Associate Director

MSD; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD in Malaysia seeks an Associate Director (CRAM) to lead a team of CRAs and ensure high-quality performance in clinical trials. You will align with country PLMs and HQ capacity planning, training, mentoring, and resource allocation to deliver trials on time and in compliance.

The role requires 5+ years in Clinical Research, 3+ years as a CRA monitor, and line-management experience. Collaboration with HR, finance, and cross-functional teams is essential to success in this leadership position.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience within Clinical Research.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as CRA monitoring clinical trials.
• Line management experience preferred or at minimum team leader experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in science or advanced degree, e.g. BA/BS or higher, with a strong emphasis in science and/or biology.

Responsibilities

• Work allocation, staff development and performance appraisal.
• Provides input for capacity planning, including reporting of current manpower and forecasting of CRA capacity and needs.
• Work with CRAs, PLMS and other functions to ensure consistency of processes and protocol implementation across the country.
• Interacts with sites to resolve site or CRA issues to meet commitments in a timely manner in coordination with the study CRM.
• Interface with GCTO partners on clinical trial execution.
• Escalates site performance issues to CRM and Clinical Research Director CRD.

Skills

People Leadership

Clinical Research

GCP/ICH Knowledge

Resource Planning

Staff Training

Performance Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science

Job description

Job Description This Associate Director (CRAM) will be key to ensure strong monitoring in our clinical trials. Under the oversight of the CRD or Head of Site Management and Monitoring, the person is responsible to manage a team of 6-14 CRAs and to ensure excellent study and site performance with strict adherence to local regulations, company SOPs and ICH GCP. As line manager the role is critical to continuously develop key talents by providing training, support and mentoring to the CRAs and properly manage situation of low or non-performance. The role will work at country level with other local stakeholder to ensure alignment and development of the country capabilities. The role will collaborate with country PLMs to ensure alignment across all monitoring functions. The person contributes to HQ capacity/resource planning activities to ensure efficient allocation of resources and work.

Responsibilities

• Work allocation, staff development and performance appraisal.
• Provides input for capacity planning, including reporting of current manpower and forecasting of CRA capacity and needs, to provide efficient use of resources.
• Work with CRAs, PLMS and other functions to ensure consistency of processes and protocol implementation across the country, to reduce variability and provide predictability.
• Interacts with sites as needed to resolve site or CRA operational issues to meet commitments in a timely manner in coordination with the study CRM.
• Attend local Investigator Meetings if requested to.
• Interface with GCTO partners on clinical trial execution.
• Escalates site performance issues to CRM and Clinical Research Director CRD.

People and Resource Management

• Manage CRA – career development, performance reviews, etc., including addressing low performance situations, and taking appropriate actions.
• Support and resolve escalation of issues from CRAs.
• Liaise with local HR and finance functions as required.
• Contribute to HQ capacity/resource planning activities to ensure efficient allocation of resources and work.
• Manage local conflicts between resource and work.
• Provides training, support and mentoring to the CRA to ensure continuous development.
• Ensures CRA compliance to corporate policies, procedures and quality standards.

CORE Competency Expectations

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Excellent people management, time management, project management and organizational skills
• History of strong performance
• Skills and judgment required to be a good steward/decision maker for the company
• Fluent in Local Language and business proficient in English (verbal and written)
• Excellent working knowledge of all applicable ICH/GCP regulations and Good Documentation Practices and ability to work within these guidelines
• Expertise in and excellent working knowledge of core trial management systems and tools

Behavioural Competency Expectations

• High emotional intelligence
• Strong leadership skills with proven success in people management
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, conflict management
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and to communicate effectively with external customers (e.g. sites and investigators)
• Influencing skills

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years´ experience within Clinical Research
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as CRA monitoring clinical trials
• Line management experience preferred or at the minimum team leader experience
• Bachelor’s degree in science or advanced degree, (e.g. BA/BS or higher) with a strong emphasis in science and/or biology

Required Skills

• Adaptability
• Biological Sciences
• Clinical Research
• Clinical Research Management
• Clinical Trial Documentation
• Clinical Trial Management
• Clinical Trial Planning
• Clinical Trials
• Clinical Trials Monitoring
• Clinical Trials Operations
• Cross-Cultural AwarenessDecision Making
• Ethical Standards
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Immunochemistry
• Oncology Trials
• People Leadership
• People Management
• Project Management
• Resource Allocation
• Resource Planning
• Stakeholder Management

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s): Job Posting End Date: 10/31/2026 *A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.