Job Description/Requirements
- Organizing research information for clinical projects.
- Testing of new medications and treatments.
- Selecting and observing subjects, assisting with data analysis, and reporting of these test results.
- Involvement in the development of new pharmacy programs.
- Responsibility for implementing, supervising, directing and coordinating clinical pharmacy duties.
- Clinical Research Coordinator’s are usually employed by pharmacy companies where they help to integrate the policies of the company and help develop cost-saving strategies.
- They often supervise clinical Pharmacist tasks like drug usage evaluation, prescribing criteria, and monitoring therapies and treatments.
- They may also train their own staff, pharmaceutical drug providers, and pharmacy students.
- Managing the scheduling of new experiments, and collecting data from them.
- Other duties include subject recruitment, patient care, developing a detailed cost analysis, and negotiating a budget with the Sponsors (i.e. Pharmaceutical Company).
- Making agreements and contracts with other pharmaceutical companies.
Most pharmaceutical careers and clinical research jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field which may be chemistry, biology, or biomedical engineering. Some positions may demand a degree in Pharmacy, and some demand other special certifications. As medical jobs also require research and analysis, very good analytical skills and detail oriented work ethics are of an added advantage. Clinical Research Coordinator jobs may also involve teaching. Hence, good teaching skills may also be a requirement in addition to very good interpersonal communication skills.
There are certain certifications offered for Clinical Research Coordinators. Two such certifications are provided by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), and the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA). Such certifications are subject to periodic renewal.
Where to Find Such Jobs?
Above are mentioned the places where Clinical Research Coordinators are generally hired. Information about such job vacancies can be obtained from pharmaceutical recruiters, employment agencies, job websites dedicated to medical jobs, etc.
The field of medical research is ever growing and expected to grow further at a fast rate. The government and many other financial institutions are pumping huge sums of money towards research. The number and varieties of jobs available in this area are bound to increase in huge numbers. And with the lucrative offers in combination with the work offered, more and more people will be vying for opportunities for these clinical research jobs.
Career Outlook
Generally Clinical Research Coordinators are hired by research institutions, hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations that are offering health care. Their jobs are not limited to pharmaceutical jobs, medical jobs, or chemistry jobs. They can be also employed in biotech jobs, human resources jobs, executive jobs, etc. as they have the managerial, technical, and scientific acumen. Depending on the background, qualifications, and skills, the jobs may range from medical jobs to administrative jobs.
Salary
In general working as Clinical Research Coordinators and as other pharmaceutical representatives can bring in a compensation of anywhere between $100,000 and $110,000 USA dollars annually.
