The Clinical Trial Manager (CTM) is responsible for the management and oversight of assigned duties and clinical deliverables on studies. Such duties may include developing project documents and deliverables; effectively communicating with the Project Manager (PM), Client and study team; managing and training CRAs and other study team members; administering and providing oversight of vendor and/or study budgets and time entry; ensuring that clinical metrics are met, and operational risks identified and mitigated and managing third-party clinical vendors and contract staff.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develops the Site Activation Plan and customizes study start-up documents as needed.
- Coordinates site identification, selection and recruitment.
- Oversees initial regulatory document collection and review.
- Oversees regulatory and ethics submission processes.
- Preparation and/or review of essential study documents, e.g. Monitoring Guidelines, CRF Completion Guidelines, Patient Information and Informed Consent Form, etc.
- Authorizes release of Investigational Product.
- Coordinates site contracts and budgets negotiation and participates in the management of investigator payments.
- Manages project milestones (for clinical deliverables) and proactively addresses deficiencies.
- Holds study team members accountable to the study timelines and Time Entry Guidelines.
- Provides input to the PM in preparation for Monthly Project Reviews.
- Attends and provides information at Client teleconferences/study team meetings.
- Delegates and oversees work for assigned CRAs.
- Develops the Monitoring Plan (MP), tools, and training materials.
- Ensures assigned CRAs receive therapeutic and project-specific training.
- Oversees the study monitoring visit schedule to ensure compliance with the frequency set forth in the MP.
- Assists the PM and line management in projecting CRA staffing needs, and managing CRA staff utilization.
- Reviews and approves visit reports, follow-up letters, expense reports and timesheets within the required timeframes.
- Schedules and manages CRA project team meetings (and meeting minutes).
- Performs quality assessment visits as required.
- Performs remote review of clinical data within the EDC system to identify trends in enrollment and data entry issues at sites; proactively interfaces with clinical monitoring team and Client to identify solutions and to ensure the data is always consistently monitored/source data is verified at all times.
- Participates in the performance appraisal process by providing timely and accurate feedback regarding the performance of assigned CRAs.
- In the event of a CRA change, ensures a thorough and effective handover, documenting per SOPs.
- When regulatory lead is not assigned, the CTM ensures regulatory documents for assigned countries are filed according to the guidelines in the Trial Master File Plan.
- Performs the periodic TMF QC reviews for assigned countries and sites.
- Manages the budget negotiation and contracting process for clinical vendors.
- Ensures clinical vendors meet deliverables per timeline and budget.
- Oversees quality of clinical vendor deliverables.
- Assists the PM in review of the study budget and expenses to ensure financial targets are met.
- Reports completion of project deliverables to ensure accurate revenue recognition.
- Reviews vendor invoices for accuracy prior to payment.
- Assists the PM in generating changes in scope and notifying the Client of changes, as needed.
- Performs monitoring of assigned sites as required.
- Attends and contributes to investigator meetings, Kick-Off meetings and project meetings.
- Assist CRAs for on-site audits if needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Abilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation skills, conflict management, time management, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge of project management techniques and tools and proficient in project management software.
- Strong team-building skills and the ability to work successfully in a matrixed team environment.
- Excellent customer service and relationship building skills with the ability to proactively address and prioritize expectations.
- Excellent working knowledge of ICH, GCP and local guidelines/regulations.
- Knowledgeable in all aspects of clinical trial conduct, including systems, study financials and procedures.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, and to delegate responsibility as necessary.
- Dedication to quality in all work tasks and deliverables.
- Working knowledge of computer systems, applications and operating systems.
Education and Experience:
- Life Science degree, nursing background and/or combination of education / experience.
- Requires a minimum of three years of clinical trial management experience.
- Previous experience in personnel management preferred.
- Previous experience as a CRA preferred.