Lead Clinical Research Associate Jobs
Lead Clinical Research Associate jobs are open across contract research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms, at levels from associate to senior lead, with specializations in oncology, cardiology, and site management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 24+ Lead Clinical Research Associate jobs
Embark on a rewarding career journey with UBC! Grow your career while making a meaningful impact on the world around you. UBC fosters a culture built on our Core Values being: Collaborative, Conscientious, Curious, Consultative, and Compassionate. We believe in an inclusive workplace that fosters creativity.
If you are seeking a career that will challenge, inspire, and reward you, join us at UBC!
Job Title: YLM03H – Lead Clinical Research Associate (LCRA)
Brief Description: Provides clinical project oversight and support to the project management (PM) team. Provides oversight and manages clinical monitoring and site management portions of projects in accordance with ICH/GCP, CFR guidelines, regional or country regulations/ legislations, as well as UBC and sponsor SOPs.
Specific job duties:
- Thorough knowledge of sponsor-specific project requirements, scope, protocol and timelines
- Provides oversight of the day-to-day clinical operations of US, European and/or multi-national global projects from start-up through close-out
- Reviews and approves monitoring reports and letters within UBC and/or sponsor timelines
- Leads and assists with UBC and project-specific training
- Ensures appropriate visit scheduling per protocol; tracks, reports and escalates adherence to site visit schedule, trip report metrics and documentation of completed tasks
- Provides oversight of the issues & actions and protocol deviations to ensure timely resolution per UBC and/or sponsor timelines
- Serves as primary liaison for monitoring issues, escalating to PM and/or Evidence Development Operations (EDO) Manager when appropriate
- Assists with preparation and leading of sponsor, project team and UBC meetings
- Assists as back-up for PM and may be primary contact for UBC/sponsor interaction
- Collaborates with PM to provide input into resourcing, analyzing cost variances, out-of-scope management, and conducting revenue recognition as applicable
- Coordinates site assignments for team in conjunction with PM and EDO Manager
- Monitors clinical operations aspects of the project against the established plans, SOPs and KPIs ensuring compliance
- Assists PM with the creation and maintenance of project-specific documents
- Responsible for maintenance of audit-ready project systems (eTMF, CTMS, project-specific systems) as related to clinical operations
- Mentors and supports project team
- May include reviewing the preparation, submission and tracking of Competent Authority (CA), Central and Local Ethics Committee and other regulatory applications, as per country requirements
- May include oversight of contract negotiation activities with the sites as per country requirements
- May be required to perform site monitoring as needed.
- May review and provide oversight of study feasibility assessments
- May assist PM and EDO Manager with management of Vendor CRAs
- May require up to 30% travel
- Assists with other duties as assigned
Supervisory Responsibility:
- N/A
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Health Care/Life Science preferred or equivalent industry experience
- Minimum of 5+ years of site management experience required with preference of 2 years field monitoring experience
- Knowledge and understanding of the local country laws applicable to clinical trials and observational studies
- Proficient in the operational methodologies of clinical trials and observational studies
- Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, ICH/GCP and UBC SOPs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and local language
- High attention to detail
- Excellent critical thinking and resolution skills
- Displays leadership, organizational, communication, time management and interpersonal skills
- Proven skills with CTMS, eTMF, EDC, Microsoft Office, basic computer software and sponsor specific systems
- Ability to work independently and within a cross-team environment.
- Confident in taking responsibility for operational day-to-day project oversight
- Ability to coordinate monitoring project activities at local, national, and international studies
Benefits:
At UBC, employee growth and well-being are always at the forefront. We offer an extensive range of benefits to ensure that you have everything you need to thrive personally and professionally.
Here are some of the exciting perks UBC offers:
- Remote opportunities
- Competitive salaries
- Growth opportunities for promotion
- 401K with company match*
- Tuition reimbursement
- Flexible work environment
- Discretionary Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Employee assistance programs
- Medical, Dental, and vision coverage
- HSA/FSA
- Telemedicine (Virtual doctor appointments)
- Wellness program
- Adoption assistance
- Short term disability
- Long term disability
- Life insurance
- Discount programs
UBC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. We are committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that fosters respect for each other, our clients, and our patients.
#LI-JM1
#LI-REMOTE
Embark on a rewarding career journey with UBC! Grow your career while making a meaningful impact on the world around you. UBC fosters a culture built on our Core Values being: Collaborative, Conscientious, Curious, Consultative, and Compassionate. We believe in an inclusive workplace that fosters creativity.
If you are seeking a career that will challenge, inspire, and reward you, join us at UBC!
Job Title: YLM03H – Lead Clinical Research Associate (LCRA)
Brief Description: Provides clinical project oversight and support to the project management (PM) team. Provides oversight and manages clinical monitoring and site management portions of projects in accordance with ICH/GCP, CFR guidelines, regional or country regulations/ legislations, as well as UBC and sponsor SOPs.
Specific job duties:
- Thorough knowledge of sponsor-specific project requirements, scope, protocol and timelines
- Provides oversight of the day-to-day clinical operations of US, European and/or multi-national global projects from start-up through close-out
- Reviews and approves monitoring reports and letters within UBC and/or sponsor timelines
- Leads and assists with UBC and project-specific training
- Ensures appropriate visit scheduling per protocol; tracks, reports and escalates adherence to site visit schedule, trip report metrics and documentation of completed tasks
- Provides oversight of the issues & actions and protocol deviations to ensure timely resolution per UBC and/or sponsor timelines
- Serves as primary liaison for monitoring issues, escalating to PM and/or Evidence Development Operations (EDO) Manager when appropriate
- Assists with preparation and leading of sponsor, project team and UBC meetings
- Assists as back-up for PM and may be primary contact for UBC/sponsor interaction
- Collaborates with PM to provide input into resourcing, analyzing cost variances, out-of-scope management, and conducting revenue recognition as applicable
- Coordinates site assignments for team in conjunction with PM and EDO Manager
- Monitors clinical operations aspects of the project against the established plans, SOPs and KPIs ensuring compliance
- Assists PM with the creation and maintenance of project-specific documents
- Responsible for maintenance of audit-ready project systems (eTMF, CTMS, project-specific systems) as related to clinical operations
- Mentors and supports project team
- May include reviewing the preparation, submission and tracking of Competent Authority (CA), Central and Local Ethics Committee and other regulatory applications, as per country requirements
- May include oversight of contract negotiation activities with the sites as per country requirements
- May be required to perform site monitoring as needed.
- May review and provide oversight of study feasibility assessments
- May assist PM and EDO Manager with management of Vendor CRAs
- May require up to 30% travel
- Assists with other duties as assigned
Supervisory Responsibility:
- N/A
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Health Care/Life Science preferred or equivalent industry experience
- Minimum of 5+ years of site management experience required with preference of 2 years field monitoring experience
- Knowledge and understanding of the local country laws applicable to clinical trials and observational studies
- Proficient in the operational methodologies of clinical trials and observational studies
- Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, ICH/GCP and UBC SOPs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and local language
- High attention to detail
- Excellent critical thinking and resolution skills
- Displays leadership, organizational, communication, time management and interpersonal skills
- Proven skills with CTMS, eTMF, EDC, Microsoft Office, basic computer software and sponsor specific systems
- Ability to work independently and within a cross-team environment.
- Confident in taking responsibility for operational day-to-day project oversight
- Ability to coordinate monitoring project activities at local, national, and international studies
Benefits:
At UBC, employee growth and well-being are always at the forefront. We offer an extensive range of benefits to ensure that you have everything you need to thrive personally and professionally.
Here are some of the exciting perks UBC offers:
- Remote opportunities
- Competitive salaries
- Growth opportunities for promotion
- 401K with company match*
- Tuition reimbursement
- Flexible work environment
- Discretionary Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Employee assistance programs
- Medical, Dental, and vision coverage
- HSA/FSA
- Telemedicine (Virtual doctor appointments)
- Wellness program
- Adoption assistance
- Short term disability
- Long term disability
- Life insurance
- Discount programs
UBC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. We are committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that fosters respect for each other, our clients, and our patients.
#LI-JM1
#LI-REMOTE
Lead Clinical Research Associate Jobs by Experience Level
See All 24 Lead Clinical Research Associate Jobs
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Find JobsLead Clinical Research Associate Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead clinical research associate jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, nursing, or a related clinical field
- Minimum four to six years of on-site clinical monitoring experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines and FDA regulations
- Experience independently managing and closing site monitoring visits
- Proficiency with electronic data capture systems such as Medidata Rave or Veeva Vault
- ACRP or SOCRA certification preferred for senior and lead-level candidates
Tips for Your Lead Clinical Research Associate Job Search
Tailor your resume to ICH-GCP standards
Hiring managers for lead CRA roles scan for explicit ICH-GCP compliance language and protocol deviation management experience. Name the therapeutic areas you've monitored, the number of sites you've overseen concurrently, and any corrective action plans you authored.
Highlight site relationship management experience
Lead CRA roles require you to mentor junior monitors and act as the primary contact between sponsors and sites. Call out instances where you resolved enrollment delays, coached less experienced CRAs, or escalated safety issues, because those details separate candidates from generalist monitors.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists lead clinical research associate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your therapeutic area and seniority level and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by therapeutic area first
Lead CRA postings in oncology, rare disease, and CNS often require documented experience in that specific area before you're screened in. Prioritize openings that match your monitoring history rather than applying broadly and trying to pivot in the cover letter.
Prepare for competency-based monitoring scenarios
Interviewers at CROs and pharma sponsors typically walk you through a hypothetical site issue, such as a data integrity flag or a repeated protocol deviation, and ask how you'd handle it. Practice structured answers that name the step, the stakeholder, and the documentation you'd produce.
Negotiate travel expectations before accepting
Lead CRA offers frequently list travel requirements as a range, but actual site density and study phase can push that higher. Ask directly how many active sites you'd carry, the average monitoring visit frequency, and whether remote source data verification is part of the role before you finalize any offer.
Lead Clinical Research Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most lead clinical research associates?
The companies hiring the most lead clinical research associates right now include Folio Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Meta, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Contract research organizations and large pharmaceutical sponsors tend to post the highest volume of lead-level monitoring roles at any given time.
How many lead clinical research associate jobs are remote?
About 40% of lead clinical research associate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the expansion of remote source data verification programs across the industry. Roles focused on data review, site oversight coordination, and sponsor communication are most likely to carry a hybrid or home-based designation, while positions requiring routine on-site monitoring visits remain predominantly field-based.
How do you become a lead clinical research associate?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in a life science, nursing, or health-related field, then build several years of experience as a clinical research associate conducting on-site monitoring visits across at least one therapeutic area. Pursue ACRP or SOCRA certification to validate your clinical monitoring competency, develop expertise in ICH-GCP compliance and electronic data capture systems, and document instances where you mentored junior monitors or managed escalations independently to demonstrate readiness for a lead role.
Can you get hired as a lead clinical research associate with little experience?
Moving directly into a lead CRA role with little experience is uncommon, but candidates who have strong on-site monitoring backgrounds in a single high-demand therapeutic area like oncology can sometimes qualify faster than the typical timeline suggests. Coordinating or data management experience within clinical trials also strengthens your candidacy because it shows you understand the full study lifecycle before stepping into a monitoring lead position.
What does the lead clinical research associate interview process look like?
The process typically begins with a recruiter screen focused on your monitoring background and therapeutic area experience, followed by a technical interview with a clinical operations manager who will walk through protocol-specific scenarios and ask how you handle repeated site deviations or audit findings. Final-stage interviews often include a panel with the medical monitor or project lead and may require a written or verbal case study presenting a site remediation plan.
Where can I find and apply to lead clinical research associate jobs?
You can find and apply to lead clinical research associate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your therapeutic area, monitoring experience, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 24 Lead Clinical Research Associate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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