Study Start-Up Operations Lead

GlaxoSmithKline; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global healthcare company is looking for a Study Start-Up Operations Lead based in South Africa. This role involves leading study start-up operations for global clinical studies, coordinating teams and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in life sciences and at least 3 years of clinical research experience. Strong project management and communication skills are essential. This position requires working on-site with occasional travel across the region.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in clinical research or clinical operations.
• Knowledge of local South African regulatory and ethics processes.
• Experience managing vendors and multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead study start‑up operations in South Africa for global clinical studies.
• Coordinate timelines, resources and deliverables.
• Manage local study teams and vendors for regulatory submissions.

Skills

Project management

Regulatory processes

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field

Job description

Study Start-Up Operations Lead

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting‑edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

You will lead study start‑up operations in South Africa for global clinical studies. You will coordinate cross‑functional teams, local partners and vendors to deliver studies on time, to budget and to quality standards. You will work with global and local stakeholders and guide sites through regulatory and ethics submissions. We value clear communication, practical problem solving, and a focus on patient safety. This role offers growth, visible impact and the chance to contribute to GSK’s mission of uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the operational lead for study start‑up activities within South Africa, coordinating timelines, resources and deliverables.
• Manage local study teams, vendors and site relationships to complete regulatory and ethics submissions.
• Prepare and review study start‑up documents, including local operational plans, informed consent forms and site contracts.
• Track study milestones, identify risks, propose mitigation plans and elevate issues when needed.
• Maintain trial master file accuracy and ensure compliance with local regulations, ICH-GCP and GSK standards.
• Support training and coaching of site and internal staff on start‑up processes and local requirements.

Additional Responsibilities

• Plan and manage site selection and feasibility activities in collaboration with global and local colleagues.
• Prepare and coordinate regulatory authority and ethics committee submissions and respond to queries.
• Negotiate study budgets, through to contracting.
• Maintain transparent updates to study teams and stakeholders on start‑up progress and risks.
• Contribute to process improvements and share best practices to strengthen start‑up efficiency.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, clinical research, pharmacy, nursing or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in clinical research or clinical operations focused on study start‑up.
• Knowledge of local South African regulatory and ethics processes and ICH‑GCP principles.
• Experience managing vendors, sites and multiple stakeholders in a matrix environment.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, tracking and reporting study milestones.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills in English and ability to work on‑site in South Africa.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences or clinical research.
• Experience working in global pharmaceutical or vaccine clinical programmes.
• Familiarity with trial master file systems and clinical study systems.
• Prior experience negotiating site contracts and managing start‑up budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to lead local teams and coach colleagues.
• Practical problem solving and documented experience implementing risk mitigation plans.

Work Model

This role is on‑site in South Africa with occasional travel across the region as required.

How to Apply

If this role matches your experience and career goals, please submit your CV and a brief cover note explaining why you are interested. We are excited to learn about what you will bring to our team.