Summary of the Position
The Contracts & Procurement Manager supports the global contracting, procurement, and site agreement functions for the Company. This role is responsible for drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing agreements with sponsors, vendors, consultants, and clinical research sites, while ensuring compliance with company policies, applicable regulatory requirements, and sponsor expectations.
The position serves as a key business partner to project teams, finance, and operational stakeholders by ensuring that contractual agreements, procurement activities, and vendor relationships are executed efficiently and in alignment with clinical trial timelines and organizational objectives.
This role requires strong legal and commercial contracting expertise, excellent negotiation skills, and meticulous attention to detail. The successful candidate will support both commercial and government-funded projects and ensure compliance with applicable contractual and regulatory frameworks.
Essential Functions
Sponsor & Vendor Contracting
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Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a portfolio of sponsor, vendor, consultant, and service provider agreements.
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Manage confidentiality agreements, master service agreements, statements of work, consulting agreements, task orders, purchase orders, and amendments.
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Review contractual terms to identify risks and provide recommendations for mitigation.
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Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure contract terms align with project scope, budgets, and operational requirements.
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Ensure contracts are properly executed and documented within company systems and processes.
Site Contracting & Budget Negotiation
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Draft, review, negotiate, and manage clinical trial agreements with investigative sites, including Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs), site CDAs, start-up agreements, letters of indemnification, and amendments.
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Support the preparation and negotiation of site budgets aligned with study protocols and sponsor requirements.
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Work with project teams to ensure timely completion of site contracts and alignment with study start-up timelines.
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Maintain regular communication with sponsors, sites, and internal stakeholders regarding contract status and timelines.
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Identify contractual risks or negotiation challenges and escalate issues appropriately.
Procurement & Vendor Management
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Support procurement processes related to vendors, consultants, and service providers supporting clinical research activities.
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Manage vendor selection, contract execution, and purchase order processes in alignment with company procurement procedures.
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Ensure vendors and sites are properly registered within the company's financial and contracting systems.
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Maintain accurate records of procurement activities and vendor documentation.
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Assist in vendor relationship management and contract lifecycle oversight.
Government-Funded Project Compliance
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Support contractual and procurement requirements for projects funded by government agencies or international donors.
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Ensure compliance with donor-specific regulations, policies, and reporting requirements where applicable.
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Assist project teams with contractual compliance for government-funded research programs.
Operational Support
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Maintain contract documentation and tracking systems to ensure transparency and audit readiness.
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Participate in internal meetings with project teams and external stakeholders to discuss contractual matters.
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Provide guidance to internal teams on contractual obligations, policies, and best practices.
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Support development and improvement of departmental processes, templates, and standard operating procedures.
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Perform quality checks to ensure contractual documentation is complete and compliant with company standards.
Additional Responsibilities
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Provide mentoring and guidance to junior team members as needed.
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Support departmental initiatives aimed at improving contracting efficiency and operational processes.
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Any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Strong knowledge of clinical research contracting, including site contracts and vendor agreements.
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Excellent contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills.
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Strong understanding of commercial contracting principles and procurement processes.
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Ability to identify contractual risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
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High level of attention to detail and ability to manage complex documentation.
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Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
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Ability to communicate complex legal and contractual concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
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Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
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Experience working with contract lifecycle management systems and financial systems.
Position Requirements
Education: A Law degree (LLB, or equivalent) is preferred. Alternatively, a degree in business administration, finance, procurement, or a related discipline with significant contracting experience is required.
Preferred Job-related Experience: 3 - 5 years of experience in contract management, procurement, or legal operations within a CRO, pharmaceutical company, or clinical research organization. Prior experience supporting government-funded research projects or donor-funded programs (e.g., USAID, NIH, or similar) strongly preferred. Experience managing vendor procurement processes and contract lifecycle management.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with enterprise systems such as Costpoint, Salesforce, SharePoint, or contract management platforms preferred. Knowledge of ICH GCP and clinical trial processes is desirable.
Preferences:
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Legal background or formal contract law training.
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Prior experience working in a global CRO environment.
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Experience supporting international clinical trials and multi-country site contracting.
Special Position Requirements
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Ability to manage multiple complex agreements simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy and compliance.
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Availability to work across global time zones as required.
Travel Requirements
Expected travel time is less than 10%.
