Research Program Coordinator III - Contracts Coordinator

The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

403B retirement options

Vacation and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

EFAP

Job summary

The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. seeks a Program Coordinator III - Contracts Coordinator to provide advanced administrative and contractual support for clinical research and program operations.

You will draft, review, negotiate, and manage research-related agreements while ensuring compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements. Responsibilities include tracking contract lifecycles, maintaining records, and coordinating with investigators, sponsors, and legal

Qualifications

• Minimum education: Bachelor's Degree.
• Minimum experience: 5 years in contracts administration or related field.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, or administering contracts and research agreements.
• Experience in academic medical centers, healthcare systems or clinical research environments.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management platforms and electronic signature tools.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate research-related agreements (NDAs, DUAs, DTAs, service contracts).
• Review contract terms using templates and redlining processes.
• Identify risks in contract language and escalate as needed.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, investigators, sponsors, and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor and HIPAA requirements.
• Track lifecycles including executions, renewals, amendments, milestones, expirations.
• Maintain contract records in institutional systems.
• Serve as primary liaison on contractual matters between PI teams and sponsors.
• Coordinate communications and facilitate timely resolution of issues.
• Develop and maintain contract databases and tracking systems.
• Monitor timelines and ensure delivery of contract-related deliverables.

Skills

Contract language interpretation

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Project management

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Contract management tools

Microsoft Office

HIPAA compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related

Paralegal Studies or Healthcare Administration (preferred)

Tools

Contract lifecycle management platforms

Electronic signature tools

Database systems

Contract management tools

Job description

Summary

The Program Coordinator III - Contracts Coordinator provides advanced administrative and contractual support for clinical research and program operations. This position serves as a key liaison among principal investigators, research teams, sponsors, legal counsel, procurement teams, and external collaborators. The incumbent is responsible for drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing research-related agreements and ensuring adherence to federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements. This role requires a high degree of independence, professional judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate the drafting, review, and negotiation of research-related agreements, including Confidentiality Agreements (NDAs), Data Use Agreements (DUAs), Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs), Service Agreements, Vendor Contracts, and Research Collaboration Agreements.
• Review contract terms and conditions using approved templates and redlining processes.
• Identify legal, financial, operational, and compliance risks within contract language and escalating concerns as appropriate.
• Collaborate with legal counsel, procurement, investigators, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders to negotiate equitable contract terms.
• Ensure all agreements align with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements, including clinical research and HIPAA regulations.
• Track contract lifecycles, including execution, renewals, amendments, milestones, expirations, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain contract records and documentation within institutional systems.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between principal investigators, research teams, sponsors, legal counsel, and external partners on contractual matters.
• Coordinate communications and facilitate timely resolution of contractual issues.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive contract databases, records, and tracking systems.
• Monitor program timelines and ensure completion of critical contract-related deliverables and deadlines.
• Assist with the development of program resources, forms, reports, and other contract-related communications.
• Provide guidance and support to investigators and research staff regarding contract requirements.
• Recommend process improvements that enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge - Skills - Abilities

Ability to understand, interpret, and apply complex contractual language. Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines with minimal supervision. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment. Strong customer service orientation and ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Working knowledge of medical terminology and clinical research operations. Ability to identify risks and develop practical solutions while maintaining compliance with institutional policies. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, database systems, and contract management tools.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's Degree Minimum Required Experience: 5 years Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Paralegal Studies, Life Sciences, Healthcare Administration, or a related field Preferred Experience: 5 years of progressively responsible experience in contracts administration, grants and contracts administration, legal affairs, or related healthcare/research environments. Experience reviewing, drafting, negotiating, or administering contracts and research agreements; experience in academic medical centers, healthcare systems, or clinical research environments; experience with contract lifecycle management platforms and electronic signature tools Field: Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Paralegal Studies, Life Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Law Degree or related field #LI-SN1

Physical Requirements

Work requires infrequent physical effort such as walking or retrieving materials. Work Environment May experience slightly disagreeable features such as temperature changes or noise from time to time. Work performed in an environmentally controlled environment. Sensory Acuity Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required. May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects.

Why MCW?

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental.
• Along with Flexible Spending options 403B Retirement Package Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered Tuition Reimbursement Paid Parental Leave Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) Pet Insurance On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.

For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

About Us

A student, an educator, a scientist and a community leader — alone, they can do many things. Together, the question isn’t what they can do, but what can't they. The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) brings together the most inquisitive, passionate minds in science, medicine, education and community engagement to tackle today's toughest challenges in health and society. Academic medicine is at the center of where scientists, physicians and students work hand-in-hand with the community to ask the most important questions and fuel the cycle of innovation that shapes the future of medicine. Medical College of Wisconsin The tireless pursuit of knowledge and the power of academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW. Bringing together the world's top scientists and clinicians, inspired students and invested communities, we are driven to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. With around 1,600 full-time and part-time faculty and approximately 3,500 full-time employees, MCW is home to a diverse group of thought leaders working in collaboration to pioneer pathways to a healthier world and drive a continuous cycle of life-changing discovery.