Clinical Contracts Associate - II

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
FullTime / PartTime: FullTime

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


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 studylevel vendor contract issues; escalates highrisk 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 endtoend 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