Contract Manager

Parexel International; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Vision & Dental Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Time Off

FSAs / Health Savings Accounts

Work/Life Balance

401(k) with Company match

Pet Insurance

Job summary

Parexel International is seeking a Contract Manager with CRO experience to join our team in a remote capacity. You will drive strategic business development, manage proposals, and handle contract negotiations with clients and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities include developing proposals, negotiating contracts, budgeting, and maintaining client relationships to meet deadlines and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in life sciences, business, languages
• 4–6 years in project support, finance, contracting, or proposals in CRO or regulated env.
• Knowledge of clinical trial processes, contract mgmt and pricing structures
• Cash flow and revenue recognition knowledge
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work from home and in irregular hours to meet deadlines

Responsibilities

• Manage the complete RFP process including analysis and SME coordination
• Develop strategic proposals and budgets in response to RFPs
• Lead contract development and negotiation with internal departments
• Establish account-specific contract standards including payment terms
• Identify and mitigate RFP and contract barriers
• Manage multiple complex tasks with deadlines and quality deliverables
• Lead client meetings to negotiate costs and terms
• Maintain accurate documentation and data in systems for metrics

Skills

Proposal management

Contract management

Pricing structures

Communication

Negotiation

Independent working

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Life Science, Business, Languages

MBA or advanced business degree

Tools

Salesforce

MS Word

MS Excel

Outlook

Job description

Home Based, US

Parexel is a leading global clinical development partner delivering insights-driven clinical and consulting solutions to the life sciences industry. With 22,000+ employees worldwide, we partner with biopharmaceutical companies and research sites to design and deliver patient-focused clinical trials that broaden access and make research a care option for anyone, anywhere.

We work with focus, agility, and shared purpose -- moving with urgency to address patient needs and accelerate the delivery of new therapies. We embrace bold thinking, adapt quickly to change, and continually raise the bar for the speed and quality of clinical research. We are expanding our team and seeking talented individuals to help drive industry-leading innovation, With Heart(R).

About the Role

We are seeking a Contract Manager with CRO (Clinical Research Organization) experience to join our team in a remote capacity. As a Contract Manager, you will drive strategic business development activities that advance new treatments for patients.

This position plays a key role in managing proposal development, contract negotiations, budget preparation, and client relationship management. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams including Operations, Project Management, Legal, Business Development, and Finance to deliver client-ready proposals and contracts that meet strict deadlines and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include developing comprehensive proposals in response to client requests, managing contract processes from negotiation through finalization, and ensuring alignment with internal standards and client specifications.

You'll join a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment focused on making a meaningful impact through proposal excellence, strategic contract management, and building strong client partnerships. With diverse teams and continuous learning opportunities, the Proposal and Contract Manager can explore career paths and expand skills across business development, finance, and clinical research operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the complete Request for Proposals (RFP) process, including receipt, analysis, SME coordination, and delivery of comprehensive proposals that align with client specifications and internal standards
• Develop and prepare strategic proposals and budgets in response to RFPs, incorporating SME feedback and ensuring adherence to company policies and pricing structures
• Lead contract development and negotiation processes, coordinating across internal departments to prepare, review, and finalize contracts that meet client needs and company standards
• Establish and maintain account-specific contract standards, including budget presentation formats, payment terms, and contract language, negotiating these with clients as appropriate
• Identify and solution potential RFP and contract barriers, implementing effective mitigation strategies to ensure timely completion and client satisfaction
• Manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously, prioritizing workload effectively and meeting strict deadlines while maintaining high-quality deliverables
• Lead and facilitate client meetings to negotiate costs, terms, and contract details, demonstrating confidence and negotiation skills with minimal support
• Maintain accurate documentation and data management, ensuring all proposals, contracts, and supporting files are saved in appropriate systems and updated regularly for metrics and KPI tracking

Candidate Profile

You’ll thrive in this role if you bring:

• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under pressure
• Expertise in proposal and contract management, including pricing structures, contractual terms, and relevant data systems such as Salesforce
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact confidently across all organizational levels
• A patient-focused mindset, strong attention to detail, and commitment to delivering high-quality work on time
• Comfort working with business software including Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, and database systems
• Understanding of clinical research operations and the ability to work independently in a matrix environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Life Science, Business, Languages, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 4-6 years of previous experience in project support, finance, contracting, or proposals in a CRO or similar regulated environment
• Knowledge of clinical trial processes, contract management principles, and pricing structures
• Comprehensive knowledge of cash flow and revenue recognition
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work from home and irregular or extended hours as needed to meet client proposal deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced business degree
• Previous experience in proposal development within a clinical research or CRO environment
• Experience working in multinational and multicultural organizations
• Supervisory or mentoring experience

Benefits and Compensation

• Health, Vision & Dental Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Work/Life Balance
• 401(k) with Company match
• Pet Insurance

For a complete list of benefits, please visit www.parexel.com/us-benefits.

The potential base pay range for this role is 85K - 100K.The actual salary offered may vary within this range based on several factors, including the position and level offered, skills, education, training, experience, professional achievements, and location.

Some roles may also be eligible for additional incentives, bonuses, or other compensation programs. Our Talent Acquisition team will provide details on applicable bonus plans or incentive structures for eligible positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, which includes paid time off, a 401(k) match, life insurance, health insurance, and additional benefit offerings in accordance with the terms of our applicable plans.

We believe in flexibility, growth, and creating space for people to do their best work. Join us and be part of a team where your contributions help shape the future of clinical research.

#LI-REMOTE EEO Disclaimer Parexel is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, which in the US includes race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.