Senior Clinical Research Associate (Contractor)

Clinical Research Associate (CRA)

When our values align, there's no limit to what we can achieve. At Parexel, we all share the same goal - to improve the world's health. From clinical trials to regulatory, consulting, and market access, every clinical development solution we provide is underpinned by something special - a deep conviction in what we do.

Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy and we're committed to making a difference.

Open to consider Freelance CRAs with around or above 5 years of CRA experience, based in NSW, VIC, SA or QLD. (Preference is NSW and VIC). Oncology experience is desirable. CRA experience from AUS is required. Independent Contractor role for 6 months - 12 months (period will be determined later).

Key Accountabilities:

Maintenance (from initiation through close out):

Act as Parexel's direct contact with assigned sites, assess and ensure overall integrity of study implementation and adherence to study protocol at clinical sites, and perform problem-solving to address and resolve site issues.

• Build relationships with investigators and site staff.
• Facilitate and support site with access to relevant study systems and ensure sites are compliant with project specific training requirements.
• Evaluate if on-site staff assignment is still accurate and determine and implement corrective actions & follow-up, if necessary / relevant.
• Address and resolve issues at sites, including the need for additional training, potential deficiencies in documentation, and communication.
• Address/evaluate/resolve issues pending from the previous visit, if any.
• Follow-up on and respond to appropriate site related questions.
• Apply working knowledge and judgment to identify and evaluate potential data quality and data integrity issues. Determine and implement appropriate follow-up action.
• Actively participate in Investigator and other external or internal meetings and audits & regulatory inspections as required.
• Collect, review, and approve (if applicable) updated/amended site documentation, including regulatory documents as applicable.
• Evaluate site recruitment plan in collaboration with the site staff on an ongoing basis and provide strategy for improvements.
• Perform on-site visits; this includes Qualification and Initiation visits; apply judgment and knowledge to independently resolve site issues, questions and concerns.
• Conduct remote visits/contacts as requested/needed.
• Generate visit/contact report.
• Evaluate overall compliance and performance of sites and site staff: provide recommendations regarding site-specific actions and use judgment and experience to assess the ability and motivation of site staff.
• Assess & manage test article/study supply including supply, accountability and destruction/return status.
• Review & follow-up site payment status.
• Follow-up on CRF data entry, query status, and SAEs.
• Conduct on-site study-specific training (if applicable).
• Perform site facilities assessments
• Recognize impact of study non-compliance/issues/delays/changes on study timelines and communicate study issues that require immediate action, with proposed strategy for resolution

Overall Accountabilities from Site Identification to Close out:

Ensure timely and accurate completion of project goals and update of applicable trial management systems.

• Work with team members to meet project goals, provide strategy for efficient project planning and goal completion, and encourage the support of team members where required.
• Update all appropriate Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS) on an ongoing basis, including performing regular reviews of site level data in clinical systems (e.g. CTMS, EDC, IVRS, and SIS) and ensure timely and high quality data entry compliance from sites, manage and submit all relevant documents to the Trial Master File (TMF), ensuring first time quality, and distribute study documents to site including configuration of Investigator Site Files if applicable and on-going maintenance for completeness and quality.
• Ensure that assigned sites are audit and inspection ready
• Monitor and maintain compliance with ICH-GCP and applicable international and local regulations.
• Delegate administrative and other tasks to Administrative Support Team as needed and where appropriate. Guide Administrative Support Team members, review work, and provide feedback to manager regarding performance.
• Show commitment and perform consistent high-quality work.
• Maintain a positive, results-orientated work environment, building partnerships and collaborative relationships, communicating with team(s) in an open, balanced, objective manner, modeling the high performance culture values.
• Maintain a working knowledge of and ensure compliance with applicable ICH-GCP Guidelines, international and local regulations, Parexel SOPs, other Parexel / Sponsor training requirements and study specific procedures, plans and training.
• Ensure basic understanding of project scope, milestones, budgets, and strive for high quality, timely, and efficient delivery.
• Provide input and feedback for Performance Development Conversation(s).
• Proactively keep manager informed about work progress and any issues.
• Develop expertise to become a subject matter expert.
• Work in a self-driven capacity, with limited need for oversight.
• Complete additional tasks in a timely manner (e.g. timesheets, expenses, metrics, etc.)

Skills:

• Sound problem solving skills.
• Able to take initiative and work independently, and to proactively seek guidance when necessary.
• Advance presentation skills.
• Client focused approach to work.
• Ability to interact professionally within a client organization.
• Flexible attitude with respect to work assignments and new learning.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and achieve project timelines; utilizing strong analytical skills to make decision autonomously due to the unpredictable nature of the issues that arise.
• Willingness to work in a matrix environment and to value the importance of teamwork.
• Strong computer skills including but not limited to the knowledge of a Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS), Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), and MS-Office products such as Excel and Word.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Sense of urgency in completing assigned tasks and ability to assist others to meet study/country deliverables and preserving patient safety.
• Effective time management in order to meet study needs, team objectives, and department goals.
• Developing ability to work across cultures.
• Shows commitment to and performs consistently high-quality work.
• Ability to successfully work in a ('virtual') team environment.
• Consulting Skills
• Great attention to detail.
• Able to accommodate extensive travel time requirements, according to tasks allocation/phase of the study assigned.
• Holds a driver's license where required.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Site Management experience or equivalent experience in clinical research, with understanding of clinical trials methodology and terminology

Education:

• Educated to degree level (biological science, pharmacy, or other health-related discipline preferred) or equivalent nursing qualification or other equivalent experience