What are the responsibilities and job description for the Clinical Rater, Neurology position at Tandem Clinical Research?
Job Description | Full-Time | On-Site
Position Summary
The Clinical Rater is responsible for interviewing research participants and their informants or caregivers who are being evaluated for enrollment in clinical studies across a range of health conditions. Working as part of a multidisciplinary research team, this role administers and scores protocol-specified psychometric rating scales, ensures participant safety, and maintains data integrity in full compliance with study protocols, SOPs, GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable FDA regulations.
This position plays a key role in the accuracy and consistency of clinical trial data by preventing rater drift, completing all sponsor-required certifications, and supporting the Principal Investigator in determining participant eligibility.
Key Responsibilities
Participant Screening & Assessment
- Review subject medical histories and conduct pre-screening interviews to assess eligibility for specific clinical trials
- Administer protocol-specified psychometric rating scales for participants across a wide range of diagnoses, including Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, MDD, Anxiety Disorders, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder, and Substance Use Disorders
- Calculate and apply rating scale results to determine protocol eligibility under the supervision of the Principal Investigator
- Conduct telephone pre-screens and eligibility interviews as needed
Data Integrity & Documentation
- Maintain accurate, complete, and timely source documentation in accordance with ALCOA-C standards
- Complete all sponsor- and monitor-assigned queries within required timeframes
- Actively work to maintain consistency in rating performance over time for individual subjects to prevent rater drift
- Maintain strict confidentiality of participant and company information in compliance with HIPAA guidelines
Participant Safety & Communication
- Ensure participant safety by appropriately assessing and responding to any potential for harm to self or others identified during evaluations, and reporting per company policy
- Provide appropriate community resource referrals to participants, caregivers, and family members as needed
- Facilitate timely, professional communication with participants, study staff, Sponsors, CROs, Monitors, Auditors, and central rating organizations
- Articulate rating concerns or issues to the CRO, Sponsor, Principal Investigator, and study team
Team Leadership & Training
- Serve as study lead across a minimum of four concurrent studies
- Provide weekly schedule oversight for a minimum of two study coordinators
- Complete all Sponsor-assigned rater training and maintain certification and re-certification per protocol requirements
- Attend Sponsor meetings, Monitor visits, webinars, and company training programs
- Perform additional duties as assigned
Ideal Candidate Profile
Someone who:
- Understands how rigorous, consistent ratings directly impact clinical trial outcomes
- Notices when a participant interaction is off-protocol and proactively corrects course
- Is comfortable working across research, clinical, and sponsor-facing teams without close supervision
- Brings genuine empathy and professionalism when working with participants of varying cognitive abilities
- Takes ownership of rater certification, re-certification, and quality standards