PAID MESSAGE – At PPD, our clinical research associates (CRAs) are trusted advisers to our sites and a critical link to client partnerships. Our CRAs are highly valued and rewarded with numerous internal growth opportunities. Below are the top five reasons to join our CRA team.
1. PPD’s culture and Defining Principles promote an engaging work environment.
Our clinical monitoring team operates with a common goal of delivering life-changing therapies to improve health. Teamwork, passion and collaboration are keys to their success.
“We are ‘one PPD’ and have a culture committed to the growth, development and happiness of our team members,” said Lynn King, vice president of clinical operations, North America regional head.
2. Award-winning training and opportunity to grow across our organization.
Given our scope and the complexity of our clients’ trials, you will have many opportunities for career moves and growth across our organization and enjoy a breadth of experiences. At PPD, we pride ourselves on promoting from within. CRAs at PPD may grow their careers through virtual and in-person training.
Our Clinical Foundation Program is a top-notch industry recognized training experience. We also offer a CRA Academy for those newer in clinical research as well as our newly formed Hematology & Oncology Academy. Additionally, PPD has added a Biotech University certificate for those working with biotech clients.
“They truly care about my career goals and where I want to be, and they motivate me to meet those goals,” said William Emerson, senior clinical research associate.
3. Global collaboration to develop life-saving therapies and purpose-driven mindset.
Our CRAs collaborate with teams in North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific and Latin America across 46 countries and work with our pharma and biotech customers. With over 30 years’ experience and as a leading global contract research organization (CRO), CRAs at PPD are game changers. We are thousands of employees connected by tenacity and passion for our purpose: to improve health.
“It is fun, but it is also very important work,” Alexandria Medlin, principal clinical research associate, said. “We as a team, the site and I, are doing something that matters.”
4. Supportive work environment.
The day-to-day work of a CRA involves traveling to client sites to monitor and ensuring accuracy and integrity of our studies.
Whether you’re working from home, at a clinical site or in-house, PPD’s management teams are dedicated to supporting and fostering work-life balance and flexibility. PPD has the roles of remote site monitor and project assistant in place to work alongside our CRA teams.
“We really get to focus on them. We get to focus on their development, their growth, their challenges and their strengths,” shares Kyeshia Arrington, manager of clinical operations.
5. Several areas to work in as a CRA to become well-rounded.
Our CRAs can work in full-service assignments or functional service provider (FSP) roles directly for the client, site start-up and early development/Phase I. Some PPD CRAs are now dedicated to a single Accelerated Enrollment Solutions (AES) site or cluster of sites within commuting distance. As a PPD CRA dedicated to an AES site, you are able to understand the site fully, build relationships and be responsible for all PPD work coming into the site. You will be the site’s point of contact, working with site staff on process, quality and delivery. You will gain broader therapeutic area and indication experience, work in multiple project phases and increase your experience in study start-up.
“Working as an FSP, we get to see both the sides from a CRA perspective and from a sponsor perspective,” said Vishnu Kambham, MS, senior CRAII. “We get to understand the broader picture, gain wide exposure to different clinical trials, expand our therapeutic expertise to various indications, work on multiple projects and be able to add value to the company.”
To learn more about career opportunities with PPD’s clinical monitoring teams, visit www.ppdi.com/careers to view openings across our global regions.
