Clinical Research Associate

Summary:

Ethos Science is a vertical service of NVA and Ethos that leverages our network’s clinical expertise and extensive veterinary network to deliver high-quality clinical study services to the veterinary healthcare industry.
The Clinical Research Associate (CRA) is responsible for independently managing and advancing key components of clinical study execution across the Ethos Science portfolio. This role serves as a strategic and operational lead for assigned studies, exercising discretion and independent judgment in planning trial activities, identifying and resolving site and study issues, prioritizing competing demands, and driving decisions that materially influence study timelines, site performance, sponsor satisfaction, data quality, and overall business results.

The CRA acts as a primary liaison among sponsors, hospital teams, and internal stakeholders and is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy in managing study conduct, recommending solutions, setting priorities, and shaping processes that support the successful delivery of Ethos Science services. Many of our sites are new to research, so this role regularly meets problems without an established playbook. The CRA is expected to work through ambiguity, design practical solutions within protocol and regulatory requirements, and see them through to resolution.

Responsibilities:

Trial Oversight and Study Execution

• Independently oversee day-to-day execution of multiple concurrent clinical studies across study startup, active conduct, and closeout.
• Serve as a primary liaison between Ethos/NVA hospitals/practices and study sponsors, determining communication priorities, resolving operational issues, and driving timely execution across sites.
• Monitor study progress, site performance, enrollment trends, protocol compliance, and operational risks, and exercise independent judgment to identify issues, escalate when appropriate, and implement corrective actions or alternative approaches.
• Evaluate site-specific challenges and make recommendations regarding workflow, training, recruitment support, and operational adjustments to improve study performance and protocol adherence.
• Determine priorities across assigned studies and allocate time and effort based on sponsor commitments, portfolio needs, business objectives, and operational risk.
• Finalize and quality review clinical study documents, advertisements, and study materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with study and business requirements.
• Lead training for veterinary teams on protocol execution, study expectations, and electronic data capture (EDC) tools, tailoring guidance based on site needs and study complexity.
• Collaborate with the VP of Science and Clinical Advancement, Operations Manager, and administrative team to deliver high-quality deliverables and timely reports.

Client and Sponsor Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients/sponsors during study planning and execution, representing Ethos Science with professionalism, sound judgment, and accountability.
• Lead sponsor meetings, study updates, and issue-resolution discussions, making recommendations and decisions within scope that influence study direction, client experience, and delivery outcomes.
• Anticipate sponsor needs, identify potential risks to timelines or deliverables, and proactively recommend solutions that protect study quality, client satisfaction, and business performance.
• Partner with the VP of Science and Clinical Advancement, the Operations Manager, and other internal stakeholders to support strategic account management and successful delivery of client commitments.

Operational, Financial and Compliance Coordination

• Manage site incentive and reimbursement processes, exercising judgment in tracking completion, identifying discrepancies, and coordinating resolution with internal and external stakeholders.
• Track study-related financial elements and support accurate invoicing and budget adherence by identifying issues that may affect costs, timelines, or resource allocation.
• Oversee the organization, completeness, and accessibility of regulatory, legal, and study documentation, using judgment to identify gaps, prioritize follow-up, and support audit readiness.
• Oversee collection, review, and quality control of study data entered into EDC systems; identify trends, inconsistencies, or quality concerns and determine appropriate next steps to improve data integrity and study execution.

Cross-Trial Logistics, Process Improvement and Program Support

• Coordinate activities across hospital sites participating in multiple studies, making decisions that balance competing priorities, reduce operational burden, and improve overall portfolio execution.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and recommend or implement changes to workflows, tools, and communication practices that enhance efficiency, site engagement, sponsor experience, and study outcomes.
• Contribute substantively to Science team meetings by identifying priorities, recommending solutions, driving follow-up, and influencing operational decisions affecting trial execution.
• Develop and execute on onboarding processes for new team members, as well as for veterinary nurses serving in research roles at the site, helping to shape program effectiveness across the hospital network.

Education, License, and Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, medical, veterinary, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• At least 2+ years of experience in clinical research, clinical operations, project coordination, or related roles.
• Prior experience in veterinary medicine, animal health, life sciences, or a regulated research environment preferred.

Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience managing clinical trial operations or complex cross-functional projects, preferably in a sponsor, site, CRO, or healthcare-related setting.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, analyze issues, recommend solutions, and make decisions within scope on matters affecting timelines, quality, stakeholder experience, and operational outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems independently and creatively, including developing a workable approach where no process exists, testing it, and adjusting as needed.
• Strong client-facing communication and relationship-management skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities with limited oversight.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel preferred.
• Experience with electronic data capture systems and veterinary medical record platforms preferred.