Senior Research Contract Specialist - Per Diem

About the role

The Senior Research Contract Specialist plays a crucial role in facilitating and promoting research endeavors at Hackensack Meridian Health. This role maintains the quality assurance standards of the contractual operation and supports various departments.

Responsibilities

• Provides services to investigators conducting Clinical trials at Hackensack Meridian Health.
• Edits, negotiates, and executes industry sponsored clinical trial contracts.
• Consults, advises, and directs HMH staff and corporate sponsors on contracting issues to ensure legal sufficiency, risk management, and financial requirements for research objectives.
• Improves contracting processes and enhances customer service.
• Administers administrative oversight for subawards, data use agreements, and other sponsored program-related agreements.
• Generates dashboard reporting for stakeholders on clinical trial contractual metrics.
• Handles material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, licensing agreements, and conflict of interest compliance related to research efforts.
• Conducts initial intellectual property (IP) analysis and notifies the Office of Commercialization and Technology Ventures for further analysis.
• Serves as a liaison to other departments to align programmatic goals for research.
• Reviews and coordinates approvals for press release forms, IP release forms, and other miscellaneous and legal documents.
• Maintains and supports review and development of contract templates and site-specific files and databases.
• Trains and mentors less experienced staff members on departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Maintains and updates training materials for site contract teams.
• Reviews and analyzes outside agreements for multiparty/multi-funded research projects.
• Communicates contract implementations to HMH Contract Specialists.
• Provides specialist advice and case handling, making decisions in complex contractual situations.
• Communicates status and timescales, setting expectations early for the role holder and the team.
• Provides feedback regarding team performance, personnel needs, policy and procedural recommended changes, and other contractual issues.
• Makes recommendations for process improvements in Research contractual operating procedures.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of internal processes and protocols governing contract negotiation and compliance on behalf of HMH.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in science or business or a paralegal certificate.
• 5 years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of academic and government research administration policies and guidelines.
• Advanced computer skills in platforms such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, etc.
• Good leadership, diplomacy, judgment, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and identify solutions.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.