Clinical Trials Director / Senior Pharmacy Manager
What if your pharmacy leadership helped new medicines take their first step in human clinical trials?
Fortrea, is one of the world’s leading early phase research organizations, delivering first‑in‑human and early development studies across a global network.
Our Madison, WI Clinical Research Unit brings together clinic and cGMP pharmacy under one roof—offering a modern, integrated environment supported by experienced teams, strong academic partnerships, and access to diverse patient populations.
If Madison is where new medicines begin their journey, this role exists to lead the pharmacy function that makes that possible.
As our next Clinical Trials Director / Senior Pharmacy Manager, you will combine strategic leadership with hands‑on operational expertise, leading teams that prepare and deliver investigational medicinal products (IMP) during live clinical trials.
This is a full-time, on-site role in Madison, WI.
WHY IS THIS ROLE DIFFERENT?
This is a rare opportunity to lead pharmacy operations at the front line of first‑in‑human research.
At Fortrea Madison:
Pharmacy, clinic, and quality operate side-by-side in real time.
You lead teams preparing IMPs just steps away from dosing.
Your decisions directly impact patient safety and study outcomes.
This is pharmacy leadership with immediate, visible impact.
IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL
Lead and develop a high-performing team
Manage Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians with clear expectations and standards.
Recruit, onboard, and develop talent as the function grows.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence.
Own pharmacy operations for Phase I studies
Plan and oversee daily operations supporting active trials.
Ensure readiness for early morning dosing and fast-paced execution.
Maintain control and consistency in a dynamic environment.
Provide hands-on production leadership
Apply and expand expertise in clean room pharmacy operations.
Step into operations as needed to support continuity.
Lead from the front during complex or time-critical activities.
Ensure GMP and regulatory compliance
Own compliance in GMP-aligned, regulated environments.
Oversee clean room standards, equipment, and environmental controls.
Support inspections and audits in collaboration with Quality teams.
Enable safe first‑in‑human delivery
Ensure accurate preparation of investigational products.
Support teams operating at the highest level of clinical risk.
Make decisions that directly impact participant safety.
WHAT YOU BRING
Education & Licensing
Registered Pharmacist (PharmD) with active state license.
We will also consider a Pharmacist with strong management/leadership experience, even if coming from non‑clinical research settings, provided there is transferable operational expertise.
Leadership & Industry Experience
Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing teams.
Background in regulated pharmacy, healthcare, or production environments.
Ability to scale operations and lead through growth.
Operations & Clean Room Expertise
Experience in clean room or controlled production environments (hospital, infusion, institutional, or research).
Strong understanding of sterile handling, contamination control, and operational discipline.
Ability to operate in highly regulated, quality-driven environments.
Preferred
Experience with USP <797> and USP <800> standards.
Clean room / sterile compounding background.
GMP and/or clinical research (Phase I) experience.
WHY JOIN FORTREA?
If you want to apply your leadership at the point where new medicines first reach humans, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact—every single day.
Work Environment:
Work is performed in a laboratory and/or a clinical environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
Occasional drives to site locations, occasional domestic travel.
Exposure to biological fluids.
Personal protective equipment required such as protective eyewear, garments and gloves.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to work in an upright and /or stationary position for 6-8 hours per day.
Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists to operate lab equipment.
Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.
Light to moderate lifting and carrying (or otherwise moves) objects including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs.
Regular and consistent attendance.
Varied hours may be required.
Learn more about our EEO & Accommodations request here.
Skills Required
- Registered Pharmacist/PharmD with appropriate state licensure
- 10+ years of pharmacy experience
- 5+ years in clinical research
- 2-3 years in leadership roles
- Experience overseeing pharmacy operations
What We Do
Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development and patient access solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients in need. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology, differentiated technology-enabled trial solutions and post-approval services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, exceptional insights and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in more than 90 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to customers globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is becoming a transformative force from pipeline to patient at Fortrea.com.
