Demo

Clinical Trial Activation Specialist

UT MD Anderson
Houston, TX Full Time
POSTED ON 4/30/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/29/2026
The Division of Clinical Research provides infrastructure support for all aspects of clinical research. UT MD Anderson has the nation's largest cancer clinical trials program enrolling patients in Texas and beyond through our Cancer Network® partners across the country.

The Clinical Trial Activation Specialist oversees the clinical trial activation process at MD Anderson. Acts as a liaison between different central departments and research teams throughout the lifecycles of the clinical study. Maintains real-time tracking of the progress and milestones of assigned trials and proactively alerts to potential delays. Responsible for confirming all institutional requirements are met prior to activation/implementation.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience in regulatory compliance or clinical research start-up.

Minimum $29.09 - Midpoint $36.30 - Maximum $43.51 per hour based on a 40-hour work week.

Work location: Remote.

Why Us?

UT MD Anderson offers the opportunity to support groundbreaking clinical research while working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. This role allows the Clinical Trial Activation Specialist to directly contribute to accelerating clinical studies that improve outcomes for patients with cancer, while benefiting from a remote work arrangement that supports work-life balance and long-term professional growth.

  • Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30 hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
  • Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
  • Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
  • Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Responsibilities

Activations and Modifications Support (70%)

Responsible for the facilitation of protocol acceptance, activation, and modification implementation for clinical research protocols.

  • Facilitate protocol acceptance, activation, and modification implementation for clinical research studies.
  • Oversee effective operation of protocols involving collaboration with clinical research administration, departments, and central offices.
  • Serve as the primary resource for maintaining study status information across assigned trials.
  • Document delays in activation and identify bottlenecks in activation and implementation processes.
  • Manage new study submission and activation after confirming all institutional requirements are met.
  • Develop and maintain a tracking system to monitor protocol activations and modifications.

Communication (20%)

  • Maintain up-to-date status updates between central offices, research staff, and departments throughout the study life cycle.
  • Navigate protocols through clinical research systems by coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
  • Prepare for and attend clinical department meetings for assigned departments.
  • Serve as a content expert to guide departments through the activation process.

Maintenance of Regulatory and Study Documentation (10%)

  • Assure appropriate written regulatory documentation and standard operating procedures are maintained.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of institutional policies, databases, and systems used in clinical trial workflows.
  • Utilize systems such as CTMS, the IRB system, and other indicated research platforms.

Other Duties

  • Perform other duties as assigned to support clinical research at UT MD Anderson.

EDUCATION

  • Required: Bachelor's Degree
  • Preferred: Master's Degree

Work Experience

  • Required: Four years in regulatory compliance or clinical research start-up
  • May substitute education degree with additional years of experience on a one to one basis

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Required: CCRP - Certified Clinical Research Professional or CCRC - Certified Clinical Research Coordinator or CCRA - Certified Clinical Research Associate

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

  • Requisition ID: 180501
  • Employment Status: Full-Time
  • Employee Status: Regular
  • Work Week: Days
  • Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 60,500
  • Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 75,500
  • Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 90,500
  • FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
  • Fund Type: Soft
  • Work Location: Remote
  • Pivotal Position: No
  • Referral Bonus Available?: No
  • Relocation Assistance Available?: No

Salary : $36 - $44

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Clinical Trial Activation Specialist?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Clinical Trial Activation Specialist career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$70,164 - $92,397
Income Estimation: 
$86,269 - $122,182
Income Estimation: 
$70,164 - $92,397
Income Estimation: 
$86,269 - $122,182
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at UT MD Anderson

  • UT MD Anderson Houston, TX
  • The Genitourinary Center at MD Anderson is one of the world's most-recognized treatment centers for Genitourinary cancers. Research by MD Anderson physicia... more
  • Just Posted

  • UT MD Anderson Houston, TX
  • Research Assistant II The Research Assistant II supports scientific discovery within the Experimental Therapeutics department by coordinating and conductin... more
  • Just Posted

  • UT MD Anderson The Woodlands, TX
  • Seeking an experienced Medical Assistant to join our team at the Woodlands area location. With multiple locations around Houston, our experience and servic... more
  • Just Posted

  • UT MD Anderson Houston, TX
  • The Supervisor of Patient Transportation plays a critical role within the Patient Transportation department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer C... more
  • Just Posted


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Clinical Trial Activation Specialist jobs in the Houston, TX area that may be a better fit.

  • Tranquil Clinical and Research Consulting Services LLC Webster, TX
  • Summary : This is an exciting opportunity to work within a fast-paced, busy environment in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries... more
  • 9 Days Ago

  • Houston Methodist Houston, TX
  • FLSA STATUS Exempt QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in nursing, business, or related healthcare field EXPERIENCE Five years of hospital clinical ... more
  • 1 Day Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!