Senior Contract Manager

Novartis Group Companies; East Hanover (NJ); Remote; USD 90,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Group of Companies is seeking a Senior Contract Manager to lead complex negotiations for clinical trial agreements and budgets, partnering with global stakeholders to ensure smooth study start‑ups. You will shape agreements that accelerate trials and patient access while maintaining compliance and value.

The role requires 5+ years in contract management within pharma, strong negotiation skills, and experience coordinating with Legal, Regulatory, and Clinical teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in contract management within clinical trials or pharmaceuticals.
• Proven expertise in negotiating clinical trial agreements and complex contracts independently.
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical industry regulations and United States privacy requirements.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix organization with global and cross‑functional teams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a customer‑focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Independently negotiate and execute complex clinical trial agreements, including Master Agreements and Confidentiality Agreements
• Develop, review, and finalize clinical trial budgets, ensuring alignment with fair market value principles
• Lead contract and budget negotiations with investigational sites to achieve timely contract execution and study start-up goals
• Resolve stalled negotiations and provide strategic support to Contract Managers to maintain study timelines
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders including Legal, Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams
• Identify, assess, and communicate contractual and budgetary risks to key stakeholders for approval
• Collaborate with global and local teams to resolve complex contractual challenges efficiently
• Analyze grant plans and budget proposals to support accurate and compliant financial decisions
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying trends and leading initiatives to enhance contracting processes
• Partner with clinical teams and vendors to optimize budgets and deliver cost‑saving opportunities

Skills

Contract negotiation

Budgeting

Clinical trials

US privacy rules

Cross-functional work

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, legal, finance, science, or related field

Job description

Job Description Summary

#LI-Remote

This position can be based remotely anywhere in the U.S. (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). Please note that this role would not provide relocation as a result. The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager. This position will not require travel.

Take the lead in shaping the success of clinical trials at Novartis by driving complex contract negotiations that directly impact study timelines and patient access. As a Senior Contract Manager, you will play a critical role at the intersection of legal expertise, financial strategy, and clinical operations-partnering with global stakeholders to deliver high-quality agreements, unlock efficiencies, and resolve challenges with confidence. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by ensuring trials start faster, run smoother, and ultimately bring innovative therapies to patients sooner.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Independently negotiate and execute complex clinical trial agreements, including Master Agreements and Confidentiality Agreements
• Develop, review, and finalize clinical trial budgets, ensuring alignment with fair market value principles
• Lead contract and budget negotiations with investigational sites to achieve timely contract execution and study start-up goals
• Resolve stalled negotiations and provide strategic support to Contract Managers to maintain study timelines
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders including Legal, Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams
• Identify, assess, and communicate contractual and budgetary risks to key stakeholders for approval
• Collaborate with global and local teams to resolve complex contractual challenges efficiently
• Analyze grant plans and budget proposals to support accurate and compliant financial decisions
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying trends and leading initiatives to enhance contracting processes
• Partner with clinical teams and vendors to optimize budgets and deliver cost‑saving opportunities

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, legal, finance, science, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in contract management within clinical trials or pharmaceuticals
• Proven expertise in negotiating clinical trial agreements and complex contracts independently
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical industry regulations and United States privacy requirements
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills with strong attention to detail
• Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix organization with global and cross‑functional teams
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a customer‑focused mindset

The salary for this position is expected to range between $89,600 and $166,400 per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance‑based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US‑based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

EEO Statement

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] or call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$89,600.00 - $166,400.00

Skills Desired

• Ability To Influence Key Stakeholders (Inactive)
• Building High Performance Team
• Compliance And Controls (Inactive)
• Continuous Process Improvement
• Critical Thinking
• Data Cleansing Normalization (Inactive)
• Data Visualization
• Employee Engagement
• Esg Data Management (Inactive)
• Financial Accounting
• Financial And Management Reporting (Inactive)
• Market Understanding
• People Development
• Planning & Analysis (Inactive)
• Problem Solving
• Process Optimization
• Understanding Value Drivers (Inactive)