Associate Director, Contract Operations

Larson Maddox; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Larson Maddox is representing a publicly-traded biotech client seeking an Associate Director, Contract Management in San Francisco. The role will lead a Contract Management team and drive process, system, and operations improvements across contracting functions.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in contract management or legal operations within life sciences or regulated industries, with strong leadership and drafting/negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; JD preferred but not required.
• 10+ years in contract management, legal operations, or related life sciences/regulated industry.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing contract management professionals.
• Proven track record drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing vendor, consulting, technology, research, confidentiality, and services agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Contract Management team with focus on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Set and monitor performance via KPIs and address workload or performance challenges.
• Drive adoption and effectiveness of CLM systems and workflows.
• Ensure contracting practices comply with healthcare, life sciences, privacy, anti-corruption, transparency, and compliance requirements.

Skills

Contract management

Leadership

Team management

Regulatory compliance

Vendor contracts

Negotiation

Contract lifecycle management (CLM)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (JD) preferred

Tools

CLM systems

Job description

Our Client is a growing, publicly-traded Biotech that is preparing to commercialize with two blockbuster therapies. Given this exciting inflection point, the Legal team is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Contract Management to help lead the operational effectiveness of its Contract Management function and support the continued growth of the Company.

This is a strategic, operations role that will manage a team of Contract Managers while driving improvements across contracting processes, systems, and operations.

The role offers the opportunity to influence contract operations across the company while helping to develop and mentor a growing team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing Contract Management team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement
• Establish clear performance expectations, monitor team effectiveness through key performance indicators, and proactively address resource, workload, or performance challenges.
• Drive adoption and effective utilization of contract lifecycle management systems and contracting workflows.
• Ensure contracting practices align with applicable healthcare, life sciences, privacy, anti-corruption, transparency, and compliance requirements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (specifically a JD) is preferred but not required.
• 10+ years of contract management, legal operations, or related experience in life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing contract management professionals.
• Significant experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing a broad range of commercial agreements, including vendor, consulting, technology, research, clinical, confidentiality, and services agreements.