OPT Clinical Research Manager Jobs
Clinical Research Manager jobs on OPT require employers who understand FDA-regulated trial environments and are willing to sponsor work authorization. Most roles fall under STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization, and demand a background in life sciences, public health, or a related clinical field.
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Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Office
Job Description
Join Us as a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I/II) – Make an Impact at the Forefront of Innovation
We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.
As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to perform and coordinate all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. As a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I), you'll conduct remote or on-site visits to assess protocol and regulatory compliance and manage required documentation. You will manage procedures and guidelines from different sponsors and/or monitoring environments (i.e., FSO, FSP, Government, etc.). Acting as a site processes specialist, you will ensure that the trial is conducted in accordance with the approved protocol, ICH-GCP guidelines, applicable regulations, and SOPs to guarantee subjects' rights, well-being, and data reliability. You will ensure audit readiness and develop collaborative relationships with investigational sites. Detailed tasks and responsibilities assigned to your role are outlined in the task matrix.
What You’ll Do:
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Monitors investigator sites with a risk-based monitoring approach applies root cause analysis (RCA), critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify site processes failure and corrective/preventive actions to bring the site into compliance and decrease risks. Ensures data accuracy through SDR, SDV and CRF review as applicable through on-site and remote monitoring activities. Assess investigational product through physical inventory and records review. Documents observations in reports and letters in a timely manner using approved business writing standards. Escalates observed deficiencies and issues to clinical management expeditiously and follow all issues through to resolution. May need to maintain regular contact between monitoring visits with investigative sites to confirm that the protocol is being followed, that previously identified issues are being resolved and that the data is being recorded in a timely manner. Conducts monitoring tasks in accordance with the approved monitoring plan. Participates in the investigator payment process. Ensures a shared responsibility with other project team members on issues/findings resolution. Investigates and follows-up on findings as applicable.
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Provides trial status tracking and progress update reports to the Clinical Team Manager (CTM) as required. Ensures study systems are updated per agreed study conventions (e.g. Clinical Trial Management System, CTMS). Performs QC check of reports generated from CTMS system where required.
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Participates in investigator meetings as necessary. Identifies potential investigators in collaboration with the client company to ensure the acceptability of qualified investigative sites. Initiates clinical trial sites according to the relevant procedures to ensure compliance with the protocol and regulatory and ICH GCP obligations, making recommendations where warranted. Ensures trial close out and retrieval of trial materials.
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Ensures that required essential documents are complete and in place, according to ICH-GCP and applicable regulations. Conducts on-site file reviews as per project specifications.
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Contributes to the project team by assisting in preparation of project publications/tools, and sharing ideas/suggestions with team members. Performs additional study tasks as assigned by CTM (e.g. trip report review, newsletter creation, lead CRA team calls etc).
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Facilitates effective communication between investigative sites, the client company and the PPD project team through written, oral and/or electronic contacts.
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Responds to company, client and applicable regulatory requirements/audits/inspections.
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Maintains & completes administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets in a timely manner.
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Contributes to other project work and initiatives for process improvement, as required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree in a life sciences related field or a Registered Nursing certification or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification.
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Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 2+ years as a clinical research monitor).
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Valid driver's license where applicable.
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In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.
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Multiple Options available in either Medical Devices OR Oncology.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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Effective clinical monitoring skills.
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Demonstrated understanding of medical/therapeutic area knowledge and medical terminology.
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Excellent understanding and demonstrated application of ICH GCPs, applicable regulations and procedural documents.
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Well-developed critical thinking skills, including but not limited to critical mindset, in-depth investigation for appropriate root cause analysis and problem solving.
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Ability to manage Risk Based Monitoring concepts and processes.
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Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with medical personnel.
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Ability to maintain customer focus through the utilization of good listening skills, attention to detail and the ability to perceive customers’ underlying issues.
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Effective interpersonal skills.
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Strong attention to detail.
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Effective organizational and time management skills.
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Ability to remain flexible and adaptable in a wide range of scenarios.
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Ability to work in a team or independently as required.
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Good computer skills: proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn appropriate software.
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Good English language and grammar skills.
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Good presentation skills.
Working Conditions and Environment:
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Work is performed in an office/laboratory/clinical/and/or home office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
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Frequent drives to site locations. Frequent travel, generally 60-80% but more for some individuals.
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May also include extended overnight stays.
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Exposure to biological fluids with potential exposure to infectious organisms.
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Personal protective equipment required such as protective eyewear, garments and gloves.
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Exposure to fluctuating and/or extreme temperatures on rare occasions.
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Must be able to comply with specific sponsor/client/site requirements, even if not required by Thermo Fisher Scientific (e.g., disclosure of vaccination status, or other personal information). On some occasions, this information may be required to be provided directly to sponsor/client/site.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Indiana is $88,600.00–$144,900.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
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A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
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Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
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At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
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Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
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Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
See all 1,351+ OPT Clinical Research Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Manager
Target STEM-designated programs
A STEM OPT extension gives you 36 months of total work authorization instead of 12. Clinical Research Manager roles typically qualify when your degree is in biology, public health, or a related life sciences field. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO early.
Focus on large CROs and pharma companies
Contract research organizations like large pharma sponsors run structured hiring programs and are familiar with OPT paperwork. Smaller startups may not have sponsored international hires before, making the process slower and less predictable for time-sensitive OPT situations.
Highlight ICH GCP and regulatory experience upfront
Clinical Research Managers with documented ICH GCP certification and FDA or IRB regulatory experience are harder to replace locally. Framing your specialization around compliance knowledge makes sponsorship feel like a straightforward business decision rather than an immigration favor.
Apply before your OPT end date, not after
H-1B visa cap-subject petitions must be filed for October 1 starts. If your OPT expires mid-year, time your job search to allow for petition prep. Beginning your search at least six months before expiration gives employers enough runway to act.
Address the E-Verify requirement in your application
OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Before investing time in an application, confirm the employer participates. Most large healthcare and pharma companies already do, but smaller sites and academic medical centers sometimes do not.
Quantify your trial management outcomes
Employers weighing OPT sponsorship costs want clear evidence of value. Quantify your impact by citing enrollment rates you improved, protocol deviations you reduced, or sites you managed simultaneously. Concrete metrics lower perceived sponsorship risk considerably.
Clinical Research Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Research Manager jobs typically qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Clinical Research Manager roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, biochemistry, public health, or biomedical sciences. The extension is tied to your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself, so confirm eligibility with your DSO before assuming you qualify.
How do I find Clinical Research Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find Clinical Research Manager roles where employers are open to OPT work authorization. Standard job boards don't filter by sponsorship willingness, which means you can spend weeks applying to roles that won't move forward once your visa status comes up. Searching on Migrate Mate removes that friction.
Can I work as a Clinical Research Manager at an academic medical center on OPT?
Yes, academic medical centers can hire OPT students, but you must confirm they are enrolled in E-Verify before accepting an offer. Academic institutions sometimes have slower HR processes around international hiring, so ask your potential employer directly and early. Some cap-exempt institutions can also sponsor H-1B visas outside the annual lottery.
What happens to my OPT status if my clinical research contract ends between trials?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment in total, and for STEM OPT holders, that drops to 150 days across the full extension period. If your contract-based role ends between studies, that gap counts against your unemployment limit. Having a transition timeline from your employer documented in writing protects you if USCIS ever reviews your authorization period.
Is a Clinical Research Manager role considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Clinical Research Manager positions generally qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific or clinical field. However, approval depends on how the employer writes the job description. Roles that mention a broad range of acceptable degrees or do not require a degree in a specific discipline can face USCIS scrutiny during adjudication.