Global Medical Affairs Research Grant & Study Manager

Santen is a specialized company with a proud 130-year heritage focused exclusively on eye health. As a Japan-originated, global company with our footprint in over 60 countries and regions, our mission is to provide essential and significant value to patients and society through our products and services created from our expertise in ophthalmology and from the patient’s perspective.

The GMA Research Grant & Study Manager is responsible for the operational management, coordination, and oversight of Medical Affairs-sponsored evidence generation activities across regions. This is a highly collaborative role that supports the generation of high-quality scientific evidence to advance patient care and inform medical strategy. Responsibilities include Investigator-Sponsored Studies (ISS), research grants, Phase IV company-sponsored studies, observational research, registries, real-world evidence initiatives, and other post-authorization research programs.

The role also serves as the primary coordinator and administrator for the ISS and research grants process, ensuring efficient governance, review, contracting, tracking, reporting, and compliance. In this position, you will work closely with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure studies are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations, company policies, quality standards, and evidence generation objectives. The role may also support expanded access/compassionate use programs and reimbursement studies. In addition, it collaborates with Clinical Development colleagues to support Phase III clinical development programs and facilitate alignment between development and post-approval evidence generation activities, contributing to a seamless evidence generation strategy across the product lifecycle.

What you will do

• Serve as the operational lead for the Investigator-Sponsored Studies (ISS) and research grants process, ensuring efficient administration and governance.

• Coordinate the end-to-end lifecycle of ISS and research grant activities, from submission through study close-out.

• Manage study contracts, milestones, budgets, payments, reporting requirements, and maintain accurate study documentation and tracking systems.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and external stakeholders to support evidence generation activities.

• Coordinate the planning, execution, oversight, and close-out of Medical Affairs-sponsored evidence generation programs, including Phase IV studies, observational research, registries, and real-world evidence initiatives.

• Monitor study timelines, deliverables, operational performance, and ensure studies are conducted in compliance with GCP, regulations, ethical standards, and company procedures.

• Support Phase III clinical development programs and drive alignment between development activities and post-approval evidence generation strategies.

• Support expanded access, compassionate use, and other special research programs, ensuring appropriate coordination, documentation, and tracking.

• Oversee external vendors and CROs, monitoring performance, quality, timelines, and budget adherence while proactively identifying and mitigating operational risks.

• Contribute to process improvements, SOP development, inspection readiness, and initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and transparency across evidence generation programs.

What you will bring to the role

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, or a related scientific discipline (advanced degree preferred).

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, Clinical Operations, Clinical Development, or Evidence Generation.

• Experience managing clinical studies, including investigator-sponsored studies (ISS), Phase III/IV, observational, or post-marketing research.

• Experience coordinating research grants and investigator-sponsored studies is highly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of GCP, ICH guidelines, clinical research regulations, and compliance requirements.

• Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders.

• Experience working with CROs, investigators, academic institutions, and external research partners in a global environment.

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a high level of attention to detail.

• Proficiency with clinical trial management systems, grants management systems, electronic document management systems, and Microsoft Office.

Ready to make a difference?  

Apply today and help us shape the future of eye health. 

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary: A market‑aligned base salary starting from 78.863 GBP – 108.436 GBP, depending on experience and location.

Grow your career at Santen
A career at Santen is an opportunity to make a difference. We aspire to contribute to the realization of “Happiness with Vision” by providing eye health products and services to patients, consumers, and medical professionals around the world. Guided by our CORE PRINCIPLE, “Tenki ni sanyo suru”, Santen is engaged in the global research & development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products in ophthalmology. We have team members around the world using their diverse talents to unlock new modalities and drive innovations for patient outcomes, education and treatment. At Santen, we believe in empowering all our team members with flexible ways of working and a highly inclusive work environment.

The Santen Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building diverse teams and ensuring a safe and inclusive physical and virtual workplace for every one of our team members. All employment decisions are based on business needs, role requirements and individual qualifications regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/ expression, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require any kind of accommodation during our recruitment process, please let the recruiter from our team know.