Associate Director, Contracts – National Center for Clinical Trials

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in North Carolina.

📋 Description

• Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research contracting activities that support industry-sponsored clinical research.

• Leads the clinical trial contracts team, including selection, coaching, development, performance management, and allocation of workloads.

• Manages the negotiation, review, execution, and oversight of Clinical Trial Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Master Clinical Trial Agreements, amendments, and other research-related contracts.

• Tracks contract performance metrics, turnaround times, service levels, and operational workloads.

• Develops and implements strategies aimed at enhancing efficiency, quality, and customer service.

• Maintains standardized contract templates, workflows, negotiation strategies, and best practices.

• Collaborates with investigators, research administration, legal counsel, finance, compliance, regulatory affairs, and operational stakeholders.

• Provides guidance and resolution for high-risk or complex contractual negotiations.

• Supports research administration systems and technologies for effective contract management, reporting, and operational efficiency.

• Prepares and presents operational reports, dashboards, and performance analyses to research administration leadership.

• Ensures that contracting activities and supervised employees adhere to organizational policies, applicable regulations, and governing laws.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; equivalent years of direct research administration experience or relevant professional certifications may be taken into account in place of a bachelor's degree.

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research, research administration, clinical trial contracting, grants and contracts administration, or a related healthcare research environment.

• Minimum three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience overseeing staff engaged in research administration, contracting, or related operational roles.

• Familiarity with clinical research regulations, sponsor-funded research administration processes, and clinical trial agreement requirements.

• Understanding of Clinical Trial Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Master Clinical Trial Agreements, amendments, and related research contracts.

• Knowledge of contractual provisions including intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, subject injury, indemnification, insurance, and data use terms.

• Strong skills in contract negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management.

• Ability to analyze complex contractual language and effectively communicate business, legal, and operational implications to diverse audiences.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

• Capacity to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven leadership, coaching, mentoring, and personnel management skills.

• Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and research administration technology platforms.

• Capability to evaluate operational metrics and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and service delivery.

• Occasional travel for meetings, training, or organizational initiatives may be necessary.

🏝️ Benefits

• Benefits Eligible

• Competitive compensation

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's role

• Incentive pay for select positions

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

• Paid Time Off programs

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits

• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses

• Adoption assistance

• Paid parental leave

• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match

• Additional financial wellness programs

• Educational Assistance Program