Associate Director, Clinical Research Lead (East Coast/Midwest)
Eli Lilly and Company
5 months ago
On-site
Chicago, IL
Clinical Research and Development
Purpose
The Clinical Research Lead (CRL) is a strategic, field-based scientific leader responsible for driving the execution of Lilly clinical trials through exceptional investigator engagement and site performance management, ensuring trials are delivered with quality, speed, and insight.
Responsibilities
Clinical Investigator Management
- Accountable for the full spectrum of investigator engagement from identification and qualification through enrollment, support for database lock, and study closeout
- Serve as a clinical trial scientific ambassador to ensure investigators deeply understand protocol intent, scientific rationale, and patient eligibility requirements
- Develop and sustain strategic, high-trust relationships with investigators across trials and therapeutic areas
- Influence enrollment by co-creating tailored recruitment strategies aligned with site capabilities, patient population realities, and study objectives
- Proactively find opportunities to reach new patients, accelerate enrollment, and increase impact at priority sites
- Capture and elevate critical insights from sites 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 clinical milestones
- Drive inspection readiness as a continuous discipline across sites
- Collaborate cross-functionally and with vendor partners to resolve operational barriers with speed and quality
- Maintain advanced understanding of local treatment paradigms/standard of care to influence country/site selection and protocol localization
- Provide oversight and quality assurance for vendor monitoring; escalate risks proactively
- 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 strategically aligned, high-impact investigators who consistently prioritize Lilly trials
- Enable an exceptional investigator experience by being a responsive, knowledgeable, and valued scientific partner
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align on trial and site priorities and troubleshoot challenges with urgency and creativity
- Conduct data-informed site prospecting and prioritization to improve trial competitiveness and regional execution
- Maintain scientific fluency and therapeutic expertise to lead solutions-focused discussions with site personnel
- Act as a liaison 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
- Ensure local requirements are translated into compliant, efficient trial execution and reflect evolving country landscapes
- Partner with leadership to identify and align regional initiatives
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; strong preference for scientific, clinical, or health-related fields
- Minimum 5 years of experience in clinical research or pharmaceutical industry with experience working directly with HCPs and clinical sites
Preferred Qualifications / Skills
- Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or MSc preferred)
- Experience in Neurodegeneration, Immunology, and/or Cardiometabolic Health therapeutic spaces
- Excellent understanding of GCP, clinical development and operations, and trial lifecycle
- Demonstrated understanding of therapeutic landscape and standards of care; ability to apply to decision-making
- Proven ability to build credibility and influence HCP community through scientific acumen and relationships
- Strategic approach; success delivering results in complex, fast-paced environments
- Data-driven decision-making; ability to interpret and act on performance/operational metrics
- Excellent 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 of delivering or exceeding performance targets in a collaborative matrix environment
- Experience working with regulators or national bodies in support of clinical trial delivery
- English fluency and proficiency in local language(s) as needed
Travel Requirements
- Willingness to travel extensively (60–80%)
Compensation and Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated wage: $115,500–$204,600
- Bonus eligibility for full-time equivalent employees (depending on company and individual performance)
- Comprehensive benefits program (e.g., 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, well-being benefits)
The Clinical Research Lead (CRL) is a strategic, field-based scientific leader responsible for driving the execution of Lilly clinical trials through exceptional investigator engagement and site performance management, ensuring trials are delivered with quality, speed, and insight.
Responsibilities
Clinical Investigator Management
- Accountable for the full spectrum of investigator engagement from identification and qualification through enrollment, support for database lock, and study closeout
- Serve as a clinical trial scientific ambassador to ensure investigators deeply understand protocol intent, scientific rationale, and patient eligibility requirements
- Develop and sustain strategic, high-trust relationships with investigators across trials and therapeutic areas
- Influence enrollment by co-creating tailored recruitment strategies aligned with site capabilities, patient population realities, and study objectives
- Proactively find opportunities to reach new patients, accelerate enrollment, and increase impact at priority sites
- Capture and elevate critical insights from sites 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 clinical milestones
- Drive inspection readiness as a continuous discipline across sites
- Collaborate cross-functionally and with vendor partners to resolve operational barriers with speed and quality
- Maintain advanced understanding of local treatment paradigms/standard of care to influence country/site selection and protocol localization
- Provide oversight and quality assurance for vendor monitoring; escalate risks proactively
- 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 strategically aligned, high-impact investigators who consistently prioritize Lilly trials
- Enable an exceptional investigator experience by being a responsive, knowledgeable, and valued scientific partner
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align on trial and site priorities and troubleshoot challenges with urgency and creativity
- Conduct data-informed site prospecting and prioritization to improve trial competitiveness and regional execution
- Maintain scientific fluency and therapeutic expertise to lead solutions-focused discussions with site personnel
- Act as a liaison 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
- Ensure local requirements are translated into compliant, efficient trial execution and reflect evolving country landscapes
- Partner with leadership to identify and align regional initiatives
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; strong preference for scientific, clinical, or health-related fields
- Minimum 5 years of experience in clinical research or pharmaceutical industry with experience working directly with HCPs and clinical sites
Preferred Qualifications / Skills
- Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or MSc preferred)
- Experience in Neurodegeneration, Immunology, and/or Cardiometabolic Health therapeutic spaces
- Excellent understanding of GCP, clinical development and operations, and trial lifecycle
- Demonstrated understanding of therapeutic landscape and standards of care; ability to apply to decision-making
- Proven ability to build credibility and influence HCP community through scientific acumen and relationships
- Strategic approach; success delivering results in complex, fast-paced environments
- Data-driven decision-making; ability to interpret and act on performance/operational metrics
- Excellent 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 of delivering or exceeding performance targets in a collaborative matrix environment
- Experience working with regulators or national bodies in support of clinical trial delivery
- English fluency and proficiency in local language(s) as needed
Travel Requirements
- Willingness to travel extensively (60–80%)
Compensation and Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated wage: $115,500–$204,600
- Bonus eligibility for full-time equivalent employees (depending on company and individual performance)
- Comprehensive benefits program (e.g., 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, well-being benefits)