What PIs want when hiring a clinical research coordinator

Area of Science:

• Clinical Research Operations
• Human Resources in Healthcare
• Translational Research Management

Background:

• Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) are vital to translational research.
• Limited research exists on the Principal Investigator (PI) and Human Resources (HR) roles in CRC hiring and onboarding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate PI and hiring manager priorities in CRC recruitment.
• To understand decision-making processes and satisfaction levels in CRC hiring.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to PIs and hiring managers.
• The survey included a Task/Competency Checklist to rank desired CRC qualifications.
• Factors like skills, experience, education, and budget were assessed.

Main Results:

• Applicant skill set was the primary hiring factor, followed by experience.
• Education and budget were less significant.
• Satisfaction with new hires was generally over 50%, with some challenges noted.

Conclusions:

• Effective CRC hiring requires PI-HR collaboration on job descriptions and onboarding.
• Professional development opportunities are crucial for PI and employee satisfaction.
• Improving these processes can enhance CRC retention.