Clinical Research Associate

Merck; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) to lead site management and monitoring across assigned protocols within the UK nationwide. You will ensure compliance with ICH/GCP, regulatory requirements, and sponsor SOPs, while collaborating with global and regional teams.

The role involves building strong investigative site partnerships, performing remote and on-site visits, maintaining CTMS/eTMF documentation, and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in clinical research monitoring preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ICH-GCP and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Build and sustain relationships with investigative sites across trial phases.
• Perform site management and monitoring in line with ICH-GCP, Sponsor SOPs, local laws/regulations, protocol and site monitoring plans.
• Develop deep understanding of study protocols and procedures.
• Coordinate cross-functional tasks to achieve Site Ready status.
• Participate in site selection and validation; provide informed input to decisions.
• Conduct remote and on-site monitoring to ensure data integrity and participant safety.
• Communicate proactively with investigators and site staff on protocol conduct, recruitment/retention, deviations, and findings.

Skills

Site Monitoring

GCP/ICH

Project coordination

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

Clinical Research Associate

Location: UK Nationwide

Travel: Approximately 65-75% (about 2-3 days per week, domestic and international)

About our company Our company is committed to advancing high-quality clinical research that upholds ICH/GCP standards and local regulatory requirements. We collaborate across global and regional teams to deliver studies with excellence, integrity, and patient safety at the core.

Role overview We are seeking a highly skilled Clinical Research Associate (CRA) to lead performance and compliance for assigned protocols and sites within the South East. Under the oversight of the CRA Manager or Clinical Research Director (CRD), you will serve as the primary site contact throughout all phases of clinical studies, ensuring rigorous adherence to ICH/GCP, local regulations, our company policies and procedures, quality standards, and adverse event reporting requirements. You will take ownership of allocated sites, actively expand our clinical research territory by identifying and developing new sites and contribute as a subject matter expert on monitoring processes and systems across internal workstreams.

Key responsibilities

• Build and sustain strong relationships with investigative sites across all trial phases.
• Perform site management and monitoring activities in compliance with ICH-GCP, Sponsor SOPs, local laws/regulations, protocol, site monitoring plans, and related documents.
• Develop deep understanding of study protocols and procedures.
• Coordinate cross-functional tasks to achieve Site Ready status.
• Participate in site selection and validation; provide informed input to decisions.
• Conduct remote and on-site monitoring to ensure: Data integrity (complete, accurate, unbiased).
• Protection of subjects' rights, safety, and well-being.
• Execute validation, initiation, monitoring, and close-out visits; document clear, comprehensive visit and non-visit reports in a timely manner.
• Collect, review, and monitor regulatory documentation for start-up, maintenance, and close-out.
• Communicate proactively with investigators and site staff on protocol conduct, recruitment/retention, deviations, regulatory findings, audits/inspections, and site performance.
• Identify, assess, and resolve site performance, quality, or compliance issues; elevate appropriately per the CRA escalation pathway in collaboration with CRA Manager, CRM, TA Head, and CRD.
• Partner with internal teams (country operations, finance, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, legal, regional operations, HQ) and external stakeholders (vendors, IRB/IEC, regulatory authorities).
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in CTMS, eTMF, and other systems.
• Act as a process SME: share best practices, drive continuous improvement, and deliver training.
• Support and/or lead audit/inspection activities.
• Contribute to country strategy by identifying and onboarding potential new sites; build site capabilities.
• Mentor and buddy junior CRAs; conduct co-monitoring and quality control visits where appropriate.

Travel requirements

Ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately 65-75% of working time (about 2-3 days per week).

Valid driver's license preferred; required in certain countries.

Core competencies

• Fluent in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present technical information effectively.
• Robust knowledge of clinical research, trial phases, ICH/GCP, and local clinical research regulations and guidelines; ability to work within global, country, and regional frameworks.
• Demonstrated mentoring and leadership capability.
• Hands-on knowledge of Good Documentation Practices.
• Proven site management expertise, including independent oversight of site performance and patient recruitment.
• High-level monitoring skills with sound, independent professional judgment.
• Strong IT proficiency (MS Office and clinical applications across computer, tablet, and mobile); adaptable to new tools.
• Ability to interpret data/metrics and take appropriate action, including in virtual settings.
• Experience conducting site motivation visits to boost enrollment.
• Solution-oriented approach to complex issues; capable of root cause analysis and implementing preventive/corrective actions.
• Ability to mentor junior CRAs and perform co-monitoring visits.

Behavioral competencies

• Excellent time management, organization, interpersonal skills, conflict management, and problem solving.
• High independence across multiple protocols, sites, and therapy areas.
• Strong sense of accountability and urgency; able to prioritize and multitask in changing environments.
• Effective in a matrixed, multicultural setting; fosters culturally sensitive relationships.
• Customer-focused mindset with high standards of quality and compliance.
• Positive, growth-oriented, self-driven, and professional demeanor aligned with company values.

Education and experience

Bachelor's degree (or higher) with extensive