Associate Director, Start-up Lead, SiteID & Activation

Merck; Eysins; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck seeks an experienced Associate Director, Start-up Lead, SiteID & Activation to lead start-up and site activation strategies across our global clinical trial portfolio. You will oversee country and site feasibility, drive regulatory submissions, and collaborate with internal teams and external providers to accelerate timelines and improve recruitment outcomes.

The role requires a medical or life sciences degree, 10+ years in clinical research, 5 years in project management and study

Qualifications

• Medical or Life Sciences degree or equivalent qualification.
• 10+ years in clinical research in a CRO or Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology industry environment.
• 5 years of project management and study start-up activities.
• Thorough knowledge of ICH-GCP and applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee country and site feasibility assessments.
• Drive regulatory submissions and site activations from protocol through implementation.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external service providers to accelerate study timelines and optimize recruitment outcomes.
• Champion process improvements.
• Manage performance metrics.
• Drive operational excellence to bring medicines to patients faster.
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP standards and applicable regulations.

Skills

Clinical research

Project management

Start-up activities

ICH-GCP knowledge

Education

Life sciences degree

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you've got big plans - so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people's lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Your Role:

We are seeking an experienced clinical research professional to serve as the Associate Director, Start-up Lead, SiteID & Activation to lead start-up and site activation strategies across our global clinical trial portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee country and site feasibility assessments
• Drive regulatory submissions and site activations from protocol through implementation,
• Collaborate with internal teams and external service providers to accelerate study timelines and optimize recruitment outcomes
• Champion process improvements
• Manage performance metrics
• Drive operational excellence to bring medicines to patients faster
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP standards and applicable regulations

Minimum Qualifications:

• Medical or Life Sciences degree or equivalent qualification
• 10+ years in clinical research in a CRO or Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology Industry environment
• 5 years of project management and experience in study start-up activities
• Thorough knowledge of ICH-GCP and applicable laws and regulations for key countries

Preferred Qualifications:

• PM certification (CPM, PMP)
• Strong communication skills -verbal, written and listening
• Fail fast and data driven mentality as well as agile methodology
• Strong data insights and analytical skills to identify trends and drive quality / process improvements.
• Ability to balance competing priorities of various stakeholders and strive for achieving mutually beneficial and compliant solutions. Experience in multiple Therapeutic Areas, especially in oncology

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!