Surgical Manager

Job Title: Contract Clinical Operations Lead (Country/Site Facing)
Location: Welwyn Garden City, UK (Hybrid – 2 days in office, flexible for site visits)
Contract Type: 6-month contract, inside IR35
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, full-time
Rate: Competitive

About the Role
Join a leading global biopharma company as a Contract Clinical Operations Lead and play a pivotal role in delivering transformative medicines for diseases with the highest societal burden. You will be part of their Pharma Product Development (PD) Global Clinical Operations function, helping to innovate clinical trial delivery while keeping the patient at the center.
This is a country/site-facing role, focusing on the operational delivery of studies in the UK. You will work closely with local and global teams, contributing to the successful set-up, conduct, and close-out of clinical trials.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and ensure timely delivery of all operational aspects of one or more UK studies, from start-up to close-out, adhering to ICH/GCP and regulatory standards.
• Represent the UK on the global study team.
• Manage site relations, recruitment, and study set-up within the UK.
• Guide and provide leadership to local study teams, including Clinical Research Associates (CRAs).
• Collaborate with local Medical Affairs colleagues and other PDG stakeholders.
• Support study feasibility, start-up activities, site payments, and study budgets.
• Drive study timelines, risk management, and operational plans, including diversity and inclusion strategies.
• Respond to queries from IRBs, Health Authorities, and Ethics Committees, ensuring best practices and consistency.

Who You Are

• Experienced in all stages of study management within the UK, with a focus on study start-up.
• Skilled in contracts, costing templates, and working with R&D teams.
• Knowledge of UK-specific study operations is essential (global-only experience is not sufficient).
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communicator, able to lead and influence diverse teams.
• Customer-focused, with a growth mindset, enterprise view, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Desirable Experience

• Start-up specialist experience is preferred but not essential.
• Previous experience with UK site contracts, costing templates, and study feasibility.

Contractor Information

• Administrative manager provided for timesheet and expense approvals.
• Standard contractor orientation, systems, and health and safety training provided.
• Contractors responsible for rectifying any sub-standard work at their own time and cost.
• Contractors will not be reassigned without agreement and are not entitled to employee perks or benefits.
• Laptop and email provided for the duration of the contract.
• Contracts can be terminated with the agreed notice period.

Application Details

• Positions Available: 1
• Hybrid Working: 2 days in office, flexible for site visits

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone’s chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

Please be advised if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion, we may however keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you accordingly.