Contract Specialist II

Massachusetts General Hospital; Somerville (MA); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Contracts Specialist II to join their dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will manage a high volume of research agreements, ensuring compliance and fostering collaboration among investigators and sponsors. Your expertise in contracting and research administration will be crucial in navigating complex negotiations and maintaining the integrity of the contract lifecycle. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking medical research while working in a supportive and fast-paced environment. If you excel in problem-solving and communication, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in contracting or research administration.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume team environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage agreements including subawards and confidentiality agreements.
• Draft and negotiate terms for various research contracts.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Research administration

Microsoft Office Suite

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Site: Mass General Brigham Incorporated

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

The Contracts Specialist II is an active member of the Mass General Brigham Research Management Contracting Office, and a point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and Department Administrators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Spaulding Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear, and other institutions within the Mass General Brigham system. The Contracts Specialist II is committed to identifying and adhering to best practices in grants and contracts administration, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and fiduciary responsibility. The Contracts Specialist II will proactively address the demands of research grant administration by providing exceptional customer service to Mass General Brigham's distinguished research community and collaborators in their pioneering efforts in science and medicine.

The Contracts Specialist II works directly with a team of Agreement Associates and other Contracts Specialists, by supporting various contracting/subcontracting functions.

Job Summary

• Manage a large volume of agreements consisting of primarily outgoing subawards and confidentiality agreements along with incoming foundation awards, industry awards, , clinical trial agreements, clinical research support agreements, amendments and data use agreements

• Draft outgoing subawards and clinical site agreements flowing down terms and conditions from a sponsor

• Perform review and negotiation of terms and conditions for templated incoming subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, industry agreements, clinical trial agreements, clinical research support agreements, amendments and foundation awards, working with Agreement Associates and Team Managers for execution

• Process standard agreements that do not require institutional signature

• With guidance from the Agreement Associates, draft outgoing subawards and clinical site agreements flowing down terms and conditions from a sponsor

• Initiate and follow through on financial and conflict of interest policy vetting of international collaborators

• Field inquiries and communicate institutional policy, procedure and documentation requirements as they apply to the contracts they're processing

• Interface with sponsors, principal investigators, and their support staff

• Maintain regular outreach to sponsors and collaborators to follow up on contract status to ensure timely review and execution of agreements

• Establish and maintain electronic records pertaining to contract actions and statuses in compliance with institutional and sponsor policies

• Assist in the creation of and maintenance of an electronic library of contracts through Insight, inputting statuses and supporting documentation where appropriate

• Maintain active communication with investigators, department administrators, sponsors and agency officials with regard to research contracts throughout the contract lifecycle

• Support and assist with the processing of large-scale projects with multiple outgoing agreements and multi-center clinical site agreements

• Identify any problematic language that may require negotiation and/or input from other MGB offices such as Innovation, Office of General Counsel, and other MGB entities as needed

• Assist in the resolution of problems related to agreements they're processing, such as budgeting, compliance reporting, and internal escalations as needed

• Prepare final documents for execution upon review and approval by the appropriate Agreement Associate and circulate those documents for signature

• Upload final documents into Insight and distribute fully executed agreements to all relevant parties

• Responsible for timely contract execution, and appropriate escalation of stalled contract negotiation

• Work with other team members to review and update processes and guidance documents

• Run reports to measure and manage workflow effectively and efficiently

• Assist with the training of team members such as the Contract Specialist(s) and Grant Administrator(s), as applicable

• Expected to participate in special projects as necessary

• Assume additional responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree preferred

Experience

• At least 3-5 years of experience in contracting, research administration, legal assisting/paralegal, or clinical research coordinator role. Law school or law school internships may be substituted for some experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess ability to thrive in a busy, high-volume, fast-paced and deadline driven team environment. This position requires coordination of multiple activities and the judgment and flexibility to reprioritize to accommodate emergency requests
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated ability to pay attention to detail and perform tasks with accuracy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organization and communication skills with a focus in customer service

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Working Conditions

• This position can be performed remotely in most U.S. states.

Remote Type

Remote

Work Location

399 Revolution Drive

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

EEO Statement:

Mass General Brigham Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran's Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership "looks like" by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.