Contracts Manager

Clinilabs; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Clinilabs seeks a Contracts Manager to oversee and optimize post-award contract development, administration, and negotiation. You will ensure draft, review, and execution of agreements align with policies, laws, and standards while collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

You will guide senior leadership on contractual rights and risks, manage CLM-driven renewals and amendments, and maintain accurate documentation, budgets, and compliance across the contract lifecycle in a

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in finance, legal, business, or related field.
• Minimum of three years’ contract and budget development experience in CRO/CRU.
• Experience with CLM systems such as Ironclad (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead drafting, review, negotiation of commercial agreements including CDAs and work orders.
• Develop and revise budgets to support work orders and change orders.
• Advise leaders on contract rights, obligations, and risks.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and SOPs throughout contract lifecycle.
• Manage contract renewals, amendments, and terminations via CLM platform.
• Assist in resolving disputes through negotiation with stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate repository and records of executed agreements.
• Provide guidance on contract management processes and risk mitigation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Associate's or Bachelor’s Degree in Finance/Business/Life Science

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Contracts Manager oversees and manages all aspects of post award contract development, administration, and negotiation within the organization. This position is responsible for ensuring that contracts and supporting budgets/documents are drafted, reviewed, and executed in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and industry standards. The Contracts Manager collaborates closely with internal teams and external partners to mitigate risks and optimize contract outcomes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of commercial agreements to include Sponsor and Vendor CDAs, Work Orders, Change Orders, and other non-complex business agreements.
• Development of and revisions to budgets to support work orders and change orders.
• Advise senior leadership and project teams on contractual rights, obligations, and risks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and/or regulatory compliance, and company SOPs/organizational policies throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Through the CLM platform, report and manage contract renewals, amendments, and terminations, ensuring timely and accurate documentation
• Assist with the resolution of contractual disputes and issues through effective negotiation and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Maintain the CLM platform to ensure the executed agreement repository is maintained and accurate record-keeping and reporting.
• Provide guidance to key stakeholders and staff on contract management processes and risk mitigation strategies.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

TRAVELING

Minimal travel required (less than 10%) to and from the home office to corporate headquarters in New Jersey annually.

Salary range between $125,000 - $135,000. Final compensation is based on skills, experience, location, and overall expertise.

Requirements

• The position requires an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in finance, legal, business, or other related field;
• Minimum of three years’ experience in contract and budget development and administration roles within a contract research organization (CRO) or clinical research unit (CRU).
• Experience in the development of budgets to support post-award changes and change orders. .
• Experience with developing and managing, in collaboration with legal, finance, and executive teams, contracts to include vendor and sponsor work orders, change orders, CDAs, TOROs, and other business agreements.
• Working knowledge of contract law, commercial terms, and risk management principles.
• Experience working within and maintaining a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system, such as Ironclad, preferred.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, external clients, and vendors.
• Key Skills include:
• Strong contract and budget negotiation skills, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with an overall ability to work with numbers.
• High attention to detail and strong analytical abilities; service-oriented.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills; able to lead and get results without authority
• Self-starter requires minimal direction from management.
• Exceptional project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment and able to work under pressure.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain highly effective internal and external relationships through personal influence.