Lead Clinical Trials Coordinator

Lead Clinical Trials Coordinator – Private Ophthalmic Institute

Salary: Up to £55,000 (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

We’re seeking an experienced and proactive Lead Clinical Trials Coordinator to take ownership of our expanding ophthalmic clinical trials programme. This is a pivotal position in one of the Institute’s most important growth areas, with responsibility for study delivery, team leadership, and sponsor relationships.

You’ll oversee a small, high-performing team and work closely with pharmaceutical and medical device partners to ensure our trials meet recruitment, compliance, and quality targets. This is an exceptional opportunity for a driven professional to lead from the front and shape the direction of a growing research portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership & Governance

* Lead the end-to-end delivery of all clinical studies, ensuring adherence to ICH-GCP, protocol, ethics, and data protection standards.

* Manage study timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation across all active and upcoming trials.

* Support investigators with medical oversight, protocol clarifications, and safety communications.

* Maintain audit readiness through meticulous document control and process compliance.

Study Start-Up & Feasibility

* Lead feasibility assessments and communicate site capabilities to sponsors and CROs.

* Drive rapid study start-up including contracts, budgets, and submissions.

* Develop efficient site workflows and patient pathways to accelerate recruitment and optimise data quality.

Recruitment & Retention

* Deliver study recruitment targets through effective referral networks and patient engagement.

* Monitor screen-fail rates and implement data-driven recovery strategies.

Operations & Data Management

* Oversee day-to-day site operations, ensuring smooth clinic flow and accurate, timely data entry.

* Maintain all logs, trackers, and study databases with strong version control.

* Coordinate data queries, interim analyses, and database lock activities.

Sponsor & CRO Liaison

* Act as the main point of contact for sponsors and CROs.

* Lead site visits and monitoring interactions with professionalism and clarity.

* Provide concise progress reports and performance updates to stakeholders.

Financial Oversight

* Work with the Accounts team on study budgets, invoicing, and financial tracking.

* Support contract negotiation, milestone payments, and cost control.

People Leadership

* Line-manage and mentor clinical trials staff, providing clear goals and feedback.

* Lead onboarding, training, and professional development initiatives.

Imaging & Clinical Duties

* Learn and perform patient imaging using advanced ophthalmic diagnostic equipment.

* Ensure patient experience and data integrity remain at the forefront of all trial activities.

Publications & Research Support

* Assist in data analysis and the preparation of abstracts, posters, and manuscripts for conferences and journals.

About You

* Minimum 5 years’ experience managing or coordinating clinical trials, ideally within ophthalmology or medical devices.

* Demonstrated success in meeting recruitment targets and reducing study start-up timelines.

* Strong working knowledge of ICH-GCP, ethics, and regulatory requirements.

* Proficient with EDC systems and confident analysing performance metrics.

* Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills, with a compassionate approach to patients