Research Coordinator Jobs in California
Research Coordinator jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where major academic medical centers, biotech firms, and clinical trial networks drive consistent demand at every level from entry-level coordinators to senior protocol specialists. Institutions such as UCLA Health, UC San Diego Health, and Kaiser Permanente maintain some of the largest research coordinator workforces in the state, with openings in oncology trials, public health studies, and behavioral research. California's size and research infrastructure make it one of the most active markets for this role in the country. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Vital Vein & Vascular is an established vascular surgery practice in Orange County, California. We are developing a clinical research program focused on vascular, cardiovascular, medical-device, PAD, venous disease, DVT, and related clinical studies.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Clinical Research Coordinator / Research Startup Lead to help establish our research program and guide our team through study feasibility, startup, activation, enrollment, and ongoing study operations.
This is not an entry-level position.
We are specifically looking for someone who has independently worked with industry-sponsored clinical trials and can help a new research site build appropriate systems and workflows.
Part-Time: Approximately 8–16 hours per week initially
Schedule: Flexible / Hybrid
Compensation: $40–$50 per hour, depending on experience
Opportunity to expand as studies are activated
Responsibilities
- Help establish the VVV clinical research program
- Evaluate potential clinical trial opportunities
- Review study protocols and assess site feasibility
- Assist with sponsor/CRO feasibility questionnaires
- Coordinate communication with pharmaceutical companies, medical-device companies, sponsors, and CROs
- Assist with site qualification visits
- Coordinate study startup
- Prepare and maintain regulatory documentation
- Coordinate IRB submissions and amendments
- Assist with Clinical Trial Agreement and study-budget workflow
- Develop study-specific visit checklists and workflows
- Maintain regulatory binders/eRegulatory systems
- Support participant screening and enrollment
- Ensure appropriate informed-consent documentation
- Review source documentation for completeness and protocol compliance
- Support EDC data entry and query resolution
- Track protocol deviations
- Coordinate AE/SAE documentation and escalation
- Prepare for Site Initiation Visits (SIVs)
- Prepare for sponsor/CRO monitoring visits
- Support study closeout
- Develop clinical research SOPs and internal workflows
- Train and mentor our on-site Clinical Research Nurse/Coordinator
- Help establish appropriate delegation, training, screening, enrollment, and study tracking logs
Required Experience
- Minimum 3 years of hands-on clinical research coordination experience
- Experience with industry-sponsored clinical trials
- Strong understanding of ICH-GCP and FDA-regulated research
- Experience with study startup and site activation
- Experience with IRB submissions
- Experience working directly with sponsors and CROs
- Experience with informed consent, source documentation, EDC, AE/SAE documentation, protocol deviations, and monitoring visits
- Experience preparing for SIVs and sponsor monitoring visits
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organization and attention to detail
Preferred Experience
- Vascular surgery
- Cardiology
- Interventional medicine
- Peripheral arterial disease
- DVT / venous disease
- Wound care
- Medical-device clinical trials
- Phase II–IV pharmaceutical trials
- Medidata Rave, Veeva, Florence, REDCap, or similar clinical research systems
- ACRP CCRC or SOCRA CCRP certification preferred but not required
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who can do more than perform assigned research tasks.
The ideal candidate has helped run clinical trials from feasibility/startup through enrollment, monitoring, and closeout and is comfortable helping a physician practice establish a clinical research program.
You will work closely with our vascular surgeon/Principal Investigator and an experienced vascular RN who will be developing into our on-site Clinical Research Nurse/Coordinator.
This position will initially be approximately 1–2 days per week. Hours may increase as VVV activates additional clinical trials.
To Apply
Please submit your resume/CV and briefly answer the following:
- How many years have you worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator?
- How many industry-sponsored trials have you personally coordinated?
- Have you taken a study from feasibility/startup through activation and enrollment?
- What therapeutic areas have you worked in?
- What experience do you have with medical-device trials?
Pay: $40.00 - $74,500.00 per hour
Expected hours: 8.0 – 16.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Orange County, CA
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Find Research Coordinator JobsResearch Coordinator Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Coordinator Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center10
- Stanford University9
- University of California - San Francisco9
- Flourish Research6
- CHOC Children's4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Consulting & Professional Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research coordinator jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, public health, or a closely related field required
- Experience with IRB submissions, protocol amendments, and regulatory documentation
- Proficiency in clinical trial management systems such as REDCap or OnCore
- Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice guidelines and federal research regulations
- Strong data collection, tracking, and reporting skills across multi-site studies
- Excellent communication skills for coordinating with investigators, sponsors, and participants
Research Coordinator Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research coordinator in California?
Most research coordinator positions in California require a bachelor's degree in a life science, public health, or a related field, and many employers prefer candidates who hold the Certified Clinical Research Coordinator credential offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals or a similar certification from the Society of Clinical Research Associates. California has no state-issued license specific to this role, but credentialed candidates are consistently prioritized at academic medical centers, biotech companies, and hospital systems throughout the state.
Which companies hire research coordinators in California?
Employers hiring research coordinators in California right now include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Stanford University, and University of California - San Francisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of academic medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and federally funded research programs means openings appear regularly across a broad range of institution types throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most research coordinator jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Stanford have the most research coordinator openings in California. Los Angeles benefits from a large cluster of academic medical centers and hospital systems, San Francisco draws heavily from its biotech and pharmaceutical industry presence, and San Diego's established life sciences corridor, anchored by institutions such as Scripps Research and UC San Diego, sustains strong ongoing demand for research coordinators across clinical and translational studies.
Are there remote research coordinator jobs in California?
Yes, but they're limited. Much of the work involves direct participant contact, on-site data collection, and regulatory file management that requires being physically present at a clinic or research site. About 39% of research coordinator openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and the roles most likely to offer remote flexibility are those focused on data coordination, chart review, or administrative regulatory tasks rather than active participant-facing study work.
How can I get hired as a research coordinator in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a research assistant or clinical trials assistant role at a large California academic medical center, which often hire candidates with a relevant bachelor's degree and no direct coordination experience. UC Health systems, Kaiser Permanente, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles regularly post entry-level positions that provide structured exposure to IRB processes, protocol management, and participant enrollment. Volunteering or working in a faculty research lab during or after your degree, or transitioning from adjacent roles such as medical assistant or clinical data entry specialist, also builds the foundational experience California employers look for.
Where can I find and apply to research coordinator jobs in California?
You can find and apply to research coordinator jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and preferred location, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 108+ Research Coordinator Jobs in California
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