JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Clinical Research Associate is responsible for the site management, site monitoring and close-out of assigned clinical trials investigator sites to ensure patient safety and quality study execution in accordance with applicable prevailing laws, Good Clinical Practices, and Pfizer standards.
The Senior Clinical Research Associate role is accountable for site management and monitoring, managing investigator site relationships to ensure effective delivery of clinical trials (e.g. enrollment, database release), to safeguard the quality of investigator sites (e.g. patient safety, site quality and compliance with GCP), to maintain investigator and site staff engagement and satisfaction, and to enhance the company’s image with its external stakeholders.
The Senior Clinical Research Associate is responsible for the resolution of all protocol-related issues for assigned investigator sites and will work closely with the Site Care Partner, and other members of the study team, as required, in activities associated with the set-up, running and close out of sites in a clinical trial.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsible for investigator site management and monitoring for assigned sites:
Clinical Trial Monitoring
- Ensure proper conduct of clinical trials in accordance with the Study Monitoring Plan and applicable prevailing laws, Good Clinical Practices, and Pfizer standards to achieve project goals, timelines and quality
- Manage assigned operational aspects for implementation of clinical trial activities at assigned investigator sites from site initiation through to database lock, ensuring relevant timelines and quality deliverables are met
- During study conduct, serve as the primary point of contact for assigned investigator sites. Work in partnership with and/or escalate to the SCP to ensure quality of site delivery
- Interface with the study team as needed, facilitate information flow between members of the study team, vendors and assigned investigator sites
- Partner with SCP to perform investigator site development, coaching and training of site personnel to ensure ongoing compliance with protocol and the safeguarding of patients; provide protocol training to, and address protocol related questions from the investigator site staff when required, including discussions on known/anticipated operational and clinical trial risks
- Attend investigator meetings when required (virtual or F2F).
- Provide enrollment support and ensure progress by responding to site activation and recruitment issues from investigators. Partner with SCP and the study team to define and support recruitment initiatives at site level
- Conduct onsite, remote/electronic monitoring as needed for study site initiation, routine monitoring and study site closure activities and ensure these are conducted accordance to the Study Monitoring Plan, SOPs and commensurate with emerging issues and technologies.
- Monitor site level AEs and SAEs and collaborate with the Drug Safety Unit and follow-up with investigators sites, as needed, to bring SAE reports required information to resolution
- Submit all required reports, documentation, updates and tracking within required timeframes, including but not limited to Trial Master File documentation, site reports, site follow up letters, protocol deviations, patient recruitment, clinical supply management, study progress and metrics
- Identify and resolve investigator site issues within required timeframes; agree and develop corrective and preventative actions with investigator and site personnel to close open issues and to prevent recurrence/persistence of issues
- Resolve data queries within required timelines, prepare investigator site close-out plan and conduct close-out activities within required timelines
- Ensures adequate oversight of the investigational product at the investigator site, including receipt, handling, accounting, storage conditions, and destruction activities.
- Support database release as needed
- May undertake the responsibilities of an unblinded monitor where required
Clinical/Scientific and Site Monitoring Risk
- Maintain thorough understanding of the product, protocol and therapy area in sufficient details to have appropriate discussions with the investigator and site team
- Interact with investigator site heath care professionals in a manner which enhances Pfizer’s credibility, scientific leadership and in order to facilitate Pfizer’s clinical development goals
- Support the study clinician in ensuring patient safety, eligibility and providing clinical guidance to investigators
- Drive Quality Event remediation, when applicable
- Serve as a point of contact for audit conduct, and drive Audit Observation CAPA development andchecks, when applicable.
Other:
- Mentor/train Clinical Research Associates as assigned
- Serve as an SME for CRA-related processes
- Participate in regional or local working groups/process improvement initiatives
- Perform activities under guidance of a Site Care Partner prior to site activation e.g. feasibility and site selection, PTA, coordination of site activation checklist items, ICD finalization, SIV (as applicable), including management of issues that may compromise time to site activation
- Conduct co-monitoring activities as requested
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or professional degree in life sciences such as nursing, pharmacy, medical background or equivalent
- Extensive knowledge of clinical trial methodologies, ICH/GCP, FDA and local country regulations
- Monitoring Experience: Minimum 5 years relevant experience in clinical research site monitoring (preferably 3 years in Oncology)
- Preferred therapeutic experience in Oncology, Vaccines, Internal Medicine or Infectious Diseases
- Global clinical trial experience
- Must be fluent in both English and Mandarin.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Advanced knowledge of clinical research and development processes and ability to gain command of process details
- Demonstrated knowledge of global and local regulatory requirements
- Advanced understanding of key operational elements of clinical research (e.g., monitoring, data acquisition and cleaning, reporting, etc.)
- Advanced knowledge in disease and technical areas pertaining to clinical studies, including knowledge of company direction, investigational product(s), and associated development plan(s)
- Demonstrated ability to support sponsor regulatory interactions/inspections
- Demonstrated knowledge of the processes around protocol design and feasibility assessment
- Demonstrated understanding of region/country, culture, and medical practice and how they affect clinical trial delivery
- Proven ability to work in a matrix team environment with the ability to influence, drive / lead and work through others for successful delivery of clinical trial
- Proven ability to evaluate, interpret and present complex issues and data to support risk management and mitigation
- Effective verbal and written communication skills in relating to colleagues and associates both inside and outside of the organization
- Significant travel (60-80%) within area is required. May require some international travel and some weekend travel
- Valid driver’s license and passport required
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
- Partners with Site Care Partner and Country SOM
- Reports to Director of Clinical Site Operations, or Director of Site Management and Monitoring, or Site Care Partner III in some countries
- When required Partners with other Study Team members e.g. Clinician, Recruitment Specialist, Clinical Data Scientist
- Act as a mentor for Clinical Research Associates
- Partner with other functional lines if engaged in a workstream/ LDT/ SME role
Work Location Assignment: Remote - Field Based
Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
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