Associate Director D

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

2d•$92,592 - $96,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director is a non-attorney (BA required, JD or MA preferred) contracting professional who independently negotiates and executes a portfolio of moderately complex clinical research agreements and serves as the complexity bridge between Senior Contract Administrators and attorney-level contracting staff. This role will also have direct reports and serve as the manager of the OCR Legal Senior Contract Administrators. This role requires prior clinical research contracting experience and is not intended for entry-level contracting professionals. The Associate Director independently manages work/task orders under master agreements, CDAs/NDAs, DUAs, amendments, and completes first-pass drafting and issue-spotting for CTAs with oversight. As skill increases this role can independently handle CTAs, especially less complex CTAs or CTAs with sponsors that we have established precedent.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science and 5 to 7 years of clinical research contracting experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Demonstrated ability to apply standard positions, identify risk issues, and escalate appropriately in a deadline-driven, high-volume environment.
Strong written communication, organization, and stakeholder-management skills.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a busy, ever-evolving environment and collaborate with multiple stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage high volume workload.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or JD preferred, not required.
Some management/leadership experience preferred.
Experience in an academic medical center, CRO, sponsor, or comparable research environment supporting clinical research agreements preferred.
Familiarity with research administration/contracting systems (e.g., SOMERA, PennERA, RIS or similar) preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently negotiate, draft, and execute CDAs/NDAs, DUAs, amendments, and work orders/task orders under established policies and standard positions.
Serve as manager of Senior Contract administrators and/or Contract Coordinators, serving as guide, mentor, and first level of review and escalation.
Complete first-pass CTA redlines and issue-spotting; escalate non-standard and high-risk terms to attorneys; revise drafts based on direction.
Manage assigned workflow, timelines, and documentation; ensure correct routing/approvals and accurate status tracking in applicable systems.
Apply and support standardization through templates, clause library, job aids, and playbook resources; flag recurring sponsor issues and propose improvements.
Serve as an internal point of contact for study teams and partners; drive matters toward execution-ready status and timely study activation.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families
generous retirement benefits
a wide variety of professional development opportunities
supportive work and family benefits
a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.