Contract Manager

Role DescriptionContract Manager

As part of the Vendor and Contract Management (VCM) group, this position will draft and negotiate standard contracts for Veterinary Medicine Research & Development (VMRD). This position will report to the Head of Contract Management, and is part of a team that also consists of Purchasing Associates and Category Sourcing Managers.

Responsibilities include:

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage standard and complex contracts (Confidentiality, Material Transfer, Service, and Sponsored Research Agreements) with external collaborators and internal business partners.
• Manage a small team of contingent workers and meet regularly with their onsite management to discuss productivity.
• Work closely with Head of Contract Management to resolve discrepancies in legal and commercial terms; meet regularly with Corporate Counsel for review of more complex agreements.
• Discern procurement needs and determine proper template and language to address risks associated with each purchase.
• Review contracts to ensure that VMRD business terms are being met.
• Align with relevant internal business functions, such as research, project management, finance, business development, sales, and marketing, as appropriate.
• Recognize and comprehend complex intellectual property issues.
• Partner with Category Sourcing Managers to ensure compliance with corporate and divisional procurement policies and resolve issues presented in contract negotiations.
• Utilize the PO and Legal request system in order to manage timely creation of supplemental contract documents (Exhibits, Scopes of Work, etc).
• Partner with other Contract Managers to provide further education and support.
• Work with the Contract Administrator to ensure timely pairing of the PO Requests with the fully executed legal documents.
• Submit executed agreements to the corporate agreement management system.
• Draft agreement templates for attorney review and approval. Assist Head of Contract Management in drafting in-house forms, SOPs, instructions and checklists for internal and intranet use. Make recommendation as to process improvements to minimize delays and simplify processes.
• Interact with all levels of internal personnel and external business partners to facilitate successful negotiations with win-win situations.
• Advise internal business partners on the contract terms.
• Assist in training internal business partners in Vendor and Contract Management processes and terminology.
• Collaborate with other procurement teams within Zoetis on projects as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and relevant work experience in a research environment; J.D. desirable but this is not a corporate counsel track position.
• Minimum of 3-5 years professional-level experience working contracts/agreement management, preferably with a global, publicly traded organization.
• Leadership, willingness to speak up, and an ability to work independently and cooperatively within an aligned team is critical for this position.
• Demonstrate organizational, problem solving, and strong interpersonal skills. Possess superior verbal and written communication skills and be adept at interacting across all levels in the organization.
• Ability to interact and interface with a broad range of individuals of varied disciplines and cultures, both external and internal, is essential.
• Strong ability and willingness to be flexible and adaptable to work in a complex, global environment cross-functionally and build relationships.
• Strong sense of customer service and willingness to work with fellow colleagues to obtain the best outcomes for the company.
• The successful candidate will be energetic, outgoing, self-motivated and constructive in his or her approach.
• Ability to balance competing priorities tactfully.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Excellent computer skills.
• Legal and/or procurement background is required. 
• Knowledge of scientific terminology desirable, but not required.
• Knowledge of an agreement management system, preferably Ariba Contracts and E-signature tool.
• Ability to leverage the agreement management system to conduct searches, author agreements, and create reports.
• Knowledge of foreign corrupt practices act, conflicts of interest, IT Security, data privacy, trade compliance and other US and Non-US regulations.

Full time

Regular

Colleague

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