Clinical Project Manager A

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Clinical Project Manager A

Job Profile Title

Clinical Research Project Manager A

Job Description Summary

The Clinical Project Manager A will manage the operational and regulatory conduct of a portfolio of interventional neuromodulation trials. The group studies low-intensity focused ultrasound and deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorder, with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIMH and NIDA) and philanthropic sources. Studies are conducted at Penn with a collaborating academic site and an industry device partner, and are carried out under investigator-held abbreviated Investigational Device Exemptions with FDA record-keeping and safety-reporting obligations.

Under guidance from the Principal Investigator, the Clinical Project Manager manages day-to-day operations of the clinical research projects, maintains the studies’ regulatory files, and serves as the principal operational point of contact with the collaborating site, the device manufacturers and the Data and Safety Monitoring Board. The role assists with protocol development, project coordination across sites, and quality control of data; supports grant applications and NIH progress and milestone reporting; prepares reports and presentations; contributes to dissemination of study findings; and may supervise project staff and participate in study visits.

This position suits someone who wants breadth across regulatory affairs, trial operations and cross-institutional coordination on first-in-population device research, and who is comfortable holding several protocols at once.

Contingent upon funding.

Job Description

Trial operations. With supervision, manage single- and multi-site clinical research projects including study start-up, daily operations, communication with the collaborating site and device partner, recruitment and enrollment tracking against NIH milestones, troubleshooting, quality assurance and quality control, and study close-out. Coordinate device delivery, training and session scheduling with the device manufacturer; maintain device accountability records. May include study visits and procedures when needed to meet the needs of the project.

Regulatory and study documentation. Develop, create and review regulatory submissions and study documents and tools, including protocols, consent forms, IRB modifications and continuing reviews, annual reports, source documents, training materials, manuals of procedures, Data and Safety Monitoring Board charters and meeting packets, case report forms and standard operating procedures. Maintain the regulatory binder and the abbreviated IDE file (21 CFR 812 records and reporting), support sponsor-investigator registration with the Penn Medicine Office of Clinical Research, and manage ClinicalTrials.gov registration and results reporting. Provide assistance with investigational new drug, investigational device and clinical trial agreement determinations.

Finance and grants. Assist with pre-award activities (clinical trials management system registration, Medicare coverage analysis where applicable, research billing numbers, contract and agreement timelines, budget input, grant-writing assistance) and post-award activities (invoicing, subaward and consultant billing review, purchasing of study equipment and supplies). Support NIH reporting, including annual progress reports (RPPR), recruitment milestone reports and NIMH Data Archive submissions.

Staff supervision and training. Assist and train direct and indirect clinical research staff in program, division and department procedures as required per protocol, including onboarding, data and lab management in the study’s 21 CFR Part 11-compliant data system (PennCRMS), protocol compliance, quality control and quality assurance, human subjects protection, Good Clinical Practice, project assignments, staff mentoring and bi-annual performance appraisal completion.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 3–5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Experience with IRB submissions and FDA-regulated (IND/IDE) research, Good Clinical Practice, and clinical data systems is strongly preferred; experience with device trials, neuromodulation, psychiatric or neurological populations, or multi-site coordination is a plus. Strong organization, written communication and attention to detail; ability to manage competing deadlines across several protocols. Position is contingent on continued funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$63,085.00 - $78,231.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay