Country Study Start-Up Team Leader (cSTL) in Welwyn

The Position

As a UK Country Study Start‑Up Team Leader, you will drive the efficient and compliant initiation of Roche‑sponsored clinical trials. You will play a key role in delivering clinical trials to patients by enabling innovative trial execution and ensuring a seamless experience for investigators and clinical site staff in the UK.

The Opportunity

You will be responsible for leading the country's study start‑up strategy, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and collaboration with external partners. Your work will have a direct impact on the speed and quality of our clinical trials.

Your key responsibilities:

• Overseeing start‑up operations to ensure timely and efficient site activation and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a key member of the Country Leadership Team, contributing actionable insights and leadership influence to advance clinical study start‑up environments.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with regional and global counterparts to standardise systems, improve study timelines, and implement innovations across study processes.
• Lead the development and oversight of clinical trial submissions and amendments, managing packages, and ensuring document maintenance.
• Identify and drive opportunities for process automation, standardisation, and innovation at the country and site level.
• Provide strategic oversight for all aspects of budgeting and contract management, including developing budget strategies and negotiating contracts.
• Engage with government and institutional bodies, such as Ethics Boards and Health Authorities, to align on and influence evolving clinical trial policies and practices.
• Drive department‑wide engagement by fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and high performance while championing inclusion and belonging.
• Inspire, motivate, and develop talent within the team, ensuring a focus on individual growth and leadership development to build a strong, elevated talent pipeline aligned with organisational objectives.
• Lead by example in demonstrating and championing inclusive behaviours in your team, PDG, PD, and the Roche Enterprise.
• Provide opportunities for growth and development for all team members and address any barriers that may exist.
• Handle people‑management related administration (e.g. Workday People & Culture Management system tasks) and serve as a contact for employment‑related matters.

Who you are

You are an experienced professional with a demonstrated background in clinical trial start‑up, regulatory submissions, and cross‑functional collaboration. You possess a strong understanding of ICH‑GCP, MHRA CTA, and the UK regulatory environment.

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Proven experience and hold a degree in life sciences (MD, PhD, MA/MS, BA/BS) or equivalent; a postgraduate or master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Extensive experience in clinical trial start‑up processes, including regulatory submissions, site activations, and amendments.
• Proven leadership or line‑management experience, with a track record of coaching, motivating, and driving teams toward shared goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in clinical systems such as Veeva Vault, CTIS, and RIM.
• The ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity in matrixed and global teams.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.
• Exceptional communication, organisational, and analytical problem‑solving skills to navigate high‑pressure, complex environments.

This role is based onsite at our Welwyn, United Kingdom office. Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.

At Roche Products we believe diversity drives innovation and we are committed to building a diverse and flexible working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability or age. We recognise the importance of flexible working and will review all applicants’ requests with care. At Roche difference is valued and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where you are encouraged to bring your whole self to work.