How to hire a clinical research monitor

How to hire a clinical research monitor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step clinical research monitor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a clinical research monitor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical research monitor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the clinical research monitor you need to hire. Certain clinical research monitor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A clinical research monitor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, clinical research monitors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of clinical research monitors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Clinical Research Monitor	Description	Hourly rate
   Clinical Research Monitor	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$22-54
   Study Director	Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results... Show more	$26-56
   Study Coordinator	Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected... Show more	$16-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FDA
   • Clinical Trials
   • Informed Consent
   • IRB
   • ICH-GCP
   • Clinical Operations
   • Clinical Practice
   • Electronic Data
   • Study Sites
   • Site Monitoring
   • Data Collection
   • Clinical Trial Management
   • Site Initiation
   • Data Entry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
   • Maintain CTMS project tracking system of subject and site information and essential documents.
   • Collect and review all initial regulatory documents from site for submission to IRB and sponsor.
   • Coordinate and conduct the training of site personnel on protocols, CRF review and conduct source document verification.
   • Resolve CRF discrepancies and/or clarifications via site visit, telephone, email or fax as deemed appropriate for the study.
   • Prepare high quality site documents and collect country-specific information for IRB processes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your clinical research monitor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A clinical research monitor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, clinical research monitors' average salary in colorado is 45% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level clinical research monitors earn 60% less than senior-level clinical research monitors.
   • Certifications. A clinical research monitor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a clinical research monitor's salary.

   Average clinical research monitor salary

   $73,325yearly

   $35.25 hourly rate

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   Entry-level clinical research monitor salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing a clinical research monitor job description

   A clinical research monitor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a clinical research monitor job description:

   Clinical research monitor job description example

   The Clinical Trials Monitor helps to ensure compliance of the clinical research enterprise with all related regulatory policies and guidelines, including federal, state, local, as well as the policies and procedures outlined by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) consortium. Under the direction of Clinical Trials Office Leadership, this position will assist in the design, development, implementation, and conduct of an effective monitoring program in accordance with Good Clinical Practice, institutional policies and procedures, and research protocols. The Clinical Trials Monitor will ensure that, for those clinical trials assigned for monitoring, the appropriate and required monitoring tasks and related activities occur as outlined in the monitoring plan and in compliance with all related regulatory standards. Monitoring will be performed through a combination of remote data review and onsite monitoring visits; therefore, a willingness and ability to travel occasionally is required. The Clinical Trials Monitor is responsible for multiple projects at a time, and must have strong time management skills in addition to working both independently and in a team environment. This position will be responsible for promoting a culture of monitoring compliance and regulatory awareness within DFCI and DF/HCC.
   
   This position is 4-5 days remote. Only applicants living in the New England states at the time of employment will be considered. Candidates must have the ability to work from our Boston, MA office for onsite days.
   
   Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
   
   Ensure the Sponsor-Investigator and study team adhere to current FDA regulations, applicable ICH/GCP guidelines, local policies and standard operating procedures, including DFCI CTO Monitoring standards and guidelines.
   
   Adhere to the protocols' Data Safety Monitoring Plans; e.g. monitoring visit type, frequency, and required critical monitoring activities by utilizing monitoring tracking forms and other monitoring related tools and templates.
   
   Monitor clinical trial progress through a combination of remote data review and on site monitoring visits. Some travel will be required.
   
   Verify that trial data entered on the Case Report Form is consistent with patient clinical notes and other source documentation (source data verification).
   
   Independently coordinate upcoming and ongoing monitoring assignments while meeting expected timelines for completion of monitoring activities and submission of written monitoring reports.
   Assist in the development and writing of clinical trial monitoring plans. Provide recommendations and guidance to study specific monitoring teams and assist in audit readiness and preparation. Participate in regular monitoring team group meetings. At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply. Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to research compliance 3+ years of progressively responsible clinical trials experience with 1+ years of monitoring experience. Experience in an academic institution is preferred, especially working in collaborative efforts with upper administrators, faculty and research staff as well as research support personnel. Must have expertise in research ethics and the responsible conduct of research.
   Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right clinical research monitor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your clinical research monitor job on Zippia to find and recruit clinical research monitor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting clinical research monitors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical research monitor

   Once you've found the clinical research monitor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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