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What is a senior clinical research coordinator and how to become one
Clinical studies are vital for testing new drugs and making sure that medication designed to save lives won't harm people. Administering these studies is a complicated task, one that a senior clinical research coordinator often manages.
A senior clinical research coordinator works for a university or hospital conducting clinical research and oversees their clinical trials. They get to do hands-on work with the trials, for example, by designing them and collecting data. The senior clinical research coordinator also manages the other people involved in the trial, takes care of administrative tasks, and does what is necessary to help the trial succeed.
One doesn't become qualified for such a complicated position overnight. Many senior clinical research coordinators have bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing or similar fields. They also have on-the-job experience in labs, which helps them pick up practical knowledge about FDA regulations by working as research assistants and coordinators.
What's a day at work look like for a senior clinical research coordinator?
Michael Brown
Morris L. Clothier Professor of Physics, Swarthmore College
Avg. Salary $60,458
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 9.46%
Black or African American 2.58%
Hispanic or Latino 15.28%
Unknown 7.60%
White 64.57%
Genderfemale 81.80%
male 18.20%
Age - 43.5American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43.5Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Senior clinical research coordinator career paths
Key steps to become a senior clinical research coordinator
Explore senior clinical research coordinator education requirements
Start to develop specific senior clinical research coordinator skills
Skills Percentages Patients 11.02% IRB 7.96% Informed Consent 6.53% Data Collection 6.01% Coordinators 5.29% Complete relevant senior clinical research coordinator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior clinical research coordinators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior clinical research coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior clinical research coordinator resumes.Research senior clinical research coordinator duties and responsibilities
- Work closely with investigators in identifying and managing adverse events and report events according to FDA requirements.
- Mentore and train employees on proper ICH and GCP clinical study procedures.
- Leverage exceptional working knowledge of good clinical practice (GCP) and ICH regulatory instructions during the execution of clinical trials.
- Co-Authore informed consents and consent patients while conducting information sessions with potential study subjects.
Get senior clinical research coordinator experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior clinical research coordinator. The most common roles before becoming a senior clinical research coordinator include clinical research coordinator, research assistant team lead and medical assistant.Prepare your senior clinical research coordinator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior clinical research coordinator resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior clinical research coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Apply for senior clinical research coordinator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior clinical research coordinator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average senior clinical research coordinator salary
The average senior clinical research coordinator salary in the United States is $60,458 per year or $29 per hour. Senior clinical research coordinator salaries range between $41,000 and $87,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
