Site Activation Lead

ICON plc

Site Activation Lead advancing clinical trial start-up activities at ICON. Responsible for managing site activation and startup, mentoring FSP Site Start Up team.

Posted 8/3/2026full-timeBlue Bell • Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Clinical Operations and Project Management, with a strong focus on site activation and study start up processes. Proficient in data analysis and decision-making to enhance study initiation timelines and performance.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Clinical OperationsProject ManagementSite ActivationStudy Start Up ProcessesData Analysis

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Study Start UpTrial OptimizationICF CreationDatabase StructuresStudy Start Up PlanningCountry SelectionData MethodologiesPerformance MetricsContinuous ImprovementStudy Initiation Forecasting

Soft Skills

MentoringGuidanceProblem SolvingCollaborationFacilitation

Tools & Technologies

Industry ToolsData SourcesSoftware Models

Industry Keywords

PharmaceuticalCROLife ScienceGlobal SSUClinical Research

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage day-to-day site start-up and activation activities, supporting your team to deliver quality outcomes
Partner with Clinical Operations teams, and TAU partners to improve overall study start up metrics and implement processes
Provide guidance, oversight, and mentoring to the FSP Site Start Up team
Deliver activities to support Clinical Programs, including data and methodologies for protocol study start up, country and site selection, study start up planning, and modeling
Create country-specific ICFs based on the Master ICF provided
Ensure standards are applied to the site start up process across project portfolios and support continuous improvement activities while developing the process
Guide the collection and analysis of all data to influence study start up timelines
Leverage leading industry tools and data sources to provide data on start up timelines and performance to assist project teams with study initiation timeline forecasting
Agree to deliverables on a site-level basis with the internal team and monitor adherence to these
Promptly recognize and improve potential delays, and escalate non-performance
Lead the internal FSP site start up team, using the appropriate team members to help implement the Start Up Project Plan
Drive delivery of all sponsor and CRO supported sites that are "Ready To Enroll" to the Start Up Project Plan
Resolve escalated issues identified by the site start up team in partnership with the Study Manager

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS degree or international equivalent in a life science
4 or more years of experience in Clinical Operations, Project Management, study start up, and trial optimization with evidence of increasing responsibility within a pharmaceutical company, CRO or relevant industry vendor
At least 2 years of direct responsibility in site activation and managing the study start up processes of clinical research studies at a sponsor or CRO
Experience and knowledge with country level ICF creation and requirements
Proficiency with software models and database structures
Global SSU experience preferred
Ability to explain data, facilitate decision making processes to be data driven
Expertise in principles driving country/site start up and study start up strategies

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
Retirement and pension plans
Life assurance and disability coverage
Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways