What does a Clinical Project Manager do?

Clinical Project Managers plan and manage clinical trials. From strategizing and budgeting to ensuring compliance and updating sponsors, Clinical Project Managers monitor daily operations and offer long-term oversight, influencing the outcome of a project and ongoing relationships with collaborators.

Clinical Project Manager skills and qualifications

Successful Clinical Project Managers often have soft skills, technical skills and scientific knowledge that allow them to manage multiple aspects of clinical trials.

Your Clinical Project Coordinator job description may include these key skills and qualifications:

• In-depth understanding of clinical trial development and regulations
• Adept at project management, including setting milestones, budgeting and running trials
• Ability to lead and motivate a team
• Knowledge of financial management, including how to manage costs and allocate funding
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills to draft case report forms (CRFs) or statistical analysis plans (SAPs) 
• Ability to make data-driven decisions and problem-solve as issues arise
• Familiarity with clinical trial management software (CTMS), such as Dot Compliance, budgeting software and other digital tools

Clinical Project Manager experience requirements

Clinical Project Manager candidates typically have experience working on clinical research, potentially as Clinical Research Associates or Clinical Research Coordinators. Employers may also emphasize experience in project management and leadership roles.

For some projects, you may prefer candidates with experience in a specific discipline, illness or pharmaceutical category.

Clinical Project Manager education and training requirements

Clinical Project Managers generally have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a life sciences or healthcare-related discipline. This might include biology, biochemistry, nursing, public health or pharmaceutical sciences. For more high-profile projects, employers may prioritize candidates with master’s degrees in clinical research, public health, healthcare or business administration. 

Candidates with a healthcare background may refine their project management skills with certifications, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) program.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Clinical Project Manager job description doesn’t quite align with your needs, check out these related job description templates:

• Clinical Research Associate
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Nurse

Clinical Project Manager job description FAQs

Do Clinical Project Manager candidates need to have specific project management experience?

Project management experience is helpful for this role, but it’s not always a requirement. Applicants may demonstrate transferable skills and experience necessary for the project management portion of the job. For instance, they might have held other roles that required leadership, budget management and detailed documentation.

What’s the difference between a Clinical Project Manager and a Clinical Program Manager?

The two positions have similar responsibilities, but their duties typically differ in scale and scope. Clinical Project Managers generally manage a single clinical trial. In comparison, Clinical Program Managers may oversee several trials at once. They may also lead an entire clinical development program, such as one focused on new drug development. 

Who does a Clinical Project Manager report to?

Clinical Project Managers typically report to a Director of Clinical Operations or a Director of Clinical Trials. Depending on the organization, a Project Management Office Director or sponsor may require reports and provide instructions to the project manager and their team. The staff hierarchy of a clinical trial often depends on who’s running the trial, the size of the company and the number of participants.