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Documentation Coordinator |
Career OverviewA documentation coordinator works to help with the flow of information on a given project. This is a very important job as without someone designated to keep the information moving between the various stakeholders and researcher professionals in the project is it likely that there will be delays and even costly oversights and mistakes.
The documentation coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the data and information gets to those parties that need it on or before the deadlines to receive the information are reached.
A documentation coordinator needs to have a good knowledge of experimental design and process so that they are able to determine who needs to know information and in what timeframe.
The documentation coordinator also has to have exceptional organizational skills, excellent time management skills and needs to be effective at getting information from people within timeframes. This often calls for an above average level of ability to interact with professionals from different disciplines.
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Career RequirementsSince the documentation coordinator is responsible for reporting information from the various research groups to each other and to the various governing bodies it is important that they have a basic understanding of research procedures, protocols and language. Most of the documentation coordinator positions require a Bachelors or Masters level degree in chemistry, biology, pharmacy, nursing or other health related field.
Some jobs may only require a 2-year degree and a Certificate in Biotechnology. In addition there is a requirement for good computer skills including developing new programs or modifying existing programs to meet the requirements of the given project.
Most documentation coordinators also have training in communication skills, research writing and publications, and are aware and experienced in reporting according to FDA regulations and requirements.
The job also requires someone that this very time orientated and is able to work to deadlines with minimal supervision. Often multi-tasking skills are needed to get material data entered and reported within the given deadlines.
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Job OutlookThe increase in the development of pharmaceuticals and other advancements in medical care has provided a steady increase in the number of documentation coordinators required. The outlook is not as great as some of the other biotechnology fields but is expected to have an ongoing increase in the future.
The more highly trained the documentation coordinator is and the more experience that they have in the clinical setting will enhance their ability to move between jobs and to work even on a contract basis.
Since much of the documentation coordinator work can be done from home there is always the possibility that this position would be excellent for those that would prefer to work from home and submit work and material electronically.
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Career TrackMany documentation coordinators branch out into contract work after they have some in-house experience. It is possible, as indicated above, to do almost all the work from home, which allows the documentation coordinator to work for multiple agencies at the same time.
Many documentation coordinators also further their writing training and begin to work as research publication assistants or even research and grant writers. The opportunity for expanding the information exchange component of the documentation coordinators job into a variety of sectors in the marketplace makes this a great career with may options for development.
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CompensationAn in-house documentation coordinator with 2-4 years experience and an Associates or Bachelors level education can expect to earn between $29,000 and $38,000 per year, depending on the agency and the complexity of the project.
Senior documentation coordinator staff with more than 10 years experience and a Masters level education can make up to $50,000 per year. Those documentation coordinator that work on a per contract basis may make a higher salary per hour but will often not have any benefits that are part of the in-house documentation coordinators salary.
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