Proposal & Contracts Associate

Innovative Trials; Watford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

24 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Discretionary bonus

People's Pension

Job summary

Innovative Trials Limited is seeking a proactive Proposals and Contracts Associate to support high-quality commercial bids and contracts across our clinical trial patient recruitment portfolio. You will work with the Proposals and Contracts team to deliver proposals, build budgets, and manage essential contractual documents from inception through award and beyond.

You will lead smaller proposals end-to-end, coordinate with BD and Service Delivery, and ensure accuracy in MSAs, SOWs, POs, and

Qualifications

• Experience creating high-quality RFPs and detailed commercial budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong attention to detail.
• Experience interfacing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.
• Experience in clinical research or clinical outsourcing environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Write, compile, and format high-impact bid responses and proposal presentations.
• Develop robust cost proposals aligned with pricing parameters.
• Draft and oversee MSAs, SOWs, POs, and COs to protect scope and commercial integrity.
• Coordinate business development handovers and ensure clarity of SOWs before Kick-Off Meetings.
• Analyse KPI data and contribute to proposal, contracting, and forecasting processes.

Skills

Proposal writing

Budgeting & pricing

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Google Workspace

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Description

At Innovative Trials, we believe our greatest asset is our people. We are currently going through an exciting period of growth and are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented Proposals and Contracts Associate to assist with delivering high-quality commercial bids and commercial agreements across our clinical trial patient recruitment portfolio. We operate with strong values at our core, ensuring that as we grow, we remain a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing environment where everyone’s contribution is valued. In this role, you will work closely with our Proposals and Contracts team to deliver high-quality proposals for new and existing business opportunities, build accurate budgets, and manage key contractual documentation from inception through study award and beyond.

What You Will Achieve

• Compelling Bid & Proposal Creation: Contribute to writing, compiling, and formatting high-impact bid responses and proposal presentations, ensuring exceptional quality in written documentation, formatting, and graphics.
• Commercial Budgeting & Pricing: Develop robust cost proposals aligned with our business strategy and defined pricing parameters, leading on smaller proposals end-to-end and briefing third-party vendors for accurate pass‑through estimates.
• Contract Development & Execution: Draft and oversee essential contractual agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), Purchase Orders (POs), and Change Orders (COs) to protect project scope and commercial integrity.
• Seamless Operational Handovers: Bridge the commercial and delivery phases by coordinating Business Development handovers, facilitating review meetings, and ensuring Service Delivery teams have complete clarity on SOWs ahead of Kick-Off Meetings (KOM).
• Process & Analytics Optimisation: Analyse KPI data and study metrics within final study reports, maintain active tracker databases (SOW/PO details), and actively contribute to evolving our proposal, contracting, and forecasting best practices.

Who We Are Looking For

• Proposal & Budgeting Background: Proven experience creating high-quality, industry-competitive RFPs and detailed commercial budgets, with the demonstrated ability to lead smaller proposals from receipt to completion.
• Exceptional Communicator & Organiser: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, paired with sharp attention to detail and strong multitasking and time‑management capabilities when balancing competing deadlines.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Partner: A self‑motivated team player comfortable interfacing with diverse internal and external stakeholders, from BD and Service Delivery to external vendors.
• Technical Proficiency: Highly proficient across Microsoft Office (advanced Excel and PowerPoint) and Google Workspace equivalents.
• Industry Familiarity (Desirable): Prior experience within clinical research, clinical trials, or clinical outsourcing environments is highly advantageous.

How We Support You

We know that to take care of our business, we must first take care of you. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your life inside and outside of work:

• Your Time & Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements, 24 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, and regular company events to celebrate our collective success.
• Financial & Future Security: A competitive salary, discretionary bonus, People's Pension, a recruitment referral programme, and long service rewards.
• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare, life assurance, flu jabs, and a dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support your overall wellbeing.
• Lifestyle & Commute: An EV Car Scheme, a Cycle to Work scheme, and free on-site parking.