M1M1 — Manager (Team Lead)
First-line Manager – Clinical Project Management
The Clinical Project Manager is responsible for the overall management and execution of assigned clinical trial(s), ensuring they are conducted according to the protocol, regulatory requirements, and project timelines.
What this level means
Front-line people manager of a single team; owns delivery, coaching, and execution.
- Scope
- A single team
- Autonomy
- Manages within established goals
- Complexity
- Day-to-day delivery and people issues
- Impact
- Team output and health
- Decision rights
- Owns team execution, hiring input, performance
- Leadership
- Direct people management of one team
- Typical experience
- 3–6 yrs
What you'd do
- Lead the planning, initiation, and execution of clinical trials from start-up through close-out.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely achievement of trial milestones.
- Manage relationships with study sites and external vendors.
- Proactively manage study timelines and budgets.
- Ensure trial activities strictly adhere to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ICH guidelines, FDA regulations and IRB/ethics approvals.
- Identify trial-related risks and implement risk mitigation strategies.
- Serve as the single point of contact for project status.
- Lead the clinical study team by setting clear expectations and guiding the team to meet study objectives.
- Plan and execute clinical trials
- Manage trial budgets and timelines
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Lead cross-functional teams
- Identify and mitigate risks
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Clinical trial management
- Regulatory compliance
- Budget management
- Risk management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Vendor management
- Timeline management
- Leadership
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
- ICH guidelines
- FDA regulations
- Clinical trial phases
- Project management principles
- Risk assessment
- Ethical standards in clinical research
- Trial protocol development
- Attention to detail
- Effective communication
- Organization & Planning
- Problem Solving & Initiative
- Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Adaptability & Learning Agility
- Integrity & Ethical Mindset
What good looks like
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, nursing, public health, or a related field.
- Approximately 5+ years of experience in clinical research, including at least 2–3 years in a project coordination/management role.
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
- Project management or clinical research certifications such as PMP, ACRP, or SoCRA preferred.
Common titles
Manager, Clinical Project ManagementClinical Project Management ManagerManager, Clinical Project ManagerClinical Project Manager ManagerFirst-line Manager – Clinical Project Management
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (inferred)