The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator (Sr. CRC) supports, facilitates and coordinates clinical psychiatric research activities. Working with the research manager, coordinates the implementation and maintenance of human clinical trials at WMed and also helps train junior staff. Coordinates and conducts the clinical research including the planning, implementation and follow through for industry-sponsored clinical trials, government-funded clinical research and investigator-initiated clinical research drug/device studies conducted by the Principal Investigator (PI).

• Responsible as the primary point of contact for study participants and sponsors on approximately 3-4 human clinical trials in partnership with leading academic, government and industry leaders locally and nationally.
• Provide direct supervision of other study coordinators, clinical trial assistants, and regulatory documents specialists assisting with ongoing and upcoming psychiatry clinical trials.
• Develop and maintain program training of research assistants and coordinate procedures for psychiatry research.
• Oversees, monitors, and maintains study systems for effective participant and data flow for studies.
• Supervise all aspects of research visits including recruitment, eligibility, informed consent, tracking, follow-up, and chart reviews and collaborate with other members of the team as needed for the study.
• Participate in internal study audits of clinical studies as well as external audits by federal agencies and pharmaceutical companies.
• Represent psychiatry research at internal and external academic meetings and community events. Act as a liaison to collaborators to discuss new protocols or projects that could be implemented.
• Trains and mentors research assistants, new investigators, students, residents and fellows on regulatory processes related to clinical research activities.
• Supports residency program and medical students by acting as a research subject matter expert and for psychiatry research projects.
• Coordinates educational activities related to study needs for study staff, investigator team and patient care staff.
• Serves as instructor and mentor for quality and education activities.
• Provide guidance and training to Investigators and study staff regarding protocol requirements.
• Provides leadership for direct patient care interaction.
• Leads and mentors others in sponsor correspondence, monitoring and study meetings.
• Assists in the preparation/submission of grant proposals/applications. Liaises with IRB, funding agencies and external collaborators.
• Works with Investigator to prepare dissemination materials (e.g. manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and posters for meeting.
• Provides input on, design of study forms/SOPs, participant information materials, recruitment of study participants, data collection, creation of databases, and ordering equipment.
• Inventories, tracks expiration dates, monitors storage temperature excursions and performs study drug and lab kit accountability.
• Ability to perform phlebotomy, collect vital signs and perform ECGs is desired but not required. A willingness to learn these skills is required.
• Creates detailed Source Documents and quality control checks of collected data.
• Will mentor and train junior Clinical Research Coordinators, as directed.
• Assist in coordinating communication between research funders and all relevant departments at WMed and affiliates.
• Initiates and maintains all IRB protocols and activities, as applicable.
• Assists in the creation/management of psychiatry clinical website.
• Availability to work on weekends and evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• Five plus years prior experience in clinical trial research is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, nursing or related field required Master’s degree preferred.
• GCP, HSP and IATA training is desired. or ability to obtain withing 30 days of hire.
• Specific experience in schizophrenia research or neuropsychological testing is desired, but not required.
• Strong experience collecting data for research (e.g. recruitment, conducting interviews, extracting medical records and data analysis) is desired.
• Experience with performing, or ability to learn to perform, phlebotomy, ECG and obtaining vital signs, preferred.
• Training or supervisory experience is required.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS: 

• State of Michigan license required if a registered nurse, counselor or social worker.
• Formal certification as a clinical research coordinator, preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• High level of communication skills to effectively interact with study sponsors and vendors, faculty, staff, students, patients, and families.
• Demonstrated experience in creating strong recruitment plans for clinical trials.
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Redcap and/or other Statistical Software.
• Previous experience doing psychological testing is desired but not required.
• Advanced knowledge of clinical trials, investigator-initiated protocols, and FDA and IRB regulations.
• Outstanding judgment, initiative and attention to detail are essential. Must be able to manage competing priorities while supporting more than one project.
• Demonstrates superior knowledge of research protocols and clinical, scientific and/or medical terminology.
• Experience creating detailed Source Documents according to the protocol and EDC guidelines.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others verbally and in writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to apply technology and innovation to improve efficiency and solve problems.
• Ability to interpret complicated and detailed data accurately, and develop insightful reports.
• Meticulous attention to detail and data integrity.
• Ability to travel to affiliated hospital, clinics, and work nights, weekends and holidays when requested.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of workflow.
• Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision but expected to seek guidance from experienced staff.

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-entered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a just culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs and an annual estimated economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program and a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and five fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery. 

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer of females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. We provide a drug- and tobacco-free workplace. 

EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Protected Veterans.