Director, Contracts & Budgets SSU

The Role:

The Director of Contracts and Budgets will be responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of all aspects of budgets and contract development with investigative sites (part of the Global Site Network), driving ICON through innovative approaches to become the preferred provider for customers in this area. As such, the position will oversee the global activities of subject matter experts in GSN contract and budget teams. It will be accountable for operational, strategic, processing and budgetary deliverables in a timely fashion.

The Director of Contracts and Budgets will have extensive internal and external stakeholder involvement throughout the project lifecycle, and at the alliance, program and project level as needed. They will be required to interact, and negotiate with, applicable stakeholders; devise and track to productivity metrics; resolve escalations and build client relationships, as well identify, measure and implement vendor systems if needed, in order to position Icon as Best in Class. The position is required to ensure site contracts and budgets comply with current accounting principles. The position may have line management responsibility.

Responsibilities:

Manage GSN global investigator contract and budgeting processes in close collaboration with clients and internal departments (Legal, IPG, PM, ClinOps and others as needed), building relationships on a cross-functional basis

Reduce contract cycle times and increase contract output, as defined in individual goals, to achieve best in class

Ensure contracts and budgets are executed in adherence to current accounting principles.

Work with senior management and key stakeholders in the contract and budgeting process to define optimal contracting execution strategies - both at a process, as well as on a technology level - and at a country and/or client level.

Manage internal and external stakeholder expectations in relation to the contracting process and cycle times and support these communications with historic cycle time data as available; or anecdotal evidence if no historic data available.

Manage and oversee the quality and delivery of the in-country/regional Contract SMEs on the Investigator/site contract and budgeting development process from origination through to execution.

Develop and oversee contracting strategies to support global contract and budget negotiations, administration and reporting, oversee the development, implementation and accuracy of tracking tools and systems, their use, and corresponding reporting

Accountable for ensuring availability of robust and current process documentation in relation to contract execution options/strategies, contract and budget execution processes (including sponsor specific processes) and contract availability and storage.

Develop and manage risk and mitigation strategies to ensure a consistent approach to contracting

Evaluate progress by maintaining metrics, timelines and other tracking analysis tools for reporting whilst putting systematic and effective corrective actions in place if needed . Take ownership for continuous improvement on reporting tools and content.

Oversee internal management and lead staff, including professional development, performance appraisals and mentoring of assigned staff.

Serve as a liaison between GSN centralized teams, GSN sites, Legal and SSU, Clinical Operations and other depts. as necessary to harmonize communication, working practices and foster process improvement, and maximize efficiencies and lessons learned.

Assist in the training and mentoring of ICON staff and ensure client specific contract and budget training is appropriate, consistent and available across the organization.

Liaison between staff and client management, client management and escalation point as needed

Manage and forecast resources to ensure efficiency

Support Business Development and/or strategic alliances in relation to defining optimal client specific strategies for site contract and budget execution.

Act as, or identify, subject matter experts for contractual processes, with key accounts.

Oversee collaboration with Healthcare Alliances in standardization of contracting processes.

Drive the execution of MSAs with strategic sites

To succeed you will need:

At least 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or health care industry

Extensive experience with site contract and budget negotiation is mandatory, with preference of this being on a global level

Experience managing a global contracts function

Experience in the use of budget planning tools preferred

Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Demonstrated understanding and competency in computer environment

Demonstrated ability to be customer oriented to internal and external clients in order to achieve high customer satisfaction levels

Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex tasks of self and others

Demonstrated ability to attend to detail, think logically and critically evaluate and solve problems

Demonstrated ability to lead global team members

Ability to analyze and provide solutions quickly to internal team and/or client.

Strong leadership skills and experience in change and people management.