Contract Manager, R&D

About the Company

Contracts Manager II to join the Legal Department’s R&D Contracting group, reporting to Associate Corporate Counsel. You will be an integral member of the Legal Department and will have the opportunity to operate independently in a dynamic, collegial environment. You will closely partner and collaborate with various R&D departments across the organization, with a focus on supporting the Development and Clinical Operations functions.

About the Role

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draft, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of agreements supporting clinical development and R&D activities, including clinical trial agreements (Exelixis-sponsored and Investigator-sponsored trials), confidentiality agreements, consulting and services agreements, research agreements, material transfer agreements, and other vendor and services agreements, under the close supervision of senior attorneys.
• Support the contracting needs of Clinical Operations, Clinical Development, Research, and related R&D functions by addressing legal and business questions in a timely and practical manner.
• Review, interpret, and provide guidance on existing agreements under the supervision of senior attorneys, including assisting with contract interpretation, compliance questions, and issue resolution.
• Identify and assess legal and business risks associated with clinical and R&D contracts and relationships, and communicate those risks clearly to senior attorneys and appropriate internal stakeholders for discussion and resolution.
• Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional internal clients, including Clinical Operations, Research, Finance, and Procurement, to support contracting objectives and timelines.
• Assist with maintaining contract records, tracking contract status, and supporting contract lifecycle management processes.
• Handle miscellaneous legal and administrative tasks as needed, under the direction of senior attorneys, in support of the Legal Department.
• Provide general support to in‑house attorneys on clinical, R&D, and related contracting matters as requested.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Qualifications

• Education: BS/BA degree in a related discipline and 10 years of related experience.
• JD preferred and two years of related experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Skills

• Thorough understanding of the contract management process, including tracking, negotiation, approval, and signature processes.
• Working knowledge of the drug discovery and development process and ability to understand risks and requirements associated with pharmaceutical contracting preferred.
• Ability to work both independently and effectively across a variety of functional groups (such as Research and Development, CMC, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, and Clinical) and all levels of management.
• Flexible and willing to learn new procedures and skill sets.
• Experience with or knowledge of paralegal support tasks, with a focus on intellectual property matters or corporate matters, preferred.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills; must have excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Must be detail-oriented and have strong organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to prioritize; must be responsible and conscientious.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet specific deadlines.