Senior Associate - Clinical Trial Project Management, Exploratory Medicine

527 Eli Lilly Cork Limited; Cork; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly is seeking a Clinical Trial Project Manager (CTPM) to lead cross-functional study teams in the planning, execution, and delivery of clinical trials. The role requires coordinating global enrollment, managing trial budgets, and mitigating risks across regions to ensure on-time, within-scope results.

The position emphasizes scientific and regulatory knowledge, strong leadership, and the ability to influence without authority, with travel up to 10% as part of regional operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree (scientific or health-related) and 3 years clinical research experience, or an advanced degree.
• Experience with clinical trial processes and regulatory requirements.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional study teams in the development and execution of clinical trials.
• Coordinate global enrollment plans and monitor trial timelines across geographies.
• Assess and manage trial risks and contingencies with input from regional teams.
• Understand and manage cross-functional trial budgets and financial tracking.
• Coordinate training for investigators and affiliates; oversee TPOs as needed.
• Ensure Trial Master File is maintained and inspection-ready.

Skills

PM methodology

Influence without authority

Leadership & networking

Communication & self-management

Problem-solving & ambiguity handling

Flexibility & prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree in scientific or health-related field

Advanced degree

Tools

MS Project

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us. At Lilly, we believe in the talent of our workforce. One of the best ways to utilize and develop that talent is to use our existing workforce to fill new and/or open positions. If you are looking for a new position within Lilly, you can view and apply to open roles posted in the internal job posting system. You must meet the minimum qualifications outlined in the job description and have/obtain work authorization in the country the position is located in order to be considered. When applying internally for a position your current supervisor receives notification that you have applied to the position. We encourage employees to discuss the opportunity with their supervisor prior to applying. At Lilly, we make a difference for people the world over by discovering, developing and delivering medicines that help people live longer, healthier and more active lives. Central to all that we do are our talented and motivated professionals, circa 950 of whom are based at our Global Business Solutions centre in Little Island, Cork. There we boast vibrant workforce made up of over 38 nationalities, speaking over 27 languages. Established in 2010 to gain efficiencies in areas such as General Accounting, Purchase to Pay and Order to Cash, the GBS Cork quickly excelled in its financial mandate, allowing the Cork leadership to ask, how can we apply these processes to other areas of the business? And so the GBS we have today was born, still leading in finance, but also evolving and expanding into diverse Business Service functions including Customer Care, Global HR Data Management, Clinical Trial Management and Scientific Communications, and more to come on stream across 2020. This, along with the recent physical expansion of the Little Island campus, means there has never been a more exciting time to be part of the GBS story! Mirroring the existing Island House building, the new Island Hall facility extends our overall capacity where Lilly offers a premium workspace across both buildings, complete with flexible working options, healthcare, pension and life assurance benefits, subsidised canteen, wellbeing facilities, travel subsidies, on-site parking and much more. At the GBS, it’s not just about what we do today, but how we can continuously improve and innovate for present and future operations. We view the development of our highly skilled workforce in much the same way and want to grow your role into an empowering and fulfilling career here at Lilly. Therefore, with the sole purpose of employee progression, weekly Manager 1:1s, a dedicated Learning & Development service and Educational Assistance schemes all await you. Above all, it’s about being part of an open, welcoming and inclusive culture, one that is further enhanced by the dedication of our committees – Team Lilly Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility and Health Safety & Environment.

Overview

The Clinical Trial Project Manager (CTPM) leads the cross‑functional study team in the development and execution of clinical trials and is accountable both regionally and globally to deliver trial(s) with quality, on time, and within scope and budget. The CTPM leverages project management, regional operational knowledge, clinical trial process leadership and expertise, and scientific expertise to drive actions and coordinate efforts to achieve or exceed these trial deliverables.

Primary Responsibilities

• Scope – Understand the scope of work required to complete the clinical trial successfully. Monitor the status and make changes (per change control process) as needed to meet the deliverables of the trial.
• Timeline – Develop and track global trial enrollment plan by gaining alignment and integrating inputs across functions and geographies.
• Risk – Assess, identify and monitor trial‑level risks. Incorporate scientific knowledge, trial process, and regional expertise to create one integrated trial‑level risk mitigation and contingency plan.
• Budget – Understand the cross‑functional, trial‑level budget components. Create and monitor the overall budget and assumptions using financial tracking tools. Routinely network with appropriate business partners, on trial‑level budget status and changes.
• Partner with other organizations to coordinate and actively participate in Investigator Study Specific Training (ISSTs) / Affiliate Study Training (ASTs).
• Drive and coordinate local, regional and global, cross‑functional study team throughout study implementation, execution and closure empowering them to meet the clinical trial deliverables, including issue management, contingency planning and issue resolution.
• Be accountable for trial/regional enrollment strategy and execution starting from country allocation through Last Patient Entered Treatment (LPET). Partner with Regional Operations to achieve regional enrollment goals.
• Manage relationships and serve as a single point of contact and central owner for trial communication, to and from the CPM Organization, Regional Clinical Operations, and Third Party Organization (TPOs).
• Apply problem‑solving skills to daily issues with cross‑functional study team (including with vendors, affiliates/regions, global team members and other business partners).
• Identify and assist in developing continuous improvement activities based on important trends such as industry, regulatory, new technology, etc.
• Manage TPO qualification process, selection, and oversight.

Clinical Trial Process Leadership and Expertise

• Demonstrate understanding of drug development process. Acknowledge inter‑relatedness of cross‑functional activities and understand the impact of project decisions on the overall clinical trial.
• Look for opportunities to expand and deepen clinical trial process expertise.
• Be knowledgeable of the global and regional operating model; coordinate and facilitate obtaining regional input to provide to the study teams.
• Single point of accountability for the Trial Master File, working closely with functional record owners to ensure the file is current and inspection ready at all time.
• Network and leverage expertise to anticipate trial and regional issues, identify areas of process breakdown, assess situations and propose proactive approaches that reduce and/or mitigate risks that impact ability to deliver the clinical trial.
• Demonstrate ability to lead and influence in the midst of ambiguity.
• Coach peers, cross‑functional team members and TPOs on aspects of clinical trial process and regional specificities.
• Report, manage and interpret information for the clinical trial(s), including completeness and accuracy across multiple business systems and tools from study implementation through closure.
• Apply expertise and knowledge of global/regional regulations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Lilly standards of operation in the conduct of clinical trials.
• Liaise with affiliates and other appropriate resources to understand local regulatory requirements.

Scientific Expertise

Leverage scientific and regulatory knowledge to prepare and/or provide technical consultation for clinical and regulatory documents, prepare for meetings with regulatory agencies and draft responses to questions from regulatory agencies, TPOs and affiliates. Combine scientific regional, and operational knowledge as well as process expertise to impact clinical trial design, feasibility and implementation. Utilize clinical development knowledge, problem solving and critical thinking skills to support the scientific needs of the business.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Bachelors or University degree (scientific or health‑related field preferred) and 3 years clinical research experience or relevant experience in a scientific or health‑related field; or an advanced degree.

Highly Desired Skills

• Applied knowledge of project management methodology, processes and tools
• Demonstrated ability to work cross‑culturally with global colleagues and with TPOs
• Ability to influence without authority
• Strong leadership and networking skills exhibited while working in cross‑functional and cross‑cultural teams (internal & external) and on projects
• Effective and influential communication, self‑management, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex situations through problem‑solving, critical thinking and navigating ambiguity
• Flexibility to adjust to altered priorities

Other Information / Additional Preferences

• Exploratory and biopharmaceutics clinical development experience preferred
• Ability to influence and oversee TPOs to enable delivery of trial level deliverables.
• Minimum of 3 years clinical trial experience with a strong working knowledge of the clinical research process
• Prior clinical trial site‑level or affiliate experience
• Proficiency in use of project management tools and techniques (e.g., Critical Chain, ProChain Enterprise, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint)
• Ability to travel (up to 10% expected)

Compensation and Benefits

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is €39,750 - €87,560. Full‑time equivalent employees may also be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a pension plan; vacation benefits; eligibility for healthcare benefits; flexible benefits (if applicable) life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well‑being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

Diversity & Inclusion

Lilly does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response. Lilly does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.