Sr. Manager, Investigator Site Budgets & Contracts

The Role:

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.

Moderna is strengthening its international business services hub in Warsaw, supporting our growing global operations. We welcome professionals ready to help advance our mission and shape the future of mRNA medicines.

As a Senior Manager, Investigator Site Budgets & Contracts, you will play a critical role in enabling the successful delivery of Moderna's global clinical trials. Working as an individual contributor within Global Clinical Operations, you will lead the development and oversight of investigator site budgets and contract strategy, partnering with Clinical Operations, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Legal and other key stakeholders to accelerate study start-up while maintaining the highest standards of quality, compliance and financial stewardship.

This is an opportunity to combine deep expertise in investigator grants, Fair Market Value (FMV) methodologies and clinical trial contracting with strategic thinking and operational excellence. You'll help shape global budget strategies, optimise clinical trial execution and leverage emerging digital technologies, including Generative AI-enabled tools, to enhance forecasting, operational insights and process efficiency across Moderna's clinical development organisation.

Here's What You'll Do:

• Lead the creation, management and oversight of investigator site budgets for multiple global clinical trials across assigned therapeutic areas.

• Generate and review accurate Phase I-IV investigator grant (IG) budgets using Grants Manager and/or GrantPlan.

• Support scenario planning by evaluating budget assumptions and assessing their impact on overall study budgets and financial forecasts.

• Validate investigator grant budgets using Moderna internal data, third-party vendor data, CRO reference data and industry benchmarking information.

• Provide strategic site budget and contract guidance to assigned Clinical Operations teams throughout study start-up and clinical trial execution.

• Leverage internal and CRO investigator grant reference data together with Fair Market Value (FMV) benchmarking tools to establish study-specific budget estimates.

• Lead and contribute to the development of FMV-based investigator grant budgets and negotiation parameters across infectious disease, oncology and therapeutic programmes operating within an outsourced CRO model.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for CRO site budget activities across assigned studies.

• Oversee the development, approval and consistency of global investigator site budgets and negotiation parameters across countries, studies and programmes.

• Directly manage and track CRO investigator site Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) and budget negotiations, ensuring alignment with FMV principles and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) expectations.

• Collaborate with CROs and Clinical Operations teams to ensure approved investigator grant budgets remain within target throughout the CTA negotiation process.

• Act as the liaison between CROs and Moderna Legal, Clinical Contracts and Outsourcing teams during the review and finalisation of country-level Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) and Clinical Study Agreement (CSA) templates.

• Monitor key performance indicators, including negotiation cycle times, Site Initiation Visit (SIV) metrics and site activation targets to ensure delivery against clinical trial timelines.

• Participate in Clinical Trial Team (CTT) meetings and joint Moderna/CRO governance meetings when strategic site contract decisions are required.

• Lead site contract and budget amendment activities throughout the lifecycle of assigned clinical studies.

• Proactively identify site contract risks, negotiation challenges and operational roadblocks while escalating issues appropriately to minimise delays to study start-up and site activation.

• Support the development and continuous improvement of departmental processes, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), budget standards, contract standards and other strategic initiatives.

• Travel approximately 10% as business needs require.

Here's What You'll Bring to the Table:

• Minimum of five years' direct experience creating and negotiating global investigator site budgets.

• Extensive hands-on expertise using Grants Manager and/or GrantPlan.

• Experience supporting or negotiating Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) template language in collaboration with Legal is preferred.

• Strong understanding of investigator grants, Fair Market Value methodologies and clinical trial budgeting.

• Experience working within outsourced clinical development models, including direct CRO oversight of CTA and budget negotiations.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across Clinical Development Operations (CDO), Clinical Operations, CROs, investigator sites and cross-functional partners.

• Strong financial analysis capabilities with the ability to develop robust financial justifications and budget recommendations.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, together with confidence using specialist standalone applications.

• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to accurately manage large volumes of investigator site financial data.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex issues, develop practical solutions and drive continuous process improvement.

• Ability to exercise sound independent judgement, prioritise effectively and deliver high-quality outcomes within a dynamic global environment.

• A collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary global teams.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• “We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”

• “We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.”

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. 

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply! 

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at [email protected]. 

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