Project Design Manager - Client Services

LabConnect•Johnson City, TN

About The Position

The Project Design Manager manages the setup and amendment of clinical trial projects. The role creates and revises operational and client-facing project documents, coordinates with internal teams, and ensures client requirements are accurately translated into project deliverables. The manager serves as a subject matter expert in internal and external discussions and contributes to process efficiency and quality standards. This position works with Sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Project Management, Client Services leadership, and internal functional departments to complete study setup activities, communicate project needs, and maintain timelines. It also supports staff training and mentorship by providing project-specific training, mentoring new team members, and creating or overseeing training materials, templates, job aids, and SOPs. Additional related duties may be assigned. Travel requirements are minimal.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) from a four-year college or university and at least 3 years of setup-related and/or project management experience; alternatively, an associate degree (A.S.) and 5–6 years of central laboratory or related clinical experience, including at least 3 years of setup-related and/or project management experience.
Experience in customer service.
Excellent organization, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent attention to detail, planning, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Strong listening and verbal comprehension skills, including the ability to translate client needs for team members.
Ability to make well-considered decisions and adapt to changing environments and requirements.
Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Ability to adhere to established timelines, processes, and procedures.
Customer service and client relationship management skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, or technical procedures.
Ability to write business correspondence and procedure manuals.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from managers and clients.
Ability to perform calculations and manage budgets, including applying mathematical concepts to clinical trial budget management and metrics analysis.
Ability to solve practical problems involving variables and limited standardization.
Ability to interpret instructions provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Nice To Haves

Clinical Research, Central Lab, and/or Project Management experience outside of LabConnect may be considered.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specified education and experience.

Responsibilities

Create or revise Operational Specification Documents (OSDs) defining client requirements for studies of varying complexities.
Create or revise customized test requisitions, laboratory manuals, and collection kit specifications.
Serve as a project contact with Sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs), maintaining communication and adherence to timelines.
Attend internal and external Project Initiation calls as a subject matter expert and provide information to Project Managers.
Provide regular setup progress updates to Project Management and Client Services leadership.
Translate client requirements into actionable steps for problem-solving and issue resolution while following internal standards.
Understand and interpret project-specific budgets.
Coordinate with internal functional departments to complete or assist with database setup and communicate study needs.
Liaise with colleagues to confirm completion of setup-related tasks.
Assist with project-specific training for internal staff.
Mentor and train new team members to support knowledge transfer and adherence to best practices.
Create or oversee the development of training materials, templates, job aids, and SOPs.
Perform additional related tasks as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.