Study Start Up Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Study Start Up roles sit at the intersection of clinical operations and regulatory compliance, making them a strong fit for H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship. Most positions require a life sciences or healthcare degree, and employers in pharma, biotech, and CROs routinely file LCAs for this specialty occupation.
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Responsible for managing the startup activities of clinical trials. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders with responsibility for protocol activation in alignment with departmental and D-HH goals. Serves as the primary responsible party and point of contact during clinical research trial feasibility, planning, and implementation stages up until the point of site activation.
Responsibilities
- Organizes and manages implementation of activities required for the study activation process, including, but not limited to feasibility, committee approvals, and regulatory information.
- Leads study site selection and start-up activities.
- Responsible for tracking progress of all studies in the department activation pipeline and meets with the research teams to review the studies’ progress and determine plan of action to ensure study startup is not delayed.
- Meets with Regulatory team to review progress of committee submissions.
- Coordinates and attends all Resource Meetings held with the Clinical Trials Office and study team members. Ensures follow-up action items are progressing in a timely manner.
- May assist with the determination of department personnel time for study budgets.
- Prepares or facilitates the creation of study patient calendars in the clinical trials management system.
- Works with ancillary departments (e.g. pathology, radiology, research laboratory, investigational pharmacy) to ensure all necessary evaluations, documentation, and processes are provided and/or completed to facilitate study activation.
- Tracks and manages the activation process and collaborates with stakeholders to assure timely resolution of problems and/or delays.
- Routinely reviews site metrics and evaluates current procedures for process improvement opportunities.
- Reports out departmental activation metrics as needed.
- Prepares and submits study documents to study sponsors and any applicable regulatory agencies or oversight committees, as necessary.
- May be assigned to data collection for patients in long-term follow-up.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of clinical research experience, or the equivalent in education and experience, required.
- Excellent organizational, writing, and office software skills required.
- Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
- Previous project related work involving complex scheduling and communications preferred.
- Maintains a working knowledge of relevant Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) regulations and human subject’s protection requirements.
Required Licensure/Certifications
None
Remote: Hybrid Remote
Area of Interest: Professional/Management
Pay Range: $62,296.00/Yr. - $96,553.60/Yr. (Based on 40 hours per week, otherwise pro rata)
FTE/Hours per pay period: 1.00 - 1.00 - 40 hrs/week
Shift: Day
Job ID: 41736
Dartmouth Health offers a total compensation package that includes a comprehensive selection of benefits. Our Core Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance, short and long term disability, paid time off, and retirement plans. Click here for information on these benefits and more: Benefits | DHMC and Clinics Careers
Dartmouth Health is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Dartmouth Health provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants and employees with sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. Applicants who require an accommodation during the application or interview process may contact talentacquisition@hitchcock.org for assistance.
Overview
Responsible for managing the startup activities of clinical trials. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders with responsibility for protocol activation in alignment with departmental and D-HH goals. Serves as the primary responsible party and point of contact during clinical research trial feasibility, planning, and implementation stages up until the point of site activation.
Responsibilities
- Organizes and manages implementation of activities required for the study activation process, including, but not limited to feasibility, committee approvals, and regulatory information.
- Leads study site selection and start-up activities.
- Responsible for tracking progress of all studies in the department activation pipeline and meets with the research teams to review the studies’ progress and determine plan of action to ensure study startup is not delayed.
- Meets with Regulatory team to review progress of committee submissions.
- Coordinates and attends all Resource Meetings held with the Clinical Trials Office and study team members. Ensures follow-up action items are progressing in a timely manner.
- May assist with the determination of department personnel time for study budgets.
- Prepares or facilitates the creation of study patient calendars in the clinical trials management system.
- Works with ancillary departments (e.g. pathology, radiology, research laboratory, investigational pharmacy) to ensure all necessary evaluations, documentation, and processes are provided and/or completed to facilitate study activation.
- Tracks and manages the activation process and collaborates with stakeholders to assure timely resolution of problems and/or delays.
- Routinely reviews site metrics and evaluates current procedures for process improvement opportunities.
- Reports out departmental activation metrics as needed.
- Prepares and submits study documents to study sponsors and any applicable regulatory agencies or oversight committees, as necessary.
- May be assigned to data collection for patients in long-term follow-up.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of clinical research experience, or the equivalent in education and experience, required.
- Excellent organizational, writing, and office software skills required.
- Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
- Previous project related work involving complex scheduling and communications preferred.
- Maintains a working knowledge of relevant Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) regulations and human subject’s protection requirements.
Required Licensure/Certifications
None
Remote: Hybrid Remote
Area of Interest: Professional/Management
Pay Range: $62,296.00/Yr. - $96,553.60/Yr. (Based on 40 hours per week, otherwise pro rata)
FTE/Hours per pay period: 1.00 - 1.00 - 40 hrs/week
Shift: Day
Job ID: 41736
Dartmouth Health offers a total compensation package that includes a comprehensive selection of benefits. Our Core Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance, short and long term disability, paid time off, and retirement plans. Click here for information on these benefits and more: Benefits | DHMC and Clinics Careers
Dartmouth Health is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Dartmouth Health provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants and employees with sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. Applicants who require an accommodation during the application or interview process may contact talentacquisition@hitchcock.org for assistance.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Study Start Up Jobs
Confirm your degree aligns with the role
Study Start Up is consistently classified as a specialty occupation requiring a degree in life sciences, nursing, health sciences, or a related field. A general business degree alone is unlikely to satisfy USCIS without substantial relevant coursework or experience.
Target CROs and large pharma companies first
Contract research organizations and large pharmaceutical sponsors have established immigration infrastructure and sponsor Study Start Up roles regularly. They process more LCAs annually than smaller biotechs and are less likely to back out mid-process due to legal uncertainty.
Understand the LCA certification timeline
Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor before submitting your H-1B petition. LCA certification typically takes seven to ten business days, so factor this into your start date planning with the hiring team.
Clarify site travel expectations early
Many Study Start Up roles require frequent domestic or international site visits. If your H-1B covers multiple worksites, your employer may need to file amended petitions or maintain multiple LCAs. Raise this with HR before accepting an offer.
Ask about premium processing upfront
H-1B adjudication without premium processing can take several months. For Study Start Up roles with defined clinical trial timelines, ask whether the employer will elect premium processing to ensure you can begin work within the project window.
Use Migrate Mate to find actively sponsoring employers
Not every CRO or pharma company advertises sponsorship willingness in job listings. Migrate Mate filters Study Start Up roles by employers with active sponsorship history, saving you the time of applying to positions that will stall at the immigration step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Study Start Up considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Study Start Up is generally treated as a specialty occupation by USCIS. The role requires applying specialized knowledge in clinical trial initiation, regulatory submissions, and site qualification, typically tied to a degree in life sciences, health sciences, or a related field. USCIS scrutiny increases if the job description allows a broad range of unrelated degrees, so the employer's petition language matters significantly.
Which visa types are most common for Study Start Up roles?
The H-1B visa is the primary pathway for Study Start Up professionals who are not Australian or Canadian citizens. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and faster processing. Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying scientific or technical roles may explore TN visa status. O-1A is an option for those with documented recognition, such as publications, awards, or speaking engagements in clinical research.
Does my degree field have to match Study Start Up exactly?
Not exactly, but there must be a logical connection between your degree and the role. Degrees in nursing, pharmacy, biology, biochemistry, health sciences, and related clinical fields are regularly accepted. A purely unrelated degree in an unrelated discipline is a risk factor. If your degree is in a tangential area, strong relevant work experience and any certifications, such as CCRA or CCRP, can help strengthen the petition.
How competitive is H-1B sponsorship for this role compared to other clinical jobs?
Study Start Up sits in a favorable position compared to more general clinical operations titles. Because the role is highly specialized and tied to defined regulatory and site activation processes, it tends to fare better in USCIS review than broadly defined coordinator roles. Large CROs and pharmaceutical companies sponsor consistently, and the role rarely faces the same cap-exempt complications as some academic or nonprofit positions. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to identify which employers are actively filing.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Study Start Up employer if I change companies?
Yes, H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer as soon as the transfer petition is filed, provided your current H-1B is valid and you have maintained status. Your new employer must file a new LCA and I-129 petition before or on your first day. Study Start Up roles transfer relatively smoothly since the specialty occupation classification is consistent across most CRO and pharma employers.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Study Start Up jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.