Clinical Trial Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a clinical trial manager job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a clinical trial manager. Feel free to use our clinical trial manager job description template to produce your own clinical trial manager job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a clinical trial manager.
Who is a Clinical Trial Manager?
A clinical trial manager is a person charged with the task of managing the clinical trials conducted within an organization. They coordinate communications with regulatory organizations, watch over everyone’s safety, and make sure all protocols and procedures are followed.
Clinical trial managers need to be well knowledgeable about medical research methodology. To make sure that everyone is on the same page about what has to happen next, they also need to be able to communicate effectively with all members of their team, including researchers, lab technicians, and doctors.
Clinical Trial Manager Job Description
What is a clinical trial manager job description? A clinical trial manager job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a clinical trial manager in an organization. Below are the clinical trial manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a clinical trial manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The job description of a clinical trial manager includes all of the following:
- Work together with the project manager to establish goals for the clinical monitoring team and make sure that the trial’s documentation complies with those objectives.
- Create and use clinical monitoring tools and records that are specific to your study.
- Establish and maintain the trial budget.
- Locate, recruit, and choose sites, and plan site management operations.
- Oversee and organize the clinical monitoring team.
- Plan and coordinate site visits.
- Assemble and look over the trial materials.
- Ensure adherence to SOPs, local laws, and the CFR, ICH, and GCP standards.
- Make sure that every member of the team adheres to the study protocols and keeps precise records of their job activities.
- Assure the confidentiality of all records at all times during the research.
- Ensure that all study procedures are carried out correctly, and coordinate with the other members of the research team.
- Make plans with research project funders to make sure the study’s goals are realized.
- Organize activities with the study’s investigators, research staff, medical professionals, institutional review boards, ethical committees, and other regulatory organizations.
- Create and put into place procedures and processes to make sure that studies go off without a hitch.
- Make sure to keep an eye on the study from start to finish to make sure all rules are followed and the data is collected correctly.
Qualifications
The following credentials are normally required for a clinical trial manager:
Education: The majority of employers want a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, like health care, science, or business, from clinical trial managers. Candidates with an associated degree in a similar field may be hired by some employers. Clinical trial managers might enroll in courses in research methodology, ethics, statistics, and research design to get ready for this position.
Experience and training: The majority of clinical trial managers’ training occurs on the job. Before becoming a clinical trial manager, they could start as a clinical research assistant or clinical research associate. They acquire the fundamental know-how and abilities needed to work as a clinical trial manager while working as a clinical research assistant or associate.
Conferences and seminars are additional training opportunities for clinical trial managers. These experts might go to conferences and seminars to learn more about clinical trials and the most recent rules. Additionally, they might gain knowledge about the most recent software and hardware employed by clinical trial administrators.
Licenses and certificates: Although certifications are not often necessary for clinical trial managers, they might make you a more appealing applicant when you seek opportunities.
Essential Skills
The core competencies of a clinical trial manager are explained below:
Effective Communication Skills: Daily, clinical trial managers interact with a variety of people. They might converse with participants, sponsors, volunteers, and other study stakeholders. They converse with one another to exchange knowledge and work on initiatives together. Clinical trial managers that have effective communication skills are more effective and efficient.
High Levels of Organization: Organizational skills are used by clinical trial managers to manage various projects and deadlines simultaneously. To make timetables for their team and individual members, they may also employ their organizational talents. Clinical trial managers can benefit from having organizational abilities to keep track of study data and other crucial papers.
Effective Time management Skills: The capacity to organize and complete things within a predetermined time range is known as time management. Clinical trial managers utilize time management techniques to make sure their team completes tasks by the due date and that the study is proceeding according to schedule. This can involve arranging meetings, going through data, and modifying the study as necessary.
Decent problem-solving abilities: Having the capacity to recognize and address problems is problem-solving. You might have to deal with issues that come up during studies as a clinical trial manager, like when an investigator forgets to submit data or when a patient has a negative reaction. When dealing with unforeseen circumstances, such as when equipment breaks down or when there are supply shortages, problem-solving abilities are also used.
Critical thinking: Managers of clinical trials apply critical thinking to problem-solve and make judgments. If a problem emerges or if a participant has a negative reaction, they might need to decide how to proceed with an experiment quickly. They might also need to make decisions about which data to study and how effectively to deploy resources.
Skills in project management: Clinical trial managers need to have project management abilities since they use them to oversee the numerous tasks involved in executing a trial. Clinical trial managers may guarantee that every component of the study runs successfully by using these abilities to plan and monitor the team’s progress on each project. Additionally, it enables them to assign tasks to other team members and follow up frequently to ensure that everyone is producing work.
Protocol Development: Clinical trial managers define and apply rules for their team to follow through the protocol creation process. Because they guarantee that everyone working on a project adheres to the same procedures, protocols are crucial for guaranteeing consistency in data gathering and analysis. Furthermore, protocols must be thorough so that everyone on the team is aware of their responsibilities.
Keen focus on detail: The capacity for close observation of minute details and their accuracy is known as attention to detail. When evaluating research data, clinical trial managers employ this ability to guarantee the accuracy of every part of a study. When developing protocols, clinical trial administrators should pay close attention to detail to make sure that each step is essential and that the outcomes will be valuable.
Vendor Management: An understanding of the numerous vendors who might be participating in a project is necessary for a clinical trial manager. This entails being aware of the products and services each seller provides, their prices, and whether or not they will deliver their goods or services. Additionally, a clinical trial manager needs to be aware of which suppliers are crucial for achieving project objectives and guaranteeing quality control.
Effective Leadership Skills: Leadership is the capacity to inspire and direct a group of people toward achieving shared objectives. Managers of clinical trials are frequently in charge of supervising groups of anything from a few dozen to hundreds of people. Clinical trial managers can succeed in their positions by having excellent leadership qualities because they are responsible for making sure everyone on their team knows their jobs and feels valued.
Clinical Operations: The capacity to direct and coordinate clinical studies is known as clinical operations. This entails being in charge of all tasks necessary for a trial’s success, such as making sure that all protocols are followed, data is gathered precisely and on time, budgets are kept, and so on. As a clinical trial manager, having good clinical operations abilities can help you develop in your profession because they show that you can guide others through challenging processes.
Investigator Relations: Strong interpersonal abilities, especially the capacity to forge enduring bonds with both team members and clients, are essential for a clinical trial manager. To make sure that your company’s product is tested properly and that all of your employees are satisfied and productive, you must be able to work effectively with people as a clinical trial manager. When interviewing prospective investigators for your organization, you also use your investigator relations skills.
Site Selection: The process of picking a location for a clinical study is called site selection. This entails assessing variables like resource accessibility, proximity to other trials and patient groups, regulatory compliance, and more. You can locate areas that are most likely to result in success by using great site selection skills. Additionally, it guarantees that your business chooses trial sites following all applicable laws.
ICH and GCP Guidelines: Clinical trial managers must follow GCP and ICH guidelines as regulatory requirements when conducting trials. These rules guarantee both the integrity of the trial’s data and the safety of the patients who take part in it. Clinical trial managers who possess good GCP and ICH abilities are aware of these rules and how they relate to their job.
Regulatory Affairs: Regulatory affairs is the procedure used to make sure clinical trials adhere to all rules and laws. You must be aware of these guidelines as a clinical trial manager so that you can make sure your organization complies with them. This ability is also utilized when developing guidelines for fresh trials. For instance, you need to know which procedure requires approval first if one requires an investigational medicine but the other does not.
Budget Management Skills: The capacity to monitor and allocate finances for projects is known as budget management. You can be in charge of overseeing research study budgets in your capacity as a clinical trial manager. This necessitates careful attention to detail as well as proficiency in budget creation and management. You may make sure that research teams have the resources they require to do their work by using your budget management abilities.
Monitoring: Monitoring is the practice of keeping track of data while keeping an eye out for any unusual developments during a study. Clinical trial managers analyze their trials, make improvements as needed, and follow success using monitoring skills. This may entail going over study data, examining the findings, and determining whether any adjustments should be made to the trial’s protocol or practices.
Patient Recruitment: The process of locating and persuading participants to take part in clinical trials is known as patient recruitment. You might be in charge of locating participants for the clinical trials your business manages. This calls for strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as an understanding of how to persuade people to try novel therapies or interventions. Additionally, patient recruiting can be used to foster confidence between your organization and future volunteers.
How to Become a Clinical Trial Manager
Graduate from High School or Complete a GED (Four Years): The initial stage in becoming a clinical trial manager is completing high school or receiving a GED. This not only demonstrates a student’s dedication to finishing a course of study but also demonstrates that they have acquired a certain degree of education. Students interested in this field of work should concentrate on courses in math, biology, chemistry, business, and psychology.
Participate in an undergraduate program (Two to Four Years): The typical educational requirement for clinical trial managers is a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in science or health science is an option for students. Clinical trial management, health science, biology, pre-medicine, and even business are all possible majors.
Obtain Experience in the Field of Clinical Trials: To work as a clinical trials manager, you frequently need prior clinical trial management work experience. Working for drug companies, academic institutions, governmental organizations, or anybody else conducting clinical trials can help professionals gain experience. It is imperative to have experience with every facet of a trial, including its design, planning, monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
Obtain Certification: It is optional for clinical trial managers to become certified, although doing so may help them land a job or get a promotion. The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the Society of Clinical Research Associates are the main certification bodies (SOCRA). The certifications section below has information about certification requirements.
Obtain a certificate or master’s degree (Optional, One to Two Years): When joining this sector, having a master’s degree or a certificate in clinical trial management may be helpful. The duration of a program might range from one to three years or more. Students will typically learn ethics, trial design, regulatory compliance, and statistics in these programs.
Where to Work as a Clinical Trial Manager
Hospitals, pharmaceutical firms, and research organizations are just a few of the places where clinical trial managers work. Most of them have full-time jobs, however, others may put in more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines or communicate with team members who are in different time zones. Clinical trial managers frequently travel to conferences, client meetings, and site visits. Clinical trial managers must be able to manage numerous activities at once and perform effectively under pressure because their job can be difficult. They must also be motivated and able to operate autonomously because they may have to manage numerous tasks at once with little guidance.
Clinical Trial Manager Salary Scale
In the USA, the average income for a clinical trial manager is $125,875 per year or $64.55 per hour. Most experienced workers earn up to $156,000 per year, while entry-level roles start at $95,000.
In the Greater London Area of the United Kingdom, the average gross wage for a clinical trial manager is £66,948, which equates to $32 per hour. This is £6,632 (+11%) more than the typical clinical trial manager pay in the UK. They also receive an average bonus of £4,124. Compensation estimates are based on salary surveys completed by anonymous employees and employers in the London Metropolitan Area, UK. The typical compensation for a clinical trial manager at entry level (with 1-3 years of experience) is £46,654. The average pay for senior-level clinical trial managers (8+ years of experience) is £83,228.
In Toronto, Ontario, the average gross pay for a clinical trial manager is $120,018; this equates to a $58 hourly wage. This is $8,803 ($8%) more than the typical Canadian compensation for clinical trial managers. Additionally, they receive a $7,393 bonus on average. Salary projections are based on data from anonymous employee surveys and employer surveys completed in Toronto, Ontario. The typical compensation for a clinical trial manager at entry level (1-3 years of experience) is $83,636. The average pay for senior-level clinical trial managers (8+ years of experience) is $149,203.
In Melbourne, Australia, the average gross pay for clinical trial managers is $125,398. This equates to a $60 hourly wage. This is $2,184 more than the typical clinical trial manager’s salary in Australia, which is up 2%. They also receive an average bonus of $7,725. Salary projections are based on information from a poll of anonymous employees and employers in Melbourne, Australia. The typical compensation for a clinical trial manager at the entry-level (with 1-3 years of experience) is $87,527. The average pay for senior-level clinical trial managers (8+ years of experience) is $156,143.
The average gross pay for clinical trial managers in Ireland is €68,513, or €33 per hour. Additionally, they receive a bonus of €4,220 on average. Wage projections are based on anonymous employee and employer responses to a salary survey conducted in Ireland. The typical compensation for a clinical trial manager at the entry-level (1-3 years of experience) is €47,758. The average pay for senior-level clinical trial managers (8+ years of experience) is €85,197.
In Heidelberg, Germany, the average gross pay for clinical trial managers is 71.093 euros or 34 euros per hour. Compared to the typical clinical trial manager compensation in Germany, this is 2% less (-1.258 €). Additionally, they receive a bonus that is typically 4.37 Euros. Estimates of salaries based on compensation surveys completed by anonymous employees and employers in Heidelberg, Germany. The typical compensation for a clinical trial manager at entry level (1-3 years of experience) is 49.542 Euros. The average pay for high-level clinical trial managers (8+ years of experience) is 88.381 Euros.
In Nigeria, the average monthly salary for a clinical trial manager is roughly 603,000 NGN. The lowest salary is 295,000 NGN, and the highest is 940,000 NGN (highest).
