What Does a Clinical Trials Manager (CTM) Do?

A Clinical Trial Manager (CTM) is responsible for managing the planning, implementation, and monitoring of clinical trials. The primary role of a CTM is to ensure that clinical trials are conducted according to protocol, on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.

What are the Main Responsibilities of a CTM?

Whilst the role of a CTM will vary from job to job, some of the key responsibilities often include:

• Developing the clinical trial protocol in collaboration with the study team
• Defining study objectives, study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, study endpoints and data collection methods
• Developing and implementing the trial plan, including creating a timeline for the study, identifying and securing the necessary resources, and managing the trial budget
• Selecting and managing clinical trial sites
• Ensuring regulatory compliance, such as FDA regulations and GCP guidelines
• Managing the study team, including assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and ensuring that the team is working effectively and efficiently
• Ensuring that the data collected during the clinical trial is accurate, complete, and of high quality
• Communicating with study sponsors, investigators, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the trial is progressing as planned and to address any issues that arise during the trial
• Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of trial participants, including monitoring adverse events and ensuring that the study protocol is being followed

What are the Main Benefits of Working as a CTM?

Working as a CTM can be both a challenging and rewarding career choice, providing you with the opportunity to contribute to the development of new treatments and make a real difference in the lives of patients worldwide. As the Life Science industry continues to evolve, the demand for qualified CTMs is increasing, and the packages on offer to top talent are becoming even more competitive.

As a CTM, you’ll also gain valuable experience in managing complex projects and working on a variety of clinical trials, providing ample opportunities for learning and development. You’ll get to see first-hand how your work is contributing to the development of new treatments, making this a fulfilling career choice.

What Experience, Skills and Qualifications are Needed to Become a CTM?

To become a CTM, a bachelor’s degree in a scientific or healthcare-related field is typically required, although this will depend on the employer. A master’s degree in clinical research or a related field may also strengthen your application but is not necessarily a strict requirement. Some of the most important experience, skills and qualifications needed to become a CTM may include:

• 5-7 years of experience in clinical research or project management
• Experience in managing clinical trials, including overseeing budgets, timelines, and study teams
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, including FDA regulations and ICH/GCP guidelines
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong organisation skills and the proven ability to manage multiple tasks/competing priorities
• Strong leadership skills
• Data analysis skills

What is the Average Salary of a CTM?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a CTM working in the UK is approximately £48,000 per year. However, salaries will vary widely depending on a number of factors including the size and type of employer, the level of experience and education of the CTM, and the location of the job.

How is the Role of a CTM Evolving?

The role of a CTM is continually evolving in response to changes in the Life Science industry, advancements in technology, and shifting regulatory requirements. In recent years, the industry has also seen a growing emphasis on patient-centred trials, bringing CTMs closer to patient advocacy groups to ensure the trials are focused on meeting the real needs of patients, and incorporating patient feedback into study design.

There is also a growing recognition of the importance of data quality in clinical trials, with greater emphasis being placed on ensuring that data is accurate, complete, and reliable. CTMs are becoming increasingly responsible for overseeing data quality throughout the trial, ensuring the trial is being conducted in line with study protocols to produce accurate data.

Clinical trials are also becoming more complex, with more stakeholders, more data to manage, and more complex study designs. Whilst this may make work in this field more demanding, it also provides ample opportunity for learning, and creates huge variety in the workload of a CTM.

Search the Latest CTM Jobs

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