Jobs › University of Chicago

Clinical Trials Monitor

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $65,000–$80,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at University of Chicago

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You handle several studies at once with deadlines for written reports. How do you keep them straight?

What they are checking: Whether they have a solid system for juggling many studies and report deadlines, since late or confused reports weaken trial oversight.

Tell me about a finding you raised that was not welcome.

What they are checking: Whether they will report unwelcome findings honestly and respectfully, because a monitor who softens problems puts patients and data at risk.

This sits in the Quality Core of a cancer center running more than four hundred fifty active therapeutic trials, asking two to five years and requiring both remote work and in-person visits on the Hyde Park campus. What would you want to know about your study assignment?

What they are checking: That they read the scale and the working arrangement and ask about caseload.

What would you do

You would ensure principal investigators and study teams follow federal regulations and good clinical practice guidelines. How do you raise a finding with an investigator?

What they are checking: Delivering a finding to someone senior who owns the study.

You would follow a data safety monitoring plan setting visit type and frequency. What would make you monitor a study more often than the plan requires?

What they are checking: Whether they would increase monitoring based on warning signs like new staff or errors, rather than following the schedule blindly.

About the work

This role monitors cancer trials through a mix of remote data review and onsite visits. What can you only catch by being at the site?

What they are checking: Whether they understand what only site visits reveal, like source documents and drug storage, which remote review cannot reliably catch.

Walk me through preparing for a monitoring visit on a trial you have not monitored before.

What they are checking: Whether they prepare thoroughly by studying the protocol and prior findings, since a poorly prepared visit misses the problems that matter.

How do you tell a documentation problem from a patient safety problem?

What they are checking: Whether they can tell paperwork gaps from real risks to patients, because safety issues must be escalated immediately and differently.

You would assist in writing monitoring plans. What makes a monitoring plan practical rather than aspirational?

What they are checking: Whether they write plans that sites can actually follow with their staff and resources, since unrealistic plans get ignored or fail.

You would assist with audit readiness and preparation. What do you look for that an auditor would find?

What they are checking: Whether they can anticipate what an auditor would flag and fix it first, because audit findings can halt trials and damage reputations.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Chicago from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD CCC - Quality Core About the Department The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is an integral component of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD). The BSD is the largest of four Divisions of the University and includes the Pritzker School of Medicine. UCCCC administers four established scientific programs, and the NCI-sponsored Cancer Center Support Grant funds ten Shared Resources. The Comprehensive Cancer Center comprises over 200 faculty members from twenty departments, with members currently being awarded over $51million in total direct costs in peer-reviewed cancer research grants, and $24 million in non-peer-reviewed grants and contracts. The activities of the Center are broad and varied, including research, training and education, marketing and communications, fundraising, data analytics, clinical trials management, and community outreach and engagement. The UCCCC has one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the country and in the Chicago area, with more than 450 adult and pediatric therapeutic trials actively accruing patients. Many of these studies are investigator-initiated, including Phase I or I/II trials, demonstrating UCCCC's commitment to translating basic research findings to the clinic through proof-of-principle and early-phase studies. UCCCC opens over 130 new trials each year and accrues approximately 800 participants to therapeutic trials each year. Job Summary ​​Manages, facilitates, and monitors daily clinical research and clinical trial activities. Performs a variety of duties involved in the collection, documentation, analysis, and reporting of clinical research and clinical trial data.​ The job compiles, documents, analyzes, and reports on moderately complex clinical studies. Provides input to support the administrative and operational decisions that impact clinical research conducted across the University. Responsibilities • ​​Ensures compliance of clinical research, which includes compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center regulations and policies. • Administers the required monitoring tasks, as outlined in the monitoring plan, in compliance with all applicable regulations. • ​Monitors through a combination of remote data review and onsite monitoring visits (Hyde Park Campus); therefore, a willingness and ability to work remotely and in person is required. • ​Responsible for multiple projects at a time and must have strong time management skills in addition to working both independently and in a team environment. • ​Ensures all Principal Investigators and study teams adhere to current FDA regulations, applicable ICH/GCP guidelines, local policies, and standard operating procedures, including monitoring standards and guidelines. • ​Adheres to the UCCCC Data Safety Monitoring Plan; e.g. monitoring visit type, frequency, and required critical monitoring activities by utilizing monitoring tracking forms and other monitoring-related tools and templates. • Supports protocol start-up activities. • ​Independently coordinates upcoming and ongoing monitoring assignments while meeting expected timelines for completion of monitoring activities and submission of written monitoring reports. • ​Assists in the development and writing of clinical trial monitoring plans. • ​Provides recommendations and guidance to study specific monitoring teams and assists in audit readiness and preparation. • Accountable for all tasks in moderately complex clinical studies. • Assists with various professional, organizational, and operational tasks under moderate supervision. • Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Bachelor's degree. Experience: • 3 years of progressively responsible clinical trials experience strongly preferred. ​ • ​1 year of monitoring experience, strongly preferred. • ​5 years of University or Academic medicine administrative experience strongly preferred.​ Preferred Competencies • Ability to interact and communicate with clarity, tact, and courtesy with patrons, patients, staff, faculty, students, and others. • Strong organizational skills. • Excellent interpersonal skills. • Strong data management skills and attention to detail. • Knowledge of the Microsoft Suite, including Outlook. • Ability to understand complex documents (e.g., clinical trials). • Ability to handle competing demands with diplomacy and enthusiasm. • Ability to absorb large amounts of information quickly. • Adaptability to changing working situations and work assignments. Working Conditions • Office Environment. • Hybrid work arrangements may be considered. Application Documents • Resume (required) • Cover letter (preferred) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Research Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Apply at University of Chicago