Research Budget Specialist - Cardiology

Iterative Health; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Unlimited PTO

401(k) match

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Iterative Health, based in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Clinical Research Budgets Specialist to own budgets and payment terms across U.S. and international sites. The role sits at the intersection of site operations, finance, and sponsor relationships.

You will interpret protocols, ensure all costs are captured, and manage amendments while aligning CTAs with budgets. Hybrid work, with in-office days in Cambridge or NYC, supports a fast-paced startup mindset.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of site-side clinical research budgeting or trial finance experience.
• Strong understanding of site-level clinical trial operations.
• Ability to make informed, sound judgment calls in ambiguous situations with limited precedent.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across internal and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across regions simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and negotiate site budgets and payment terms with sponsors and CROs.
• Interpret study protocols and schedules to ensure accurate budgets.
• Ensure budgets capture all site costs, including per-patient procedures and startup activities.
• Review and manage budget amendments as studies evolve.
• Account for currency, tax/VAT, payment cadence, and local site practices.
• Serve as primary contact for sponsor and CRO budget discussions.
• Align CTAs with negotiated budgets and terms.
• Maintain audit-ready budget records.
• Identify gaps and propose cost solutions.
• Collaborate with site leadership and finance to balance priorities during study start-up.
• Build structured, scalable processes in a fast-paced environment.
• Performs related duties.

Skills

Budgeting

Budget Negotiation

Communication

Cross-functional

Project Management

Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

RealTime CTMS

Job description

Cambridge, Massachusetts or Ex-US Poland

Iterative Health is a healthcare technology and services company powering the acceleration of clinical research to transform patient outcomes.

We built a leading performance-driven network of 100+ sites across the US, Europe, India, and Australia, conducting research directly in the communities where care is delivered across gastrointestinal, hepatology, obesity, and cardiology. By combining deep clinical trial expertise with cutting-edge AI, we connect sponsors' scientific ambitions with high-performing research teams that expedite and expand access to novel therapeutics for patients in need. Today, Iterative Health is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and New York City with 250+ employees world-wide.

Clinical Research Budgets Specialist

The Clinical Research Budgets Specialist is a critical operational partner to the sites within Iterative Health's growing domestic and international network — owning the development, review, and negotiation of clinical trial budgets and contract payment terms on their behalf. This role sits at the intersection of site operations, finance, and sponsor relationships, requiring someone who can interpret complex study protocols, navigate country-specific financial considerations, and drive budget discussions to resolution across multiple geographies simultaneously. The ideal candidate is a proactive, self-directed problem-solver who thrives in ambiguity, builds structure where little exists, and brings strong ownership to every budget they touch

Where You’ll Drive Impact

• Develop, review, and negotiate site-level clinical trial budgets and payment terms with sponsors and CROs for U.S. and international research sites.
• Interpret study protocols, schedules of assessments, and evolving study requirements to ensure accurate and defensible site budgets.
• Ensure budgets appropriately capture all site costs, including per-patient procedures, startup activities, administrative fees, and pass-through expenses.
• Review and manage budget and payment amendments as studies evolve.
• Account for country-specific considerations such as currency, tax/VAT, payment cadence, and local site practices.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for sponsor and CRO budget discussions.
• Support alignment between Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) and negotiated budget and payment terms.
• Maintain clear documentation and audit-ready records throughout the budget lifecycle.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or missing cost considerations and proactively propose solutions.
• Collaborate with site leadership, research coordinators, regulatory teams, and finance partners to navigate competing priorities while supporting timely study start-up.
• Build structure and scalable processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities and frequent ambiguity.
• Performs related duties

What You Bring to the Team

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of site-side clinical research budgeting or trial finance experience.
• Strong understanding of site-level clinical trial operations.
• Ability to make informed, sound judgment calls in ambiguous situations with limited precedent.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across internal and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across regions simultaneously.
• Self-starter with strong ownership, accountability, and the ability to build or expand on limited structure.
• Adaptable and resourceful, with a bias toward action and resolution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting international clinical research sites.
• Familiarity with VAT, currency exchange, and regional payment norms.
• Experience using CTMS platforms, particularly RealTime.
• Familiarity with Medicare Coverage Analysis (MCA) or billing compliance.
• Experience building processes or tools from scratch in a startup or high-growth environment.

How We Work

• Collaborative and low-ego team environment
• High ownership and accountability culture
• Fast-paced and highly iterative growth environment
• Open communication and continuous learning mindset
• Mission-driven organization focused on improving patient outcomes
• Comfortable navigating evolving business priorities and opportunities

Benefits That Support You

We believe great teams do their best work when they feel supported — professionally and personally.

• Hybrid work environment with in-office collaboration two days per week in either our NYC, Cambridge or Southlake office
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with up to 80% of premiums covered by Iterative Health
• Mental health and wellness support through Spring Health
• Health HSA or FSA options, and commuter FSA contributions supported by Iterative Health
• Unlimited PTO, 12 company holidays, and a company-wide shutdown between Christmas and New Years
• 401(k) program with a company match of up to 3% (up to $3,000 annually)
• Weekly in-office lunch benefit every Tuesday
• 100% company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Annual wellness and professional development stipend to support your health and growth
• And more!

Iterative Health (the “Company”) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to actual and/or perceived: race; color; national origin; religion; age; sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions); gender identity or expression (including transgender status); affectional or sexual orientation; disability (mental and physical); atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait or genetic information (including family medical history); uniform service member and veteran status; participation in legally protected conduct or making a complaint relating to unlawful conduct; and any other characteristic or conduct protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

At Iterative Health, we’re actively working towards creating an environment that is representative of the diversity of patients our technology serves. We are focused on building an equitable and inclusive culture, and by extension, hiring process. If you require any accommodations to make the application process or interviewing experience more accessible to you, please contact [e-mail].