Clinical Research Assistant- Clinical Operations

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: Senior Associate - Clinical Research Assistant
As a Clinical Research Associate, you will be part of the Clinical Development Sciences team to operationally manage the logistics of ongoing clinical trials at our Fort Dodge site. In this role, you’ll be responsible for advancing animal in-life study events—including clinical sampling, health observations, and animal socialization—ensuring high-quality results that support Elanco's R&D pipeline.
Your Responsibilities:
Perform and concurrently document animal procedures (e.g., test article administration, clinical sample collection, health observations) in strict alignment with protocols, SOPs, and government regulations (USDA, GLP, AAALAC).
Lead multiple assignments and tasks related to R&D animal product development, coordinating the scheduling and resource management for clinical studies.
Review complex experimental protocols and raw data for accuracy, actively troubleshooting problems and taking corrective actions to ensure high-quality results.
Establish strong relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders (Study Directors, Laboratory Staff, Animal Care Staff) to ensure animal clinical studies are effectively supported.
Provide applied knowledge of respective animal species' behaviors and needs, and recommend improvements to standard operating procedures and study protocols.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., Animal Science, Biology) OR an Associate's Degree / Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification with an equivalent level of experience
Required Experience: A minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience working with animals in a veterinary clinic, research, or similar technical environment
Top 2 skills: Clinical proficiency in common veterinary procedures (e.g., sample collection, vaccinations, detailed observations) and the ability to obtain AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certification within one year of employment
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
Experience working under GXP, USDA, GLP, or other regulated environments
Sound problem-solving skills with the ability to independently collect data, establish facts, and resolve complex issues
Advanced interpersonal and conflict management skills to effectively educate others and collaborate across teams
Experience leading small-to-medium projects or study events
Additional Information:
Travel: None
Location: Fort Dodge, IA - On-Site Work Environment
Schedule: This role requires participation in a rotating on-call schedule for evenings and weekends (approximately every 4-6 weeks) to meet study needs.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
Multiple relocation packages
Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
8-week parental leave
9 Employee Resource Groups
Annual bonus offering
Flexible work arrangements
Up to 6% 401K matching
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Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.