Contract Manager, Clinical Research

Job Title: Contract Manager, Clinical Research Job Location: Remote, North Carolina, USA Job Location Type: Remote Job Contract Type: Full-time Job Seniority Level: Work Schedule Standard (Mon-Fri) Environmental Conditions Office Job Description Contract Manager Join the PPD™ clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a globally recognized leader in drug development and laboratory services. We partner with leading pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, academic, and government organizations to bring life-changing therapies to market. No matter where your career passions lie, you’ll find opportunities here to contribute to something greater. By joining our team, you will be part of groundbreaking medical discoveries and gain invaluable experience and growth opportunities in your field. Role Summary The Contract Manager serves as the regional lead for the preparation, negotiation, and finalization of contract documentation, approved negotiation parameters, and associated investigator grant budgets for an assigned portfolio of clients. This role ensures contractual quality, consistency, objectivity, and appropriate risk assessment while supporting efficient study start-up activities. In addition to managing complex negotiations, the Contract Manager serves as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and clients, provides regional oversight, supports process improvement initiatives, and coaches Contract Specialists to ensure consistent application of contractual standards and best practices. Key Responsibilities Contract Negotiation & Risk Management - Lead the review, negotiation, and finalization of contract templates, contractual terms and conditions, negotiation parameters, and associated documentation in accordance with PPD contractual standards and established processes. - Negotiate investigator grant budgets, contractual terms, and conditions within approved negotiation parameters while balancing company and client requirements. - Identify, evaluate, and mitigate legal, financial, and operational risks associated with contract negotiations. - Provide contractual risk assessments and ensure compliance with approved contractual considerations. - Escalate contractual issues outside approved negotiation parameters through established governance processes and serve as the regional escalation point for external clients. - Recommend practical solutions to resolve complex contractual issues while balancing business objectives and contractual risk. Client Partnership & Collaboration - Serve as the primary regional contact for clients regarding contractual negotiations, process questions, and issue resolution. - Partner with Legal during country-specific process improvement initiatives and complex contractual matters. - Collaborate with internal functional teams to coordinate site start-up activities impacted by contract execution and investigator grant negotiations. - Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely execution of contractual deliverables. Operational Excellence - Ensure consistent application of approved contract templates, negotiation parameters, client expectations, and established processes across assigned work. - Promote quality, consistency, and operational efficiency while supporting continuous process improvement initiatives. - Conduct periodic quality reviews and provide constructive peer feedback to support continuous improvement. Leadership & Talent Development - Train, mentor, and support Associate Contract Specialists and junior team members. - Develop and deliver training materials on contract processes, negotiation practices, and client-specific requirements. - Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and consistent application of contractual standards across the regional team. Education - Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant professional