Oncology Study Startup Manager

Location: Remote (preference is Central or East Coast but open to West Coast as long as you can work core hours of 9am-3pm)

Duration: 12 months w/possibility of extension based on performance and business needs

Pay: $50-53 per hour

Description:

The Study Start-Up Manager (SSU Manager) is responsible at country level for managing and conducting start-up activities in compliance with the AZ procedures, documents, local and international guidelines such as ICH – GCP and relevant regulations.

The SSU Manager will prepare, review, track and manage site regulatory documentation at country and site level,  and will maintain, review and report on site performance metrics.

The SSU manager works in close collaboration with the CRAs and the Local Study Team/Local Study Associate Director to ensure that study start-up activities and milestones are achieved in a timely and efficient manner. 

Typical Accountabilities:

• Contribute to ensure that clinical and operational feasibility assessment of potential studies is performed to the highest quality.
• Accountable for study start-up and regulatory maintenance being in charge with collection, preparation, review and tracking of documents for the application process; 
• Accountable for review of informed consents from site level, coordinates additional review with internal stakeholders; facilitates return of comments/approvals to sites to action.
• Accountable for submission of proper application/documents to Regulatory Authorities and/or IEC/IRB during start-up period.
• Actively participates in Local Study Team (LST) meetings.
• Update CTMS and other systems with data from study sites as per required timelines during the start-up period.
• Follow up on outstanding actions with study sites during start-up period to ensure resolution in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely collection/uploading of essential documents into the eTMF in accordance with ICH-GCP, AZ SOPs and local requirements. Support QC checks performed by LSAD or delegate to ensure that all country and site level trial essential documents required by ICH-GCP prior to study start have been collected and verified for correctness, prior to setting sites ready to enrol, and in line with AZ SOPs.
• Provide regular information to Line Managers at country level on study and planned study milestones/key issues during the start-up period.
• Provide feedback on any research related information including sites/investigators/competing studies that might be useful for the local market.
• Support SMM in different initiatives (local, regional or global) as agreed with the SMM Line Management.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor degree in related discipline, preferably in life science, or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 4+ years’ experience with oncology startup
• Minimum 4+ years’ experience with informed consent review
• Good knowledge of international guidelines ICH-GCP as well as relevant local regulations, basic knowledge of GMP/GDP
• Integrity and high ethical standards.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Team oriented and flexible; ability to respond quickly to shifting demands and opportunities.
• Basic understanding of drug development process
• Good collaboration and interpersonal skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent attention to details.
• Excellent understanding of Clinical Study Management and study start-up
• Good negotiation skills.
• Good ability to learn and to adapt to work with IT systems.
• 6+ months experience with Veeva Clinical Vault both as electronic Trial Master File (eTMF) and Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)
• Experience with Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Excel, Box.

Desirable:

•    Good medical knowledge and ability to learn relevant AZ Therapeutic Areas.

•    Good financial management skills.

•    Basic change management skills.

•    Good intercultural awareness.

•    Ability to look for and champion more efficient and effective methods/processes of delivering quality clinical trials with reduced budget and in less time.

•    Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

•    Demonstrates ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks with conflicting deadlines.

•    Good cultural awareness.