Clinical Contracts Associate

Job Title: Associate II, Vendor Outsourcing
Location: Parsippany, NJ; Foster City, CA; Seattle, WA
Hybrid - Onsite T/W/Th
Functional Area: Development Operations, Vendor Outsourcing
Position Type: Continent/Contract Position
Department: Vendor Outsourcing
Full-Time / Part-Time: Full-Time
*** Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987. Together we deliver life-saving therapies to patients in need. With the commitment and drive you bring to the workplace every day, you will be part of a team that is changing the world and helping millions of people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our worldwide staff is a close community where you can see the tangible results of your contributions, where every individual matters, and everyone has a chance to enhance their skills through ongoing development. As part of our rapidly growing science-driven organization, colleagues at *** are revolutionizing healthcare by bringing urgently needed medicines to patients in the areas of Virology, Inflammation and Oncology conditions. We are proud to have some of the most talented colleagues from across the research, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology & business sectors, working together and supporting each other to help make a real difference to the lives of patients.
*** Sciences is currently seeking an industry leading Associate II, Vendor Outsourcing. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to support sourcing and contracting for full service CRO contracts. This role responsibilities include: facilitating vendor selection, RFI, RFP, contracting, and negotiation with a focus on CRO services outsourced in support of *** clinical trials. This person must be familiar with contracting framework and general legal terms. Must be able to review contracts quickly and to negotiate business terms and support negotiation of legal terms. Strong organizational and technical skills are a must to ensure appropriate cataloging of terms and conditions into a database. Assists other Vendor Outsourcing staff in resolving moderately complex issues relating to contract negotiation or management and with the support of internal customers and the Legal department, assists in the contract negotiation process. Has excellent communication skills and is comfortable interacting with internal and external teams, such as, clinical operations, finance, legal, business conduct, vendor management and payments. Completes tasks and projects under minimal supervision and has the ability to managing competing priorities effectively and proficiently.
The core responsibilities and skills required for this position include but are not limited to:
Delivery Excellence
• Has experience in contract management
• Implements global clinical development vendor strategy for a program or therapeutic areas
• Manages contract activities for clinical development programs, providing consistent customer service and delivering quantitative value through cost savings and transformation/innovation
• Supports the contract negotiation process across the entire life cycle including RFI, vendor identification, RFP, vendor selection decision, contracting negotiation, change orders, and ensures proper closeout of agreements to maximize contract value and achieve target savings
• Ensure the vendor selection process is compliant by managing risks
• Partners with other functions such as Compliance, Legal and Regulatory as necessary
• Collaborates with internal customers in vendor bidding and proposal development (RFP creation and analysis)
• Partners with internal customers to develop study specifications and leverages benchmarking tools as appropriate
• Has experience resolving complex issues relating to contract negotiation and management
• Supports the contract negotiation process for complex or high value contracts
• Demonstrates understanding of regulatory and legal issues pertinent to clinical development
• Is project focused and works with a sense of urgency
Strategic Thinking
• Ability to understand, analyze and develop recommendations from multiple complex sources such as financial and operational perspectives
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Innovation
• Identifies, develops, and deploys best practices in cost containment, and category management practices
• Leverages prior experience with external benchmarking, industry best practices, and technology for continuous improvement
• Experienced in using systems and technologies in support of sourcing and contracting activities
Problem Solving
• Takes ownership of issues from problem identification to successful resolution, testing recommendations for reasonableness
• Triages study-level vendor contract issues; escalates high-risk issues to appropriate stakeholders
• Translates trends in operational and systematic issues and develops solutions with sustainability in mind to ensure roadblocks are removed
Influence and Partnership
• Engage with study team leadership to drive sourcing strategy, compliance, and continued partnership
• Exhibits competency in regularly establishing relationships with internal and external cross functional teams, such as clinical operations, legal, finance and compliance
• Partners with internal stakeholders working on contracts in supporting resolution of complex issues relating to contract negotiation or management
Decision Making
• Offers suggestions for business solutions by translating requirements into effective sourcing solutions, contractual terms and process improvements
• Asks probing questions to uncover business needs and recommends solutions (e.g., negotiating timelines while maintaining standards)
• Demonstrated ability to identify and highlight the need for critical decisions related to clinical vendor agreement negotiations and escalations
• Consolidates data across functions according to business requirements and recommends solutions to senior leadership for endorsement
• Supports resolution of vendor project management issues (e.g., operational challenges including scoping issues) by identifying and addressing deviations from established protocols
• Identifies operational and systematic issues, including frequency and escalates to the appropriate level
Communication
• Excellent communication skills and comfort level interacting with internal and external teams across all levels, including regular interface with stakeholders and leadership team members
• As necessary, trains internal stakeholders in contract budgeting, development, and administration
Capabilities and Requirements
• Experience in providing consistent customer service
• Knowledge of the end-to-end sourcing and contracting process, including RFx, contract negotiation and change order management
• Experienced in using systems and technologies in support of sourcing and contracting activities
• Knowledge of the clinical research process and the regulatory environment across functions
• Demonstrated productivity while working in fast paced and changing environment
• Financial acumen to review, analyze and understand cost drivers of complex budgets
• Legal, clinical operations and regulatory acumen
Knowledge, Experience and Skills:
• Relevant experience with a BA or MS in a relevant discipline
• MBA or JD preferred
• PMP/CPSM certification or equivalent a plus
EEO:
“Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of – Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans.”