Senior Level Clinical Research Assistant Jobs
Senior level clinical research assistant jobs place experienced professionals in charge of study execution, protocol oversight, and the junior staff or coordinators who carry the work forward. Most openings are 47% remote or hybrid, concentrated in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Education, with employers like Jobot, Colgate-Palmolive, and Guthrie hiring at this level now.
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Job Details
Req ID:
R040263
Locations:
California; Philadelphia, PA - [Remote/Home-Based]
Category:
Research & Development
If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide.
The Lead Clinical Research Associate (Lead CRA) independently manages clinical monitoring activities for a portfolio of investigator sites within one or more Jazz-sponsored clinical trials, while also acting as a subject matter expert and point of escalation for site-level issues. The Lead CRA provides in-field mentorship and quality oversight to CRAs (internal and CRO-partnered), helps translate centralized and risk-based monitoring signals into site-level action, and partners closely with the Global Study Manager and Central Monitoring team to ensure studies are conducted in compliance with the protocol, ICH-GCP, and applicable regulations.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities
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Independently perform and oversee the full range of on-site and remote monitoring visits (qualification, site initiation, interim/routine, close-out, and oversight, and for-cause) in accordance with the monitoring plan, SOPs, and ICH-GCP.
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Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation path for a defined group of clinical research associates assigned to one or more Jazz-sponsored clinical trials, proactively identifying and resolving site performance, compliance, and data quality issues.
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Partner with the Central Monitoring and Trial Risk Management functions to interpret key risk indicators (KRIs) and centralized analytics, and translate those signals into targeted, risk-based actions at the site level (e.g., adjusted visit frequency, targeted source data verification, focused CRA follow-up).
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Provide day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and in-field co-monitoring/training to internal CRAs and FSP staff, supporting their onboarding and ongoing development.
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Provide oversight and in-field co-monitoring and/or oversight monitoring visits of CRO-partnered staff for outsourced clinical trials and monitor overall KPIs to evaluate performance of vendors.
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Review and approve monitoring visit reports and follow-up letters for assigned CRAs prior to finalization; ensure timely, accurate, and audit-ready documentation.
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Support site start-up activities, including regulatory document collection, site contract and budget review, and site readiness assessments by collecting, filing and reconciling documents at qualification visits and site initiation visits.
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Ensure timely resolution of data queries, protocol deviations, and action items in partnership with sites, Data Management, and Biostatistics.
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Maintain oversight of the Trial Master File (TMF) for assigned sites, ensuring inspection readiness and adherence to filing timelines.
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Lead the development and continuous improvement of monitoring plans, site management strategies, and study-specific tools and training materials.
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Support recruitment and retention strategy by monitoring enrollment trends and working with sites and the study team to address barriers.
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Participate in the evaluation and oversight of vendor and CRO monitoring performance, including co-monitoring visits and quality checks.
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Support internal audits and regulatory inspections as a subject matter expert for assigned sites and studies.
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Escalate significant risks, quality issues, and site performance trends to the Global Study Manager, Central Monitoring, and Trial Risk Management functions in a timely manner.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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6+ years of clinical monitoring experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO industry, including demonstrated experience mentoring or providing lead direction and oversight of other CRAs. Lesser experience is considered for exceptional candidates.
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Thorough working knowledge of ICH-GCP, applicable global regulations, and risk-based quality management (RBQM) principles, with the ability to apply them independently and judgment across varied site situations.
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Experience with risk-based monitoring approaches, including use of centralized analytics, key risk indicators (KRIs), and quality tolerance limits (QTLs) to inform site-level monitoring decisions.
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Proficiency with CTMS, eTMF, EDC, and remote monitoring/collaboration platforms.
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Therapeutic area experience in oncology and/or neuroscience strongly preferred.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with investigator sites, cross-functional study teams, and senior stakeholders.
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Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites and studies.
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Sound judgment and problem-solving ability, with a track record of identifying issues early and driving them to resolution.
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Previous experience managing people and/or teams.
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Ability to travel approximately 40-60%, including overnight and occasional international travel, and to maintain a valid driver's license and/or passport as required.
Required/Preferred Education and Licenses
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Bachelor's degree in a life science, nursing, or related discipline required; RN or advanced degree a plus.
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Valid driver's license and/or passport required, consistent with travel expectations of the role.
LI-DM1
LI-Remote
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
FOR US BASED CANDIDATES ONLY
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the full and complete base pay range is: $121,600.00 - $182,400.00
Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, and other pertinent factors. The goal is to ensure fair and competitive compensation aligned with the candidate's expertise and contributions, within the established pay framework and our Total Compensation philosophy. Internal equity considerations will also influence individual base pay decisions. This range will be reviewed on a regular basis.
At Jazz, your base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate may also be eligible for a discretionary annual cash bonus or incentive compensation (depending on the role), in accordance with the terms of the Company's Global Cash Bonus Plan or Incentive Compensation Plan, as well as discretionary equity grants in accordance with Jazz's Long Term Equity Incentive Plan.
The successful candidate will also be eligible to participate in various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation. For more information on our Benefits offerings: https://careers.jazzpharma.com/benefits.html.
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- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
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Senior Level Clinical Research Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level clinical research assistant job?
Employers at this level look for demonstrated ownership of study lifecycle management, from protocol development through regulatory submissions and closeout. Strong candidates show experience leading site coordination, mentoring junior staff, and navigating IRB or FDA compliance independently. Highlighting cross-functional project leadership, therapeutic area depth, and a history of managing complex multi-site or phase II/III trials will distinguish your application from mid-level candidates.
Which companies hire senior level clinical research assistants?
Companies hiring senior level clinical research assistants right now include Jobot, Colgate-Palmolive, and Guthrie, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to concentrate among contract research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, academic medical centers, and large health systems with active clinical trial portfolios.
Are there remote senior level clinical research assistant jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by therapeutic area and sponsor requirements. About 47% of senior level clinical research assistant openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote roles most common in data management, regulatory affairs support, and decentralized trial coordination. Site-based and hybrid arrangements remain standard for roles involving direct patient contact or investigational product oversight.
What makes a clinical research assistant role senior level?
Senior level roles are defined by independent ownership rather than task execution. At this stage, you are expected to lead study startup activities, interpret protocol deviations, make regulatory judgment calls, and mentor coordinators or assistants on your team. The scope typically includes serving as a primary point of contact for sponsors or CROs, contributing to SOPs, and driving site performance metrics without close supervision.
Which industries hire the most senior level clinical research assistants?
Senior Level clinical research assistant roles concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand at the senior level because they run the highest volumes of regulated clinical trials and require experienced professionals who can manage compliance, sponsor relationships, and protocol complexity with minimal oversight.