Analyst, Contracting & Budgeting

PhaseWell Research; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

PhaseWell Research is seeking an Analyst, Contracting and Budgeting to support sponsor-facing contracting and budgeting for the Site Network. You will drive timely CTAs and study budgets with sponsors and CROs, balancing value and activation speed.

Candidates should have a solid finance foundation, strong analytics, and experience with site-level contracting and budget processes. An AI- and automation-first mindset is highly valued as the team scales across sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business is required.
• Finance or accounting background with financial modelling experience.
• 3+ years in finance, contracts, or budgeting within pharma/CRO/clinical research.
• Experience negotiating CTAs and study budgets with sponsors/CROs.
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial regs (GCP/ICH).
• Proficient in contract redlining, risk identification, and legal language interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Support sponsor and CRO contract and budget negotiations across the Site Network.
• Prepare, review, and analyze study budgets and per-patient costs.
• Conduct fair market value assessments and benchmark comparisons.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend mitigations.
• Ensure budgets reflect protocol activities and site cost structures.

Skills

Financial modelling

Budget analysis

Contract negotiation

GCP/ICH knowledge

Data analytics

AI tools

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business

Tools

CTMS

CLM systems

Budgeting tools

Job description

Description

PhaseWell Research is a PE-backed, multi-site clinical research network operating across oncology, cardiometabolic, CNS (including neurodegeneration and psychiatry), dermatology, and pulmonary indications.

We are seeking a highly organized and driven Analyst, Contracting and Budgeting to support sponsor-facing contracting and budgeting activities across our Site Network. This individual contributor role supports the timely and accurate execution of clinical trial agreements (CTAs) and study budgets in partnership with sponsors and CROs.

The ideal candidate brings a solid finance foundation, exceptional analytical skills, and working knowledge of site-level contract and budget processes, paired with the agility to operate in a fast-paced, evolving clinical research environment. This person approaches the work with an AI- and automation-first mindset, instinctively looking for ways to use technology to accelerate analysis, reduce manual effort, and sharpen negotiation positions. This person will grow into a trusted resource for internal stakeholders, helping our network operate with consistency, compliance, and commercial competitiveness.

Sponsor & CRO Negotiation

• Support sponsor and CRO contract and budget negotiations across the Site Network
• Assist with the negotiation of Clinical Trial Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Master Service Agreements, and associated amendments
• Help build and maintain strong working relationships with sponsor and CRO counterparts to facilitate efficient deal-making and protect site interests
• Advocate for fair market value and equitable terms while balancing speed-to-activation goals

Budget Development & Analysis

• Prepare, review, and analyze study budgets, including per-patient costs, pass-through expenses, invoiceable items, and overhead recovery
• Conduct fair market value assessments and benchmark comparisons to support negotiation positions
• Identify financial risks, gaps, and opportunities in proposed budgets and recommend mitigations
• Ensure budgets accurately reflect protocol-required activities and align with site cost structures

Contract Redlining & Legal Review

• Perform first-pass redlining and review of contract language to identify risk, ensure compliance, and align terms with company standards and regulatory requirements
• Escalate and partner with internal team on complex provisions, including indemnification, intellectual property, publication rights, and confidentiality clauses
• Help maintain and improve contract templates, fallback language, and playbooks to drive consistency across the network
• Ensure all executed agreements are properly documented, tracked, and stored

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a contracting and budgeting resource for site staff, study teams, and operational leaders
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Finance, Regulatory, and Site Activation teams to ensure aligned execution and timely study start-up
• Track and report on key contracting and budgeting metrics, including cycle times, financial outcomes, and negotiation trends
• Lead process improvement initiatives with an AI- and automation-first lens, identifying opportunities to apply AI tools, automation, and data analytics to streamline budget development, contract review, and reporting across the network

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field
• Demonstrated finance or accounting background, including financial modelling and budget analysis
• Minimum 3 years of industry experience in finance, contracts, or budgeting within the pharmaceutical, CRO, or clinical research site industry
• Experience negotiating Clinical Trial Agreements and study budgets with sponsors and CROs
• Strong working knowledge of clinical trial regulations, GCP/ICH guidelines, and industry best practices for site-level contracting
• Working proficiency in contract redlining, risk identification, and legal language interpretation
• Advanced skills in budget analysis, fair market value assessment, and financial modelling

Preferred

• Experience working within a multi-site network or integrated site organization
• Familiarity with CTMS, contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems, and budgeting tools
• Background partnering with in-house or external legal counsel on clinical agreements
• Hands-on experience applying AI tools (e.g., generative AI, contract analytics, or automation platforms) to contracting, budgeting, or financial analysis workflows

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to dissect complex budgets and contract terms, identify patterns and outliers in data, and translate analysis into clear, defensible negotiation positions
• AI- and automation-first mindset — actively adopts AI and automation tools to eliminate manual work, accelerate turnaround, and raise the quality of analysis
• Exceptional organizational skills; able to manage multiple negotiations and deliverables at once
• Self-motivated, driven, and accountable, with a track record of meeting aggressive timelines
• Flexible and adaptable, with a strong appetite for learning and the ability to thrive amid change
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex contract and budget concepts for diverse audiences
• High attention to detail paired with sound business judgment and a strategic mindset
• Collaborative team player who can also work independently and see initiatives through to completion