Contracts Specialist

Position Summary

The Contracts Specialist I will be responsible for the drafting and review of a variety of contracts with Scout’s international CRO and Sponsor clients, as well as potentially supporting vendor contracts. The Contracts Specialist will need to be comfortable collaborating across internal functional areas to meet Scout’s contracting needs, and will also be expected to effectively communicate as a primary contracting point of contact with our clients and vendors. This will be a high-visibility, high-throughput role with a lot of great opportunities for a junior attorney (or non-attorney legal professional) to learn and grow. This position will report directly to the General Counsel, Vice President of Contracts.

Responsibilities

• Prepare drafts of CDAs/NDAs, Standalone Services Agreements, and Task Orders;
• Manage the preparation, finalization, and execution of any necessary Amendments/Change Orders to executed contracts;
• Review client/vendor revisions to our template or (where applicable) review client/vendor templates, for alignment with Scout’s contracting policies and risk tolerances;
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including the General Counsel, Vice President of Contracts, and Scout’s Business Development, Operations, and Proposals teams, to ensure that our contracting needs are being met in a timely manner;
• Communicate effectively with external stakeholders, including our clients’ legal/contracting and operations representatives, to ensure that contracts are finalized efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with Scout’s values and business needs;
• Aid in the maintenance of the contracts management lifecycle, including signature routing, filing, tracking, and oversight of completed agreements, and hand-off of projects to the Project Management team upon contract execution;
• Communicate clearly and regularly with the General Counsel, Vice President of Contracts, about workload and contract status to ensure you have everything you need to succeed in your role;
• Support Lead Counsel with various ad hoc projects as may be required from time to time in support of the Contracts Department;
• Complete all required initial and ongoing training within a reasonable or provided timeframe

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• Juris Doctor preferred, but not required
• 0-2 years of professional experience, preferably in a contract drafting and negotiation or similar legal-adjacent role at a law firm or in a corporate setting
• Experience in the clinical/healthcare industry is a plus
• Demonstrated experience in client relationship management and stakeholder management
• Consistently meet project objectives while adhering to budget, scope, and timeline constraints
• Strong communicator with advanced verbal and written skills, ensuring clarity and understanding during interactions with clients, vendors, and team members
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint, with ability to leverage tools for efficiency
• Eager to learn and develop, with a high level of coachability and growth mindset
• Collaborative team player, fostering positive relationships with colleagues and clients
• Detail-oriented with a strong ability to track and manage critical dates and deadlines
• Highly organized, skilled at prioritizing tasks and effectively managing multiple responsibilities
• Thrive in fast-paced environments, maintaining performance under pressure
• Self-motivated and results-driven, while following instructions to achieve optimal outcomes
• Innovative problem solver, using critical thinking to address challenges proactively

Qualifications

• Support Lead Counsel with various ad hoc projects as may be required from time to time in support of the Contracts Department

Skills

• Prepare drafts of CDAs/NDAs, Standalone Services Agreements, and Task Orders;
• Manage the preparation, finalization, and execution of any necessary Amendments/Change Orders to executed contracts;
• Review client/vendor revisions to our template or (where applicable) review client/vendor templates, for alignment with Scout’s contracting policies and risk tolerances;
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including the General Counsel, Vice President of Contracts, and Scout’s Business Development, Operations, and Proposals teams, to ensure that our contracting needs are being met in a timely manner;
• Communicate effectively with external stakeholders, including our clients’ legal/contracting and operations representatives, to ensure that contracts are finalized efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with Scout’s values and business needs;
• Aid in the maintenance of the contracts management lifecycle, including signature routing, filing, tracking, and oversight of completed agreements, and hand-off of projects to the Project Management team upon contract execution;
• Communicate clearly and regularly with the General Counsel, Vice President of Contracts, about workload and contract status to ensure you have everything you need to succeed in your role;
• Support Lead Counsel with various ad hoc projects as may be required from time to occasionally in support of the Contracts Department;
• Complete all required initial and ongoing training within a reasonable or provided timeframe

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with company HSA contributions
• Immediate eligibility to participate in our 401(k) plan with a company match after one year
• Paid time off that starts at 20 days per year
• Paid parental and maternity leave
• Basic life and AD&D insurance
• An Employee Assistance Program with mental health, legal, financial, and work/life resources
• Professional development reimbursement
• Paid volunteer time
• and more