Job Description

COM Start-up specialist

This role is accountable for performance and compliance for assigned protocols in a country in compliance with ICH/GCP and country regulations, the company’s policies and procedures, quality standards and adverse event reporting requirements internally and externally.

Under the oversight of the Head COMs, the person is responsible for execution and oversight of clinical trial country submissions and approvals and to ensure Site Ready.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Executes and oversees clinical trial country submissions and approvals for assigned protocols.
• Develops local language materials including local language Informed Consents and translations. Interacts with Ethics and Regulatory Authority for assigned protocols.
• Manages country deliverables, timelines and results for assigned protocols to meet country commitments. Responsible for quality and compliance in assigned protocols in country.
• Contributes to the development of local SOPs. Oversees CTCs as applicable.
• Coordinates and liaises with CRM, CTC, CRA, (Finance and Legal if appropriate) to ensure country deliverables are obtained for submissions, budgets, CTRAs and local milestones. Collaborates closely with Headquarter to align country timelines for assigned protocols.
• Provide support and oversight to local vendors as applicable.
• Oversees and coordinates local processes, clinical and ancillary supplies management, importing and exporting requirements, supplies destruction, local electronic/hard copy filing, archiving and retention requirements, and insurance process management. Enters and updates country information in clinical and finance systems.
• Ownership of local regulatory and financial compliance. The position has a significant impact on how a country can deliver country-specific trial commitments and objectives especially during study start-up.
• Required to in/directly influence investigators, external partners and country operations and adheres to budget targets and agreed payment timelines.
• Works in partnership internally with Global Clinical Trial Operations, finance, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, legal and regional operations, HQ functional areas and externally with vendors and sites, IRB/IECs and Regulatory Authorities in submission and approval related interactions. Through continual interaction with local clinical team/s successfully delivers clinical
and financial contracts within fair market value.
• Contribute or lead initiatives and projects adding value to the business, as appropriate/required.
• Contributes strongly to COM team and other Country Operations roles knowledge by acting as process Subject Matter Expert (SME), sharing best practices, making recommendations for continuous improvement and providing training as appropriate/required.
• Contributes to COM team knowledge by acting as buddy/mentor and sharing best practices as appropriate/required.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Best Practices Research, Business Initiatives, Business Management, Clinical Care, Clinical Site Management, Clinical Testing, Clinical Trial Agreements (CTA), Clinical Trial Compliance, Clinical Trial Documentation, Clinical Trial Management, Clinical Trial Management Processes, Clinical Trial Planning, Clinical Trials Monitoring, Clinical Trials Operations, Compliance Assurance, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Driving Continuous Improvement, FINRA Regulations, Healthcare Procurement, ICH GCP Guidelines, Insurance Planning, International Regulatory Compliance, Medical Supply Management {+ 14 more}

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

05/23/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.