
- An excellent communicator who can engage diverse stakeholders—from policymakers to patient advocates—and translate technical policy into compelling narratives.
📝 Tips for Applying to 1Day Sooner
Highlight specific policy wins or legislative achievements from your past roles, especially those related to clinical trials or healthcare.
Show your understanding of 1Day Sooner's mission by mentioning their focus on participant advocacy and how this role advances that goal.
Demonstrate your ability to both set high-level strategy and dive into legislative text; include examples of drafting policy language.
Emphasize any experience with federal appropriations or regulatory processes, as the role involves developing appropriations language.
Tailor your resume to show leadership of cross-functional teams and management of external partners like lobbyists.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your passion for accelerating clinical research and reducing barriers for participants.', "Concrete examples of how you've driven policy change or built coalitions in health-related fields.", 'Your leadership style and experience managing teams, budgets, and external stakeholders.', "A clear vision for how you would approach the Clinical Trial Abundance program's policy agenda and field-building strategy."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read 1Day Sooner's website and recent blog posts to understand their advocacy campaigns and values.
- → Learn about the Clinical Trial Abundance concept—its origins, key proponents, and any existing policy proposals.
- → Familiarize yourself with current federal clinical trial regulations and recent legislative efforts (e.g., FDA guidance, appropriations).
- → Research the organization's partners, funders, and any past lobbying activities to understand the stakeholder landscape.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference 1Day Sooner's specific mission or the Clinical Trial Abundance program.
- Focusing solely on clinical trial operations or management without showing policy advocacy or legislative experience.
- Failing to demonstrate leadership or team management experience—this role is a director position requiring people management.
- Ignoring the nonprofit context; avoid assuming a for-profit mindset and instead emphasize mission-driven work and limited resources.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!