What career options do I have in clinical research?

Clinical Operations Director

Clinical Operations Directors sit at the very senior end of the clinical research career path and show the significant potential for progression within this industry. These professionals are highly trained and often report directly to the CEO or VP, ensuring patient treatments comply with clinical protocols, regulatory and safety requirements and internal policies. These directors provide leadership on the performance, execution, quality and completion of clinical operations services within their organisation or region, making it an essential role for any CRO or pharmaceutical company.

A successful Clinical Operations Director will have a relevant university degree as well as considerable experience within the CRO/pharmaceutical industry at an influencer level. Hands-on work within clinical trials can be desirable, along with direct experience managing clinical operations functions, making this an ideal aspiration career pathway for CRAs, clinical trial managers or anyone else who wants to take their clinical research career further.