Clinical research coordinator

Clinical research coordinators oversee clinical trials and studies. They manage projects, participants and staff, and make sure activities meet industry guidelines.

Also known as

Clinical trials coordinator, clinical research physician, senior study coordinator, research associate, health researcher, research nurse, nurse researcher

Work environment

  • Usually work regular business hours but may work shifts, including evenings or weekends
  • Usually work at research facilities, universities, veterinary clinical units and laboratories and may travel locally
  • Need to be methodical, accurate and identify and solve problems

Salary information

MOST COMMON
UPPER
LOWER
$61K-$150K 61000

Typical tasks

  • Manage clinical trials and research projects
  • Make sure health standards are met
  • Manage trial activities and timetables
  • Report on trial progress and results
  • Collect information from trial participants
  • Work with health and research teams
  • Talk to government and health groups
  • Share updates with board members
  • Follow health and safety rules

Outlook

Clinical research coordination has a steady outlook as New Zealand continues to build capability in health research and clinical trials. Coordinators help research run safely, ethically and smoothly, which is increasingly important as trials become more complex and often involve multiple sites or digital tools. Internationally, decentralised trials, stronger patient involvement and tighter data and ethics requirements are shaping how clinical research is organised.

What employers and industry want in graduates

  • Excellent organisation and time-management skills
  • Careful attention to detail and documentation
  • Clear communication with participants, researchers and clinicians
  • Understanding of ethics, consent and confidentiality
  • Ability to manage deadlines and changing priorities
  • Confidence working with data, systems and research protocols

AUT programmes

The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.

Further study options

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This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.