Clinical Trial Assistant

Clinical Trial Assistant

The Clinical Trial Assistant plays a key role in supporting the operational execution of clinical studies, with a particular focus on study startup, site management, and the coordination of specialty supplies and patient kits for rare disease and oncology trials. This role works closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure that clinical trial activities run smoothly, documentation remains accurate, and regulatory requirements are met. The position offers a hybrid work environment and the opportunity to grow within a collaborative research-focused team.

Responsibilities

• Support study startup activities by assisting with the preparation, organization, and tracking of required documentation and materials.
• Assist with site management and operational coordination to ensure trial sites receive timely support and clear communication throughout the study lifecycle.
• Manage specialty study supplies and rare disease patient kits, including inventory oversight and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate kit assembly, packaging, labeling, and shipments from the central facility to clinical trial sites, ensuring accuracy and adherence to study requirements.
• Create and maintain clear kit instructions and related documentation so that sites can use materials correctly and consistently.
• Support IRB documentation and regulatory submissions as needed, helping to prepare, review, and organize materials for ethics and regulatory review.
• Partner with contract research organizations (CROs) while retaining ownership of designated operational functions internally to maintain quality and consistency.
• Perform various manual operational tasks that require onsite presence, such as handling physical supplies, preparing shipments, and supporting office-based study activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address operational issues, resolve logistical challenges, and improve processes related to clinical trial conduct.
• Contribute to the successful execution of sponsor-initiated trials and help support studies through their full lifecycle from startup to closeout.

Essential Skills

• Preferred 12+ years of experience as a Clinical Trial Associate (CTA) or in a closely related clinical operations role.
• Clinical trial experience with a strong understanding of study processes and operational workflows.
• Experience with clinical documentation, including creating, maintaining, and organizing trial-related records and instructions.
• For Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) candidates, a minimum of 5 years of experience is preferred, with significant site-level responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting sponsor-initiated clinical trials, not solely investigator- or PI-initiated studies.
• Experience following a clinical study through its full lifecycle, from startup through conduct and closeout.
• Strong common sense and good judgment, with the ability to make practical decisions in a complex clinical research environment.
• Ability to work effectively with internal teams and external partners, including CROs, while maintaining ownership of key operational tasks.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Oncology clinical research experience is preferred.
• Rare disease clinical trial experience is a strong plus.
• Institutional research experience is valued, particularly in environments with structured protocols and regulatory oversight.
• Ambitious and motivated mindset, with a desire to grow and take on increasing responsibility within clinical operations.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and apply training in a practical, operational setting.
• Team is willing to train candidates who have a solid research foundation and strong potential for growth.
• Comfort working in a hybrid environment that combines remote tasks with onsite operational responsibilities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for managing supplies, documentation, and logistics.

Work Environment

The role follows a typical schedule of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST, with a flexible work environment that may occasionally require meetings outside standard hours to support global study activities. The position is hybrid and does not require five days onsite; the team adjusts onsite expectations based on experience level. Junior hires may be expected to be onsite more frequently to receive hands-on training and support. In general, employees are onsite 23 days per week, with Wednesdays typically being an in-office day for the team. Office space is limited, and some responsibilities, such as handling physical study supplies and preparing kits and shipments, require physical presence. The environment is collaborative and research-focused, offering opportunities to work closely with clinical operations professionals and gain exposure to complex oncology and rare disease studies.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in San Diego, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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