New

Clinical Research Study Startup and Contract Specialist

East Carolina University

$41,379 - $67,980

United States, North Carolina, Greenville

Feb 17, 2026

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title	Clinical Research Study Startup and Contract Specialist
Position Number	946603
Vacancy Open to	All Candidates
Department	EHH BSOM R and GS Admin
Department Homepage	https://medicine.ecu.edu/research-gradstudies/
Advertising Department	RES&GRAD STUD-SOM
Division	ECU Health/BSOM
Classification Title	Program Specialist
Working Title	Clinical Research Study Startup and Contract Specialist
Number of Vacancies	1 Anticipated
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)	1.0
Full Time or Part Time	Full Time
Anticipated Recruitment Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications.	$41,379 - $67,980
Position Location (City)	Greenville
Position Type	Non-Faculty
Job Category	Non-Faculty Professional
Organizational Unit Overview	It is the mission of East Carolina University ( ECU) Brody School of Medicine ( BSOM) and ECU Health to provide exemplary medical education/training for physicians at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Additionally, it is the mission of BSOM to provide model comprehensive primary and consultative subspecialty care to patients in eastern North Carolina, to advance scientific knowledge through basic, translational, and clinical research, and to provide continuing medical education opportunities for physicians in the region. The Office of Clinical Research ( OCR) encompasses the pre-award, post-award, and clinical operation activities related to industry-sponsored clinical research, including clinical trials, for the Brody School of Medicine ( BSOM) and ECU Health. The Director of OCR reports to the BSOM Associate Dean for Research, who also holds the role of Associate Chief of Clinical Research and Research Strategy in the Office of Research, REDE at ECU. Importantly, the Associate Chief of Clinical Research and Research Strategy also oversees clinical research for ECU Health to facilitate clinical research integration across institutions. The vision for OCR is to expand and manage all industry-associated clinical research projects across ECU and ECU Health after additional needed financial and staff resources become available.
Job Duties	The Brody School of Medicine ( BSOM) Clinical Research Office ( CRO) within the department of Research and Graduate Studies at East Carolina University is seeking a ( 12-month, AT WILL) Clinical Research Study Startup and Contract Specialist. The Contract Specialist will aid in streamlining the study startup process for clinical research studies at ECU and ECU Health by working closely with the study sponsors, research teams, and the UMCIRB office. This team member will manage a portfolio of departments within the enterprise and support investigators and research support staff in these departments with the study start-up process. This team member will assist with the development of site activation strategies and startup workflows and will oversee startup delivery and governance. This position will be responsible for negotiating, executing, and awarding contracts; preparing and reviewing budgets and other supporting documents; assisting with regulatory documentation and IRB applications; and training research support staff. 30% Negotiating, executing, and awarding contracts: Liaises and establishes effective relationships with sponsors, study teams, and ancillary stakeholders. Prepares and negotiates study and vendor contracts, as well as awards clinical research studies within the contract management system. Works directly with sponsors, academic collaborators, and other parties to resolve research contract issues. Ensures quality, objectivity, and risk analysis in the efficient delivery of contracts. Ensures alignment of the contract consultation process for teams and studies, which are properly aligned to the critical path for site activation. 30% Regulatory documentation and IRB applications Reporting: Oversee ethics and regulatory bodies' submissions and approval status. Coordinate addressing queries and ensure required timelines are met. Communicates with sponsors around regulatory information. Prepares and reviews Informed Consent Forms and other regulatory documents per federal, state, and institutional guidelines. Responds to ancillary queries promptly, revises IRB application as needed, and submits amendments and protocol deviation information when required. Assists with study regulatory maintenance. 20% Communication and Oversight: Maintains documentation of contracts, IRB application status, and other KPIs, tracks metrics and outcomes, and produces related reports. Consult and collaborate with the clinical research management team to ensure clinical research studies remain on track for timely start-up and initiation. Demonstrates a customer-focused style of communication, problem-solving, and collaboration Communicates, receives, and understands information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner Performs successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities. Coordinates with internal functional departments to ensure various startup activities are aligned with contractual activities and mutually agreed-upon timelines. Maintains documentation of contracts, IRB application status, and other KPIs, tracks metrics and outcomes, and produces related reports. Conducts process improvement through evaluation of workflows, development of documentation, and communication with key stakeholders. 20% Preparing and reviewing budgets and other supporting documents: Prepares and reviews budgets, templates, and supporting documents. Identifies and assesses legal, financial, and operational risks and raises them to the appropriate level of the organization per established processes. Contingent Upon Availability of Funds
Minimum Education/Experience	Bachelor's degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation	None
Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education	An understanding of policies and procedures related to clinical research is preferred. Experience in clinical research contract negotiations is highly desirable. Experience as a regulatory coordinator, a clinical research coordinator, or a paralegal is desirable.
Special Instructions to Applicant	East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information online. At the time of employment, two to three original letters of reference, official transcripts, a criminal background check, and proper documentation of identity and employability are required. Please be aware that if selected for an interview, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the references section of the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Additional Instructions to Applicant	In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.
Job Open Date	02/17/2026
Open Until Filled	Yes
Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date. If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date.
Initial Screening Begins	03/04/2026
Rank Level
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting	https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/91693
Nondiscrimination Statement	East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability. Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act ( ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/ TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.
Eligibility for Employment	Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity	If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.