Associate Director, Clinical Research Lead (East Coast/Midwest)
Eli Lilly and Company
5 months ago
On-site
Atlanta, GA
Clinical Research and Development
Purpose
The Clinical Research Lead (CRL) is a field-based scientific leader responsible for driving execution of Lilly clinical trials through investigator engagement and site performance management.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Investigator Management
- Accountable for investigator engagement from identification/qualification through enrollment, database lock support, and study closeout
- Serve as a clinical trial scientific ambassador; ensure investigators understand protocol intent, rationale, and patient eligibility requirements
- Develop and sustain strategic, high-trust investigator relationships across trials/therapeutic areas
- Co-create tailored recruitment strategies aligned with site capabilities, patient realities, and study objectives
- Find opportunities to reach new patients, accelerate enrollment, and increase impact at priority sites (e.g., novel site models, community-based initiatives)
- Capture and elevate site insights to optimize feasibility, protocol design, and study conduct
Clinical Trial Management
- Lead site-level strategy and risk planning to ensure strong, predictable enrollment and data delivery
- Use performance metrics to anticipate issues, intervene decisively, and maintain momentum toward milestones
- Drive inspection readiness across sites
- Collaborate cross-functionally and with vendor partners to resolve operational barriers with speed and quality
- Apply knowledge of local treatment paradigms/standard of care to influence country/site selection and protocol localization
- Provide oversight/quality assurance for vendor monitoring; proactively escalate risks
- Where applicable, lead end-to-end management of Post-Marketing Safety Studies in compliance with local regulations
Business Management and Engagement
- Cultivate a portfolio of high-impact investigators who prioritize Lilly trials
- Enable exceptional investigator experience as a responsive, knowledgeable scientific partner
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align trial/site priorities and troubleshoot challenges urgently and creatively
- Conduct data-informed site prospecting and prioritization to improve competitiveness and regional execution
- Maintain therapeutic expertise to lead solutions-focused discussions
- Liaise between field teams, vendors, and investigators to ensure alignment and knowledge transfer
Country / Regulatory Engagement (where applicable)
- Represent Investigator Engagement with regulatory agencies, ethics committees, and national research organizations
- Influence the clinical trial ecosystem to improve regulatory agility and operational feasibility
- Translate local requirements into compliant, efficient trial execution; ensure internal processes reflect country needs
- Partner with leadership to identify/align regional initiatives and support enterprise clinical development success
Minimum Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), strong preference for scientific/clinical/health-related fields
- 5+ years of experience in clinical research or pharmaceutical industry with experience working with HCPs and clinical sites
Other/Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or MSc preferred)
- Experience in Neurodegeneration, Immunology, or Cardiometabolic Health
- Excellent understanding of GCP, clinical development/operations, and trial lifecycle
- Knowledge of therapeutic landscape and standards of care; ability to apply to decision-making
- Ability to build credibility and influence HCP community through scientific acumen and relationships
- Strategic, results-oriented approach in complex, fast-paced environments
- Data-driven decision-making; ability to interpret/act on performance and operational metrics
- Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
- Deep therapeutic-area knowledge and familiarity with local clinical research ecosystems
- Experience influencing site performance and driving enrollment success
- Track record delivering/exceeding performance targets in a matrix environment
- Experience working with regulators/national bodies to support clinical trial delivery
- English fluency and proficiency in local language(s) as needed
Travel Requirements
- Willingness to travel extensively (60–80%)
Compensation & Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated wage: $115,500 - $204,600
- Full-time equivalent employees may be eligible for a company bonus (depending on company and individual performance)
- Comprehensive benefits for eligible employees (including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave of absence, and well-being benefits such as an employee assistance program and fitness benefits).
Application Instructions (as stated)
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation
The Clinical Research Lead (CRL) is a field-based scientific leader responsible for driving execution of Lilly clinical trials through investigator engagement and site performance management.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Investigator Management
- Accountable for investigator engagement from identification/qualification through enrollment, database lock support, and study closeout
- Serve as a clinical trial scientific ambassador; ensure investigators understand protocol intent, rationale, and patient eligibility requirements
- Develop and sustain strategic, high-trust investigator relationships across trials/therapeutic areas
- Co-create tailored recruitment strategies aligned with site capabilities, patient realities, and study objectives
- Find opportunities to reach new patients, accelerate enrollment, and increase impact at priority sites (e.g., novel site models, community-based initiatives)
- Capture and elevate site insights to optimize feasibility, protocol design, and study conduct
Clinical Trial Management
- Lead site-level strategy and risk planning to ensure strong, predictable enrollment and data delivery
- Use performance metrics to anticipate issues, intervene decisively, and maintain momentum toward milestones
- Drive inspection readiness across sites
- Collaborate cross-functionally and with vendor partners to resolve operational barriers with speed and quality
- Apply knowledge of local treatment paradigms/standard of care to influence country/site selection and protocol localization
- Provide oversight/quality assurance for vendor monitoring; proactively escalate risks
- Where applicable, lead end-to-end management of Post-Marketing Safety Studies in compliance with local regulations
Business Management and Engagement
- Cultivate a portfolio of high-impact investigators who prioritize Lilly trials
- Enable exceptional investigator experience as a responsive, knowledgeable scientific partner
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align trial/site priorities and troubleshoot challenges urgently and creatively
- Conduct data-informed site prospecting and prioritization to improve competitiveness and regional execution
- Maintain therapeutic expertise to lead solutions-focused discussions
- Liaise between field teams, vendors, and investigators to ensure alignment and knowledge transfer
Country / Regulatory Engagement (where applicable)
- Represent Investigator Engagement with regulatory agencies, ethics committees, and national research organizations
- Influence the clinical trial ecosystem to improve regulatory agility and operational feasibility
- Translate local requirements into compliant, efficient trial execution; ensure internal processes reflect country needs
- Partner with leadership to identify/align regional initiatives and support enterprise clinical development success
Minimum Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), strong preference for scientific/clinical/health-related fields
- 5+ years of experience in clinical research or pharmaceutical industry with experience working with HCPs and clinical sites
Other/Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or MSc preferred)
- Experience in Neurodegeneration, Immunology, or Cardiometabolic Health
- Excellent understanding of GCP, clinical development/operations, and trial lifecycle
- Knowledge of therapeutic landscape and standards of care; ability to apply to decision-making
- Ability to build credibility and influence HCP community through scientific acumen and relationships
- Strategic, results-oriented approach in complex, fast-paced environments
- Data-driven decision-making; ability to interpret/act on performance and operational metrics
- Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
- Deep therapeutic-area knowledge and familiarity with local clinical research ecosystems
- Experience influencing site performance and driving enrollment success
- Track record delivering/exceeding performance targets in a matrix environment
- Experience working with regulators/national bodies to support clinical trial delivery
- English fluency and proficiency in local language(s) as needed
Travel Requirements
- Willingness to travel extensively (60–80%)
Compensation & Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated wage: $115,500 - $204,600
- Full-time equivalent employees may be eligible for a company bonus (depending on company and individual performance)
- Comprehensive benefits for eligible employees (including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave of absence, and well-being benefits such as an employee assistance program and fitness benefits).
Application Instructions (as stated)
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation