Senior Clinical Trial Manager

Ovid Therapeutics; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Ovid Therapeutics is seeking an experienced Senior Clinical Trial Manager to lead day-to-day operational execution of clinical trials across its portfolio. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage CROs, and ensure trials are on time, on budget, and compliant with GCP and SOPs in a lean, entrepreneurial biotech environment.

This role requires global trial operations experience, strong leadership, risk management, and effective communication with internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of clinical research experience in biotech/pharma.
• Experience leading day-to-day operational execution of complex, high-volume trials.
• Experience in a small, lean biotech environment.
• Experience overseeing CROs and external vendors in outsourced model.
• Global clinical trial operations experience required.
• Experience managing timelines, budgets, vendor deliverables, risks and dependencies.
• Strong knowledge of GCP, regulations, SOPs, and study documentation.
• CNS development experience desirable; pediatric trial experience a plus.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational execution of Phase II–III trials from start-up to database lock and CSR finalization.
• Develop and maintain study plans, timelines, budgets, milestones, and tracking tools.
• Manage trial activities for efficiency, budget, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Lead start-up activities including feasibility, country/site selection, activation, and enrollment planning.
• Develop and implement patient recruitment/retention strategies with CROs and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation actions.
• Provide timely study status updates on milestones, enrollment, risks, and budgets.
• Lead global study teams and facilitate study-specific meetings.

Skills

Study leadership

Vendor management

Risk management

Communication

Collaboration

Adaptability

Job description

Ovid Therapeutics Inc. is a New York-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering better, gentler medicines for the brain. The Company discovers and develops differentiated, small molecule medicines for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders with significant unmet need.

It is with curiosity, courage, and tenacity that, together, we work for meaningful change in the lives of patients and their families. With this sense of purpose and urgency we challenge the conventional and embrace the wisdom and thought that comes from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Importantly, we understand the commitment we make to our patients, our broad community and to each other is based on the humanity that we share.

Senior Clinical Trial Manager

Position Summary

Ovid Therapeutics is seeking an experienced, highly motivated Senior Clinical Trial Manager to lead the day-to-day operational execution of clinical trials across its clinical development portfolio. This individual will be responsible for managing clinical studies from start-up through completion, ensuring trials are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), applicable regulations, and company standard operating procedures (SOPs). As the operational lead for assigned studies, the Senior Clinical Trial Manager will coordinate cross-functional teams and manage contract research organizations (CROs) and other external vendors within an outsourced clinical development model. Prior experience as a study lead is essential. This individual must manage trial-execution details, anticipate risks, resolve operational challenges, and keep studies on track in a lean, entrepreneurial biotech environment. Experience with global clinical trials is required. Pediatric and CNS clinical development experience is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Study Leadership and Execution

• Lead the day-to-day operational execution of Phase II–III clinical trials from study start-up through database lock and study closeout, coordinating operational contributions to Clinical Study Report (CSR) finalization.
• Develop and maintain study plans, timelines, budgets, milestones, and tracking tools to ensure effective trial delivery.
• Manage day-to-day clinical trial activities to ensure studies are executed efficiently, within budget, and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead study start-up activities, including feasibility assessments, country and site selection, site activation, and enrollment planning.
• Develop and implement patient recruitment and retention strategies in collaboration with CROs and internal stakeholders.
• Proactively monitor study progress, identify potential risks or delays, and implement mitigation strategies and corrective actions.
• Provide accurate and timely study status updates, including key milestones, enrollment performance, risks, and budget forecasts.
• Lead global study teams and organize and facilitate study-specific meetings, ensuring clear communication, accountability, and timely decision-making.

CRO and Vendor Management

• Manage CROs and multiple external vendors within an outsourced clinical development model, ensuring clear expectations, accountability, quality, and performance.
• Participate in vendor selection, bid defense meetings, contract and scope discussions, budget development, and ongoing financial oversight.
• Hold CROs and external vendors accountable for contractual deliverables, study milestones, quality expectations, and agreed-upon timelines. Proactively identify performance issues, implement corrective actions, and escalation concerns as appropriate.
• Coordinate interdependent vendor deliverables, timelines, and issue resolution to maintain alignment with study objectives and milestones.

Regulatory Compliance and Study Quality

• Ensure clinical trials are conducted in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, ICH-GCP (including E6(R3)), company SOPs, and established quality management processes. Incorporate risk-based approaches into study oversight.
• Oversee the completeness, quality, and inspection readiness of the Trial Master File (TMF), ensuring essential documentation is maintained contemporaneously and in accordance with applicable regulations, GCP, and company SOPs.
• Support preparation for and management of internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Oversee study-level quality and compliance activities, identifying potential issues and implementing corrective and preventive actions as appropriate.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the central operational point of contact for assigned studies, fostering collaboration across internal teams, CROs, investigators, and other external stakeholders.
• Work closely with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Data Management, Biostatistics, Medical Writing, Drug Safety, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Supplies.
• Communicate study status, risks, resource needs, and key decisions clearly and proactively to leadership and stakeholders.
• Support clinical operations and study execution across Ovid's broader development portfolio as priorities evolve.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 6 years of clinical research experience within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, including experience managing complex clinical trials.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading the day-to-day operational execution of complex, high-volume clinical studies, with accountability for study delivery, cross-functional coordination, and issue resolution.
• Previous experience working within a small biotech or similarly lean, entrepreneurial organization.
• Demonstrated ability to independently oversee CROs and other external vendors in an outsourced clinical trial model, holding partners accountable for deliverables and proactively identifying and mitigating risks.
• Experience leading global clinical trial operations is required, including coordination across international sites, vendors, and functional teams.
• Experience managing study timelines, budgets, vendor deliverables, risks, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong working knowledge of GCP, clinical trial regulations, SOPs, and essential clinical study documentation.
• Experience in CNS clinical development is highly desirable.
• Pediatric clinical trial experienceis a strong plus.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated stakeholder management and problem-solving capabilities.

Key Competencies

• Study Leadership and Accountability: Takes ownership of study execution, drives milestones, anticipates challenges, and follows through on commitments.
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management: Builds productive relationships with CROs, vendors, investigators, internal stakeholders; sets clear expectations and manages performance effectively.
• Risk Management and Judgment: Identifies emerging risks, challenges assumptions constructively, and develops practical mitigation and contingency plans.
• Communication and Collaboration: Communicates clearly and proactively, builds trust, and fosters alignment across multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
• Adaptability and Initiative: Thrives in a lean biotech environment, navigates ambiguity and changing priorities, and takes initiative to solve problems.
• Quality and Continuous Improvement: Maintains high standards of compliance and documentation while identifying opportunities to improve study processes and operational efficiency.

Opportunity

This is an opportunity for an experienced clinical study leader to make a direct impact on trial execution at a lean, neuroscience-focused biotechnology company. The successful candidate will bring the operational discipline, flexibility, and vendor-management expertise needed to advance global clinical programs while working closely with cross-functional colleagues and external partners.

Ovid operates in a hybrid-work model. Candidates applying must be willing and able to be in the NYC office in coordination with their manager's expectations, as well as department and business needs.

The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $175,000.The actual salary offered within the range is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, qualifications, skills, level offered, and performance expectations.