Location

Hartley Wintney, Hampshire

Job Type

Full-time, permanent, hybrid

Position

Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, the Associate Director, Contracts and Proposals will be responsible for leading the proposals and contract management function globally for the commercial team including the development, negotiation and management of contracts and proposals related to all aspects of supporting clinical research projects and will work closely with the TMC senior team. This role requires a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of clinical development and the biopharmaceutical industry and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

Proposals Development:

  • Oversee the development of high-quality proposals for potential clients.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather necessary information and inputs for proposals.
  • Ability to craft tailored proposals that address client needs, positioning the organisation competitively within the clinical research arena.
  • Ability to develop innovative proposals that streamline processes, reduce costs, or otherwise improve client offerings.
  • Ability to develop cost models, assess financial risks and understand pricing strategies for clinical operations services.
  • Ensure proposals are aligned with client requirements, company capabilities and industry standards.
  • Review and approve final proposal documents before submission.
  • Comfortable analysing trends, metrics and KPIs for continuous improvement of contracts and proposals.
  • Maintain comprehensive records of all proposals and related documents in TMC’s CRM tool (HubSpot), generate monthly reports on proposal activity and status.

Contracts Management:

  • Lead the drafting, pricing, negotiation and completion of contracts with clients, vendors and other stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of contract law and negotiation techniques.
  • Ensure contracts are compliant with legal, regulatory and company policies.
  • Manage contract amendments (WOs, COs), renewals and terminations as needed.
  • Maintain comprehensive records of all contracts and related documents in TMC’s CRM tool (HubSpot), generate monthly reports on contract activity and status.

Client and Stakeholder Relations:

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding proposal and contract matters.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, vendors and other stakeholders.
  • Provide guidance and support to internal teams on contract and proposal-related issues.

Strategic Planning:

  • Develop and implement strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the contracts and proposals process.
  • Monitor industry trends and best practices to ensure the organization remains competitive.
  • Contribute to business development initiatives by identifying opportunities for new contracts and partnerships.

What’s needed

  • Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business, Law or a related field; advanced degree preferred e.g. Master’s degree (MBA, MSc), or professional qualification related to clinical research or business.
  • Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in contracts and proposals management within the clinical research or pharmaceutical industry, ideally within a CRO setting. This would include working in proposals, contracts, or business development roles.
  • Thorough understanding of the client journey in the CRO industry, clinical operations, regulatory requirements, data management and the drug development process.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to work with TMC clients, staff and vendors.
  • Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal); able to clearly articulate opinions in concise and persuasive manner. Comfortable speaking in front of groups and/or leading meetings.
  • Detail oriented with outstanding follow through skills to provide excellent customer service.
  • Outstanding work ethic and proven ability to successfully handle multiple, high urgency requests in a timely and effective manner without compromising quality.
  • Strong project management and organisational skills. Able to create detailed project plans, including an understanding of dependencies as well as critical path elements for larger, more involved projects.
  • Strong negotiation skills.
  • Proactive approach to work, demonstrating initiative and reliability.
  • Experience managing and maintaining document databases and/or contract management systems.
  • Strong analytical capabilities; proficiency in Microsoft Office; expertise working with data analytical/reporting tools; able to generate necessary data and reports to support activities.
  • Able to establish and maintain effective business partner relationships at highest levels within the organisation; thoughtful and active listener; able to think quickly and effectively articulate points of view.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative, team environment where flexibility, multitasking and hands-on involvement are often required; able to cultivate and maintain effective business partner relationships through earned respect and trust.
  • Viewed as subject matter expert within TMC by business partners; able to bring new ideas and information that creates tangible value to the business.

Company Benefits Include

  • A pivotal role in a fast-growing CRO where you can contribute to its growth trajectory.
  • A competitive salary and benefits package.
  • Opportunity to work in a small, innovative and collaborative environment.
  • Hybrid office/work from home arrangements: work remotely up to two days per week.
  • Wellbeing benefits, including: a health care plan and on-site gym.
  • A supportive and inclusive company culture.