FSP Principal Contract Specialist

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon‑Fri)

Working Conditions

• Ability to work in an upright and/or stationary position for 6‑8 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Frequent mobility required.
• Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying (or otherwise moving) objects including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15‑20 lb.
• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in‑house and off‑the‑shelf.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand; with the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Frequent interaction with others to obtain or relate information to diverse groups.
• Performs a wide range of variable tasks as dictated by variable demands and changing conditions with little predictability as to the occurrence.
• Ability to perform under stress.
• Ability to multi‑task.
• Regular and consistent attendance.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate and finalize agreements with study sites in accordance with local/accepted process.
• Negotiate within approved parameters both investigator grant budget negotiation parameters and contractual terms and conditions, adhering to company and client considerations and established escalation routes.
• Ensure compliance with established negotiation parameters, authority approvals, contractual processes and client expectations.
• Ensure compliance with budgetary guidance, templates and processes.
• Identify and assess legal, financial and operational risks and escalate to the appropriate level per established processes.
• Provide recommendations and alternative resolutions to contract negotiations through established escalation channels.
• Coordinate with internal functional departments to align site startup activities with contractual activities and mutually agreed timelines, ensuring alignment with the critical path for site activation.
• Achieve target cycle times for site activations.
• Ensure guidelines and processes are followed for efficient escalation of out‑of‑parameter issues.
• Provide training and mentoring to junior staff.
• Participate in country process improvement initiatives, representing Global Site Contract activities within country team meetings.
• Act as country subject‑matter expert in review of contracts training materials.
• Liaise with Global Site Contracts to ensure full compliance with established global processes and corporate directives.
• Complete periodic quality reviews and peer‑feedback reports.
• Lead amendment/novation client projects and oversee confidentiality agreement negotiations.
• Own and manage training plans and content for local teams and Contract Specialists for a country or series of countries.
• Draft and provide input to improvements/revisions and rationale to the Site Contracts management team on Investigator Contracts documents.
• Mentor junior staff as needed.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic/vocational qualification.
• Previous experience providing the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 8+ years). An equivalency of education, training, and/or directly related experience may be considered sufficient.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective communication skills (verbal & written) in English and the local language.
• Mastery‑level understanding of contract law principles, including business, intellectual property, and local tax and stamp laws.
• Mastery understanding and demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate investigator grant budgets within negotiation parameters.
• Demonstrated ability to independently train and mentor staff.
• Demonstrated ability to provide valuable feedback and insight to country or regional budgetary trends.
• Excellent problem‑solving, risk‑assessment, and impact‑analysis abilities.
• Flexibility to multi‑task, prioritize competing demands, and resolve complex issues.
• Mastery ability to effectively and efficiently escalate out‑of‑parameter issues and offer resolution suggestions.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate contracts in the best interests of the company and the client.
• May act as the first point of escalation for specialists.
• Liaison between Country Team and Global Site Contracts Team.

Why Join Us?

When you join Thermo Fisher Scientific, you become part of a global team that values passion, innovation, and a commitment to scientific excellence. You’ll work in an environment where collaboration and development are part of the everyday experience—and where your contributions truly make a difference.