Clinical Research Coordinator Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a clinical research coordinator. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a clinical research coordinator.
Who is a Clinical Research Coordinator?
A Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) is a specialized research professional sometimes known as a clinical trial manager that works with the Principal Investigator and under the direction of the clinical Principal Investigator (PI) assisting in designing, conducting, and managing clinical trials from a high level. It is the CRC’s job to support, make easy and organize the day-to-day clinical trial activities.
Clinical research coordinators are involved in supervising all drug trials and medical research techniques. They qualify patients for medical and drug trials by recruiting them and screening them to be sure they fit the guidelines of the trial procedures. They always ensure that all the materials and supplies used in clinical trials are kept safe before and during the trial, as well as all the documents recorded during the trial period. Clinical research coordinators are the ones that constantly question and subject materials, adhere to trial standards, and participate in subject recruitment efforts, among other duties. Clinical research coordinators facilitate medical trials for equipment, biomedicines, etc. Clinical Research Coordinators communicate with Associates and other personnel to collect data from ongoing trials. They also speak with representatives from pharmaceutical companies to determine to learn about new drugs or vaccines that need testing. pharmaceuticals.
A clinical research coordinator (CRC) also known as a study coordinator (SC) or simply ‘research is one of the most important people at a clinical research site and plays a very vital role in the conduct of a clinical trial. A good CRC with a good understanding of the clinical trial processes, guidelines, and regulations is a huge advantage to a clinical trial site. The clinical research coordinator can simply be said to be the link between the sponsor or CRO, the investigator site, and the ethics committee, the one that Coordinates and implements procedures for data collection from patient charts, medical records, interviews, questionnaires, diagnostic tests, and other sources.
Clinical Research Coordinator Job Description
Below are the clinical research coordinator job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The responsibilities of a clinical research coordinator include all of the following:
- Overseeing the work of their research team during every entire clinical trial process.
- Ensuring that all members of the research team comply with rules and regulations that must be followed during the process of conducting a clinical trial.
- Ensuring quality clinical trials are completed with selected subjects, organized information, and accurate reports at all times.
- Identifying any adverse effects clinical trial treatments may have on any client or person by constantly evaluating to ensure excellent delivery of service.
- Collecting, coding, and analyzing data obtained from research to ensure accuracy and proper record-keeping.
- Presenting most times research findings to supervisors through Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
- Assisting PI in the communication of study requirements to all individuals involved in the study.
- Providing appropriate training and tools for study team members.
- Documenting the date of training and signatures of study personnel trained on the study-specific training log.
- Working with the PI to develop and implement recruitment strategies following HRPO (IRB) requirements and approvals.
- Preparing study-related documents such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, study sheets, institutional review board documents, and progress reports.
- Working with the PI to manage the day-to-day activities of the study including problem-solving, communication, and protocol management.
- Screening subjects for eligibility using protocol-specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, documenting each potential participant’s eligibility or exclusion to ensure accuracy.
- Assessing eligibility of subjects through techniques such as screening interviews, reviews of medical records, and discussions with physicians and nurses.
- Managing research budgets and allocating all necessary for projects in the right proportion.
- Communicating effectively with team members, site coordinators, and physicians via teleconferencing.
- Monitoring research participants and team members to ensure adherence to study rules.
- Adhering to ethical standards and research regulatory standards at all times.
- Maintaining detailed records of studies and study guidelines, including things such as drug dispensation.
- Ensuring that the necessary supplies and equipment for the study are in stock and working order.
- Engaging with subjects and understanding their concerns to create a proper study area.
- Recruiting and screening potential study participants and performing intake assessments constantly.
- Acting as a point of reference for study participants by answering questions and keeping them informed on the study areas.
- Evaluating at all times how the clinical trials are progressing while the research is being conducted.
- Participating in the preparation and management of research budgets and monetary disbursements.
- Instructing research staff in scientific and procedural aspects of studies including standards of care, informed consent procedures, or documentation procedures.
- Managing the inventory of equipment and supplies related to the clinical study and orders.
- Attending meetings, events, and seminars to grow and gain knowledge to promote the study and one’s work or organization.
- Collecting specimens and inputting data and patient information into electronic systems.
- Creating reports on each study, including notes on protocols, workload, data collection, and clarifying issues on areas that are of concern.
- Communicating with laboratories or researchers about laboratory findings and every project.
- Obtaining industry-sponsored studies via personal contacts and professional organizations.
- Directing the request, collection, labeling, or shipment of samples, for the case study.
- Taking part in meetings and seminars to update knowledge of clinical research and related issues.
- Ensuring to remain knowledgable and abreast of the happenings in one’s industry.
- Enrolling subjects in the study as per the study protocol or procedures.
- Preparing or getting involved in quality assurance audits performed by study sponsors, regulatory authorities, or exclusively designated review groups.
- Preparing advertising and other educational materials and conducting campaigns to enroll subjects.
- Consulting with healthcare experts to figure out the best recruitment practices for clinical trials.
- Arranging space for study equipment and other trial-related material.
- Monitoring enrollment status of participants and recording dropout details and recording subject contact efforts at all times.
- Overviewing proposed study protocols constantly, to assess factors such as sample collection procedures, data management issues, and possible subject threats.
- Recording adverse event and side effect information and consulting with investigators concerning the reporting of events to regulatory agencies.
- Preparing trial-related paperwork such as adverse event reports, IRB documents, procedural manuals, and progress reports.
- Managing subject registration to make sure that the informed consent of the participating subjects is effectively obtained and recorded.
- Keeping in touch with sponsors to schedule and coordinate site visits or to answer queries.
- Dispensing study medical devices or drugs to subjects, even with the accurate dosages, and delivering instructions if necessary.
- Creating articles to publish in medical or scientific journals, especially in areas of study.
- Presenting findings before supervisors or the management board at meetings or conferences.
- Collaborating effectively with others on major projects to ensure proper progress & completion of studies.
- Assisting colleagues by educating, providing resources, & consulting on difficult protocols or projects.
- Providing oversight and guidance as needed to research staff at all times.
- Securing funds for projects or clinical studies through sponsors or organizations.
- Working with other departments as needed to ensure proper handling, processing, storage, and tracking of specimens per study requirements
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or GED certificate.
- A bachelor’s degree of at least 4 years in a field such as medical technology, microbiology, research and writing for health sciences, bioethics, healthcare in literature, informatics in the health sciences, biostatistics, etc.
- A master’s degree, particularly for management positions ( or whatever field based on the area of specialization your employer would want ).
- Understanding of medical terminology as well as standard clinical procedures anything cold.
- Having (2 – 4 ) years of experience working in a clinical research setting.
- Having the Certification of a Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) or anything similar to your area of specialization.
- Experience with electronic data capture systems (EDC), such as Medidata Rave.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills: A Clinical research coordinator interacts with participants who engage in research trials for medication and treatment that can affect the lives of people for good or bad, effective communication is needed since it can be said to be now since are good. Being able to communicate effectively -be it via sending emails or making phone calls – means you can keep your audience in mind at all times and adjust accordingly when the need arises. Effective communication is beyond just talking, it entails so much. When conversing with a potential patient, it is necessary to not only listen but to listen actively. You may ask questions to obtain the information you need, but you need to make sure you avoid taking over the conversation. Instead, listen to what the individual may have to say and then decide what the next step should be.
- Problem-Solving skill: For certain clinical research coordinator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill ‘problem-solving skills. The clinical research coordinator must be able to perform data management for all research studies including data entry and query resolution. Managed data collection, was responsible for accurate research documentation, and produced outstanding source documents per protocol guidelines and regulations. A CRC should be able to apply reasons to solve day-to-day problems. Clinical studies always involve complex processes that have many moving parts. You’ll need to be able to dive into each associated part, prevent problems, and implement solutions whenever they occur. Sometimes these problems occur simultaneously, which may require you to look for help from someone else involved in that study.
- Time management skill: Every clinical research coordinator should be able to multi-task, and pull through stuff quickly yet always on time. They must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule. A clinical research coordinator is desired by employers for this essential skill because time is seen as money in every industry talk more of every reach industry. They must be able to “collaborate with industry sponsors to meet data deadline submissions and prepare for FDA audit preparation.” To Manage data collection, do accurate research documentation and produce outstanding source documents per protocol guidelines and regulations or even conduct screening and recruiting potential subjects time I would say is important and every clinical research coordinator knows this.
How to Become a Clinical Research Coordinator
- Obtain a high school diploma or GED Certificate, with emphasis on biology, chemistry, physics, math, and communications which develop foundational knowledge for whatever area of field of study.
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree of (4 – 5) years in biostatistics, healthcare law and regulation, basics of clinical research, health science management, disease prevention, and health promotion concepts or any related field of study.
- Obtain an associate degree in nursing or any other health-related field.
- Having at least 2 years of working experience in the healthcare industry.
- Being familiar with statistical software programs, such as SAS.
- Being certified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) by taking their certification exam.
Where to Work as a Clinical Research Coordinator
- Research and Development industry or agencies.
- Pharmaceutical centers.
- Hospitals or health care units as a pharmacovigilant.
- Regulatory affairs institute.
- Content writer at Medical Writing institute.
- Colleges and Universities.
Clinical Research Coordinator Salary Scale
Clinical research coordinators’ salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the type and size of the company they work for. They may also receive bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. The average Clinical Research Coordinator salary in the United States is $67,133 annually but the range typically falls between $57,671 and $77,531 annually. The average clinical research coordinator’s salary in the United Kingdom is £32,629 per year. The Entry level positions start at £26,590 per year while most experienced workers make up to £41,755 per year.
The average clinical research coordinator’s salary in Australia is $98,018 per year Entry-level positions start at $81,516 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $117,627 per year. The average clinical research coordinator’s salary in Canada is $62,381 per year. Entry-level positions start at $53,495 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $76,992 per year. The average pay for a Clinical Research Coordinator is €90,492 a year in Germany. The average Clinical Research Coordinator salary in Ireland is €61,207, but the range typically falls between €52,581 and €70,687. A person working as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Nigeria typically earns around 371,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 185,000 NGN (lowest) to 575,000 NGN (highest).