Manager, Study Start Up

Emerald Clinical; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 200,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid/remote options

Global development opportunities

Employee wellbeing programs

International trial exposure

Job summary

Emerald Clinical Trials is seeking a Manager, Study Start Up to lead our centralized start-up function globally. This leadership role delivers efficient, high-quality start-up activities across multiple trials while driving improvements and operations excellence.

You will provide leadership to a global team, define strategy, oversee feasibility, submissions, ethics approvals, activation timelines, and partner with BD, Proposals, and cross-functional teams to align with client expectations and

Qualifications

• Degree in a science, healthcare, or related discipline.
• Extensive start-up experience in CRO/pharma.
• Proven leadership including remote/global teams.
• Strong understanding of European clinical trial regulations and start-up processes.
• Experience contributing to proposals, feasibility, and business development activities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives and process improvements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Organisational and problem-solving capabilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with clinical systems and Microsoft Office tools.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Provide line management and leadership to the global start-up team, including coaching, development, and performance management.
• Define and implement the overall start-up strategy, ensuring alignment with global objectives and regional needs.
• Oversee end-to-end study start-up activities, including country/site feasibility, submissions, ethics approvals, and activation timelines.
• Drive process optimisation and best practices to increase efficiency, consistency, and quality across all start-up deliverables.
• Collaborate with Business Development and Proposals teams to support bid defenses, feasibility input, and strategic study planning.
• Act as a key stakeholder in client engagement, ensuring start-up expectations are clearly defined and met.
• Monitor and report on start-up KPIs, timelines, and risks, implementing mitigation strategies as needed.
• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Project Management, and external vendors.
• Support business growth initiatives by ensuring scalable and high-performing start-up operations.
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements, and company SOPs.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Strategic thinking

Education

Science/healthcare degree

Tools

Clinical systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Emerald Clinical Trials, we are a global, full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) with a rich heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. We are dedicated to advancing clinical research through scientific expertise and operational excellence, supporting biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic customers across all trial phases, from registration to post-marketing.

Our therapeutic expertise spans renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology - areas where we make a significant impact on improving global health.

At the heart of our success is our ability to combine global reach with local knowledge. Our on-the-ground teams work closely with local communities, building trust and ensuring diverse, representative patient recruitment. By prioritizing people, we deliver better engagement, more accurate data, and faster results - bringing therapies to patients in need.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Manager, Study Start Up to lead and scale our centralised study start-up function across the globe. This is a critical leadership role responsible for delivering efficient, high-quality start-up activities across multiple clinical trials while driving strategic improvements and operational excellence.

As the centralised start-up team continues to grow, this role will provide dedicated leadership, ensuring strong line management, clear strategy, and consistent best practices across all start-up activities. You will play a key role in supporting business development efforts, contributing to proposals, and ensuring that start-up capabilities align with client expectations and organisational growth objectives.

This position is instrumental in improving operational efficiency, enabling billable teams to remain focused on study execution, and ultimately enhancing client satisfaction and delivery performance.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide line management and leadership to the global start-up team, including coaching, development, and performance management
• Define and implement the overall start-up strategy, ensuring alignment with global objectives and regional needs
• Oversee end-to-end study start-up activities, including country/site feasibility, submissions, ethic approvals, and activation timelines
• Drive process optimisation and best practices to increase efficiency, consistency, and quality across all start-up deliverables
• Collaborate with Business Development and Proposals teams to support bid defenses, feasibility input, and strategic study planning
• Act as a key stakeholder in client engagement, ensuring start-up expectations are clearly defined and met
• Monitor and report on start-up KPIs, timelines, and risks, implementing mitigation strategies as needed
• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Project Management, and external vendors
• Support business growth initiatives by ensuring scalable and high-performing start-up operations
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements, and company SOPs
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Degree in a science, healthcare, or related discipline
• Extensive experience in clinical trial start-up within a CRO or pharmaceutical environment
• Proven leadership experience, including line management of remote and global teams
• Strong understanding of European clinical trial regulations and start-up processes
• Experience contributing to proposals, feasibility assessments, and business development activities
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives and process improvements
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Strong organisational and problem‑solving capabilities in a fast‑paced environment
• Proficiency with clinical systems and Microsoft Office tools
• Willingness to travel up to 10%

Why Join Us?

At our core, Emerald Clinical Trials is committed to transforming clinical research by putting people first - both patients and our employees. By joining our team, you’ll be part of a global network of passionate professionals working together to deliver better research and outcomes for millions worldwide.

Here’s What Makes Us Stand Out

• Purpose‑Driven Work: Contribute to clinical trials that genuinely improve lives, with a focus on therapies in renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology.
• Global Reach, Local Expertise: Our teams connect with local communities, building trust and meaningful engagement for every trial.
• Collaboration and Innovation: Work in a culture that values diverse perspectives and creative solutions to solve global health challenges.

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation: A tailored salary and benefits package reflecting your experience and expertise
• Flexibility: Hybrid or remote working options depending on your location
• Career Growth: Access to global development opportunities and exposure to leading scientific experts
• Employee Wellbeing: Programs designed to support work‑life balance, recognition, and team connection
• Global Opportunities: Work on international studies with diverse clients and teams

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.