Associate Director, Contracts - National Center for Clinical Trials (NCCT)

Department:

Status:

Benefits Eligible:

Hours Per Week:

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

• Remote
• First Shift, Standard business hours, M-F

Pay Range:

Job Description Summary:

Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical trial contracting activities supporting industry-sponsored clinical research across Advocate Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Responsible for directing contract administration operations, supervising contracting personnel, ensuring efficient negotiation and execution of clinical research agreements, monitoring performance metrics, implementing process improvements, and collaborating with stakeholders to accelerate study activation while maintaining compliance with institutional, regulatory, and legal requirements.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides operational leadership and oversight for enterprise clinical research contracting activities supporting industry-sponsored clinical research, ensuring timely negotiation, execution, and administration of clinical research agreements.
• Designs and directs the work of the clinical trial contracts team, including selection, coaching, development, performance management, and workload allocation for contract administration staff.
• Oversees negotiation, review, execution, and management of Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs), Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs), Master Clinical Trial Agreements (MCTAs), amendments, and other research-related agreements.
• Monitors contract performance metrics, turnaround times, service levels, and operational workloads; develops and implements strategies to improve efficiency, quality, and customer service.
• Develops, implements, and maintains standardized contract templates, workflows, negotiation strategies, and best practices that enhance consistency and reduce study startup timelines.
• Collaborates with investigators, research administration, legal counsel, finance, compliance, regulatory affairs, and operational stakeholders to facilitate study activation and resolve complex contractual issues.
• Provides guidance and resolution for high-risk or complex contractual negotiations involving intellectual property, publication rights, indemnification, confidentiality, subject injury, data use, and related provisions.
• Supports implementation, optimization, and utilization of research administration systems and technologies that facilitate contract management, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Prepares and presents operational reports, dashboards, and performance analyses to research administration leadership to support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and ensuring that contracting activities and supervised employees comply with organizational policies, applicable regulations, and governing laws.

Education Required:

• ​​​​​Bachelor's degree required. In some circumstances, equivalent years of direct research administration experience or applicable professional certifications may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
  

Work Experience Required:

• ​Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research, research administration, clinical trial contracting, grants and contracts administration, or related healthcare research environment.
• Minimum three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience overseeing staff involved in research administration, contracting, or related operational functions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of clinical research regulations, sponsor-funded research administration processes, and clinical trial agreement requirements.
• Knowledge of Clinical Trial Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Master Clinical Trial Agreements, amendments, and related research contracts.
• Knowledge of contractual provisions including intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, subject injury, indemnification, insurance, and data use terms.
• Strong contract negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyze complex contractual language and communicate business, legal, and operational impacts to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, and personnel management abilities.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and research administration technology platforms.
• Ability to evaluate operational metrics and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and service delivery.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work is performed primarily in a professional office or remote office environment.
• Requires prolonged periods of sitting, computer use, and viewing monitors.
• Requires frequent verbal and written communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Occasional travel for meetings, training, or organizational initiatives may be required.
• Must be able to move throughout office and meeting environments and perform required administrative functions.

Preferred Job Requirements

Preferred Education

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Legal Studies, Research Administration, Life Sciences, or related field.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting enterprise-level clinical research contracting operations within an academic medical center, healthcare system, or research-intensive organization.
• Experience implementing operational improvements and process standardization initiatives.
• Experience utilizing Huron Research Suite, CTMS platforms, Florence, or other enterprise research administration systems.
• Experience developing performance metrics, dashboards, and operational reporting tools.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of clinical trial contracting, research administration operations, and industry-sponsored research.
• Knowledge of enterprise contract management systems and workflow optimization methodologies.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and drive continuous process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across legal, compliance, finance, operational, and research functions.
• Strong strategic planning and operational execution skills.
• Advanced data analysis and performance management capabilities.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.        

#WFUSM

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job

• Incentive pay for select positions

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs

• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses

• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave

• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs

• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health 

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.