Clinical Research Manager - Ophthalmology - Remote

Job Description

This role is primarily accountable for the end-to-end performance and project management for assigned protocols in a country in compliance with ICH/GCP and country regulations, our Company policies and procedures, quality standards and adverse event reporting requirements internally and externally.

The CRM could be responsible for a particular study for several countries in a cluster.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Main Point of Contact (POC) for assigned protocols and link between Country Operations and clinical trial team (CTT).

• Responsible for project management of the assigned studies: pro-actively plans, drives and tracks execution and performance of deliverables/timelines/results to meet country commitments from feasibility and site selection, recruitment, execution and close out.

• Accountable for performance for assigned protocols in a country in compliance with ICH/GCP and country regulations, our Company policies and procedures, quality standards and adverse event reporting requirements internally and externally.

  • Reviews Monitoring Visits Reports and escalates performance issues and training needs to CRA manager and/or functional vendor and internal management as needed.

  • Performs Quality control visits as required.

• Leads local study teams to high performance: trains in the protocol other local roles, closely collaborates with and supports CRAs as protocol expert and coordinates activities across the different local country roles ensuring a strong collaboration (including the CTC, CRAs and COM).

• Responsible for creating and executing a local risk management plan for assigned studies.

• Ensures compliance with CTMS, eTMF and other key systems in assigned studies.

• Escalates as needed different challenges and issues to TA Head/CRD/CCQM and or CTT (as appropriate).

• Identifies and shares best practices across clinical trials, countries, clusters.

• Responsible for collaboration with functional outsourcing vendors, investigators, other external partners in assigned studies.

• Country POC for programmatically outsourced trials for assigned protocols.

• As a customer-facing role, this position will build business relationships and represent our Company with investigators.

• Serves local business needs as applicable in his/her country (if delegated can sign contracts and manage budgets).

• Supports local and regional strategy development consistent with long‐term corporate needs in conjunction with CRD, TAH and Regional Operations.

• Collaborates internally with HQ functions, regional and local operations, EU Clinical Development, Pharmacovigilance, Global Medical Affairs to align on key issues/decisions across the trials. Consult with GHH as needed.

Extent of Travel: Up to 30% of working time

CORE Competency Expectations:

• Knowledge in Project Management and site management.

• Strong organizational skills with demonstrated success required.

• Requires ability to make decisions independently and oversee important activities relevant to clinical research activities according to predetermined global policies and commitments with the support, oversight and supervision of the TA Head or CRD.

• Requires strong understanding of local regulatory environment.

• Strong scientific and clinical research knowledge is required.

• Strong understanding of clinical trial planning, management and metrics is essential as well as the ability to focus on multiple deliverables and protocols simultaneously.

• Experience functioning as a key link between Country Operations and Clinical Trial Teams.

• Communicates effectively and builds a collaboration spirit in a remote/virtual environment and across countries, cultures and functions.

• Ability and skills to manage resource allocation, processes (and controls), productivity, quality and project delivery.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and local language. The incumbent must be competent and effective in written and verbal communication.

• Strategic thinking.

• Ability to work efficiently in a remote and virtual environment.

• Understand cultural inclusion.

• The position requires proven strong project management skills and/or project management certification or relevant training program/close mentoring.

Behavioral Competency Expectations:

• Strong leadership skills that enable and drive alignment with the goals, purpose and mission of our Company's Research Labs, Global Clinical Development (GCD) and GCTO.

• Ability to identify problems, conflicts and opportunities early and lead, analyze and prepare mitigation plans and drive conflict resolution is critical.

• Required to negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external groups; settle differences with minimum disruption. Examples of common problems include: 1) low patient recruitment, 2) inadequate staff to meet business needs, 3) performance or compliance issues, 4) working with regulatory issues and the broader organization, and 5) resolution of conflictive situations.

• Educational/pedagogic, diplomatic and empathic skills to effectively build and maintain professional relationships with investigators and other stakeholders.

Experience Requirements:

Required:

• 5 years of experience in clinical research.

• Strong Ophthalmology experience required, with retinal disease experience strongly preferred.

Preferred Experience:

• CRA Experience preferred.

Educational Requirements:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in science (or comparable)

Preferred:

• Advanced degree, (e.g., Master degree, MD, PhD)

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Business Relationship Building, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Research, Clinical Site Management, Clinical Trial Management Processes, Clinical Trials, Cultural Diversity, Decision Making, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Medical Affairs, Ophthalmology, Optometry, Project Management, Quality Management, Quality Standards, Regulatory Issues, Regulatory Submissions, Risk Based Monitoring, Risk Management, Site Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Team Leadership, Vendor Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

No

Job Posting End Date:

05/16/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.