Associate Contracts Manager

Work Schedule

• Hybrid schedule:
  • Onsite: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
  • Remote: Monday and Friday
• Monday through Friday
• 8-hour shifts

Interview Process

• Two rounds of virtual interviews:
  1. Hiring Manager Interview
  2. Next Level Manager Interview (45 minutes)

Position Summary

The Associate Contracts Manager will support the Research Contracts Group within the Research organization and will be responsible for processing and managing a high volume of Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) under the supervision of the manager.

This role supports the full lifecycle of outgoing MTAs and works closely with Research scientists, leadership, Legal, academic institutions, technology transfer offices, and internal shipping/material supply teams. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of the Outgoing MTA Program, supporting an active queue of approximately 70–110 MTAs at any given time
• Process up to 400 MTAs annually
• Communicate agreement status and key details with:
  • Research scientists
  • Leadership teams
  • Internal Legal teams
  • Academic scientists
  • Technology transfer offices
  • Internal shipping/material supply teams
• Proactively manage and prioritize a high volume of daily email correspondence while maintaining professionalism, responsiveness, and accuracy
• Organize and process signatures for outgoing Material Transfer Agreements following approved procedures
• Handle post-execution activities including:
  • Sending fully executed agreements to counterparties
  • Filing agreements with Legal Records
  • Updating databases and agreement records
  • Coordinating shipments
  • Managing import/export documentation
  • Resolving shipping-related issues
• Track agreement status and maintain accurate real-time records within the MTA Database
• Ensure proper documentation of:
  • Party names
  • Effective dates
  • Expiration dates
• Support general administrative activities including:
  • Filing agreements
  • Coordinating meetings
  • Database entry and maintenance

Required Knowledge & Experience

• Understanding of scientific terminology and research-related materials, including:
  • Antibodies
  • Plasmids
  • DNA
  • Genetically modified animal models
  • Progeny
  • Derivatives
• Basic understanding of legal agreement concepts, including:
  • Amendments
  • Obligations
  • Contract parties
• Experience drafting and managing agreements preferred
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to follow established processes while independently proposing solutions when appropriate
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time management skills
• Detail-oriented with a strong work ethic and team-player mindset
• Comfortable working with databases and enterprise business systems
• Proficiency with:
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  • Google Applications (Mail, Calendar, Docs, etc.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline required
• Legal education or legal experience is a plus
• Preferred 2–4 years of relevant experience
• Preferred experience within:
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Biotechnology
  • University research environments

Preferred Skills

• Contract administration
• Agreement lifecycle management
• Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
• Research support
• Scientific terminology
• Legal documentation
• Data management
• Import/export coordination
• Cross-functional communication
• Critical thinking and independent problem-solving