Manager- Contracts and Budgets

Role Summary

The Manager of Contracts and Budgets owns the day‑to‑day execution and performance of the commercial contracting function. This role leads a team responsible for clinical trial contract and budget review, contract negotiation support, and execution, ensuring agreements are processed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with company policy.

The Manager of Contracts operates within established legal and commercial frameworks, partnering closely with Sales, Legal, Finance, and Operations to support revenue execution, reduce cycle time, and mitigate risk.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Execution & Operational Ownership

• Own end‑to‑end execution of customer contracts, amendments, and renewals.
• Ensure contracts and budgets are reviewed, negotiated, approved, and executed in accordance with established policies and SLAs.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex or non‑standard contract scenarios.
• Balance risk management with deal velocity to support revenue objectives.

2. Policy Application & Risk Management

• Enforce contract policies, approval requirements, and standard terms.
• Partner with Legal to interpret and apply contract playbooks and fallback positions.
• Identify recurring contract issues and risk patterns; recommend operational improvements.
• Ensure consistent documentation and audit readiness across all agreements.

3. Process Improvement & Performance Management

• Continuously evaluate and improve contracting workflows to reduce friction and cycle time.
• Standardize intake, review, and approval processes across supported sales segments.
• Define, track, and report on key operational metrics (e.g., cycle time, backlog, SLA adherence, exceptions).
• Lead adoption of process changes through clear communication and training.

4. Systems, Tools & Documentation

• Own operational use of contract management tools (e.g., CLM, CRM integrations).
• Partner throughout the organization on tool enhancements and automation initiatives.
• Maintain contract templates, process documentation, and internal enablement materials.
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency within contract systems.

5. People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of contract analysts or contract managers.
• Set clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned to team objectives.
• Manage workload distribution and ensure consistent service levels.
• Support individual development and progression within the career ladder.

6. Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Act as the primary operational partner to Sales, Legal, Finance, and Operations for contracting execution.
• Provide clear guidance to Sales on contract processes, timelines, and requirements.
• Communicate operational risks, trends, and performance insights to leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of experience in the CRO industry with a focus on budgets and contracts including start up work orders, full study work orders, change orders etc
• 2+ years of people management or team leadership experience.
• Strong working knowledge of commercial contracts and approval workflows.
• Strong working knowledge of Excel-based budgets and associated algorithms.
• Proven ability to manage priorities in a high‑volume, deadline‑driven environment.
• Strong judgment, problem‑solving, and stakeholder communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools.
• Exposure commercial models.
• Experience supporting Sales organizations in a revenue‑focused environment.

Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only one of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs. We are looking for people who are passionate about working in clinical research and biotech, including people who identify with LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities. We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to responding to every application. We look forward to talking to you about working at Novotech.