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Advanced Clinical Project Management Excellence Program

Course Description

This two-day intensive program is designed for experienced clinical research professionals seeking to elevate their expertise in project leadership, strategic thinking, and operational excellence. Built around globally recognized project management standards and tailored specifically for the clinical research environment, this course provides advanced, real-world strategies for managing complex trials, optimizing vendor partnerships, mitigating risk, and motivating high-performing teams. Participants will gain knowledge, tools, and leadership confidence to successfully oversee global studies from start-up to close-out while earning PMI-recognized Professional Development Units (PDUs).

Course Summary

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16 Hours (2 Days)
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9:00 AM. - 4:00 PM. EST
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$1795 by Early Bird Deadline
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$1950 After November 13, 2025

Upcoming Courses

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Apply advanced project management concepts and tools specific to clinical trials.
  • Develop strategic study timelines and proactively manage critical path activities.
  • Lead effective bid defense meetings and assess vendor capabilities.
  • Oversee study initiation, regulatory readiness, and site activation processes.
  • Interpret and manage contracts and budgets throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Monitor site performance using key study metrics to drive accountability.
  • Identify and mitigate quality risks while implementing CAPA and audit strategies.
  • Demonstrate effective communication, negotiation, and leadership techniques tailored to clinical research environments.
  • Successfully execute close-out processes and prepare for regulatory inspections.

Who Should Attend

This program is ideal for clinical research professionals with at least three years of experience who are ready to advance into strategic leadership roles, including

  • Clinical Project Managers and Senior Project Managers
  • Clinical Operations Leads and Study Managers
  • Clinical Research Associates and Site Management Professionals
  • Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, and Clinical Development Leaders
  • Professionals responsible for oversight, governance, or decision-making in clinical trials

Course Outline

Module 1

Introduction to Clinical Project Management

Module 2

Bid Defense, Vendor Selection & Management

Module 3

Project Schedule & Resource Forecasting

Module 4

Study Initiation and Activation

Module 5

Project Management Technical Knowledge

Module 6

Study Contracts and Budget Management

Module 7

Site Monitoring, Management & Metrics

Module 8

Quality and Risk Management

Module 9

Communication and Leadership

Module 10

Study Close-Outs and Audits

Total Duration: 16 Hours (2 Days)

Total PDUs: 16 PMI-Approved (Technical: 9 | Leadership: 5 | Strategic: 2)



January 24 - 25, 2026

9:00 am. - 4:00 pm. EST

Take advantage of our $1795.00 price by registering early!

* After December 24, 2025, costs are $1,995.00

Interactive Activities
  • Study Lifecycle Mapping: Participants build the full clinical trial lifecycle, identifying PM responsibilities at each phase.

  • Bid Defense Simulation: Teams conduct a live vendor selection and bid defense scenario with scoring and negotiation.

  • Schedule Strategy Exercise: Participants construct a detailed project timeline and respond to delay scenarios.

  • Site Activation Case Study: Learners develop an optimized start-up and activation plan for a multi-country study.

  • PM Tools Challenge: Teams use real PM tools (risk log, RACI, dashboard) to resolve simulated study challenges.

  • Budget Negotiation Roleplay:Participants negotiate contract terms and handle change orders under pressure.

  • Enrollment Rescue Drill: Teams review metrics and develop a corrective action plan to rescue underperforming sites.

  • Risk & CAPA Workshop: Participants conduct a root cause analysis and create a CAPA plan using inspection findings.

  • Stakeholder Influence Roleplay: Individuals practice influencing without authority in conflicting stakeholder scenarios.

  • Audit Simulation: Participants engage in a mock audit, submit responses, and prepare a close-out checklist.

Stacy Hoffman, MCR, PMP®
Faculty Director’s Bio:

Stacy Hoffman, MCR, PMP®

Clinical Project Manager | Educator | Study Start-Up Expert | Global Trial Strategist

Stacy Hoffman is a highly accomplished Clinical Project Manager and educator with over 15 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical research industry. Her career spans a wide range of roles within clinical operations, from early-phase research coordination to global oversight of study start-up and site activation processes. Stacy brings a distinctive combination of scientific rigor, operational leadership, and educational passion to every facet of her work.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Services from the University of Southern Indiana and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Clinical and Pre-Clinical Research Management at The Ohio State University—one of the premier programs in the country for research professionals. Stacy is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and her expertise reflects both the discipline of structured project leadership and the flexibility required to navigate the complexities of modern clinical trials.

Throughout her career, Stacy has led global and regional study teams across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, successfully managing trials through all phases of startup, conduct, and closeout. Her role as a Global Study Start-Up Project Manager and Country Study Operations Manager has given her deep experience with regulatory strategy, site readiness, feasibility, and cross-functional alignment in over 30 countries. She has been a core contributor in high-impact collaborations with Pfizer, ICON, Covance, and other leading clinical research organizations.

Stacy is known as a subject matter expert in vendor management, site technology systems (including pTMF, Veeva Vault, Siebel CTMS platforms, etc.), and clinical trial inspection readiness. She was recognized as the PharmaTimes Start-Up of the Year in 2020 and was a featured speaker at MAGI WCG Fall 2024, presenting on strategies to accelerate study start-up and overcome operational hurdles.

In addition to her industry work, Stacy has contributed meaningfully to the education of the next generation of clinical research professionals. From 2022 to 2023, she served as an instructor for Clinical Project Management courses helping students bridge academic learning with real-world application. Her curriculum was aligned with PMI’s core principles and focused on preparing professionals to excel in dynamic, high-accountability environments such as sponsor organizations, CROs, and clinical trial sites. She also helped develop course content and mentored peers on instructional techniques.

Stacy’s values—integrity, collaboration, excellence, and mentorship—guide every interaction she has with teams, students, stakeholders, and investigators. She takes pride in fostering inclusive, proactive environments where teams are empowered to meet milestones, manage risk, and uphold the highest standards of compliance and patient safety.

With a strong foundation in therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiometabolic disorders, neuroscience, infectious disease, and immune-mediated conditions, Stacy continues to be a sought-after leader for complex, global clinical programs. Her commitment to continuous learning, quality, and mentorship reflects her belief that excellence in clinical research begins with empowered people.

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Global Pharma companies and CROs employing our graduates

Global Pharma companies and CROs
employing our graduates