Children’s Oncology Group - Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst
Position Summary:
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The COG unites more than 12,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 220 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across United States, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia in the fight against childhood cancer. Our goal is to cure all children and adolescents with cancer, reduce the short- and long-term complications of cancer treatments, and determine the causes and find ways to prevent childhood cancer.
The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst will function as both an operational specialist and process architect for a new and growing contracts management department. This role requires extraordinary organizational abilities to manage the day-to-day contracting activities within the department. The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst must be process-oriented and experienced in building scalable systems while maintaining operational continuity. The ideal candidate thrives in a deadline-driven setting, works independently, and effectively communicates operational information to diverse audiences, including member sites and internal stakeholders.
The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst will assist with the setup, monitoring, and operation of electronic systems, focusing on improving contracting processes, including those associated with contract administration and subcontract management to streamline operations and maximize contracting efficiency. This position will play a key role in the scoping development and enhancement of business efficiencies by optimizing business interfaces with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring high-quality data management and effective timely communications. This position will participate in cross-departmental projects and initiatives which will require collaboration across organizational functions.
The Children’s Oncology Group is a 100% remote employer, though some travel may be required. Employee must reside within the United States.
Full salary range for this position: $70,296 to $101,911 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $70,296 (minimum) to $86,104 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
Business Process Administration
Systems Setup, Monitoring and Reporting
Contracts Management Operations
Cross-functional Analytical and Change Management:
Compliance and Risk Management:
Collaboration and Coordination:
Reporting and Analysis:
Other Responsibilities:
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Minimum Qualifications
Other Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Why Join Us:
This position offers the opportunity to be a key player in optimizing the Contracts Management Department’s function within a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving pediatric cancer research. You will work in a dynamic environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to making a tangible impact on the lives of children affected by cancer.
FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS
This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The COG unites more than 12,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 220 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across United States, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia in the fight against childhood cancer. Our goal is to cure all children and adolescents with cancer, reduce the short- and long-term complications of cancer treatments, and determine the causes and find ways to prevent childhood cancer.
The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst will function as both an operational specialist and process architect for a new and growing contracts management department. This role requires extraordinary organizational abilities to manage the day-to-day contracting activities within the department. The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst must be process-oriented and experienced in building scalable systems while maintaining operational continuity. The ideal candidate thrives in a deadline-driven setting, works independently, and effectively communicates operational information to diverse audiences, including member sites and internal stakeholders.
The Sponsored Research Contracts Operations Analyst will assist with the setup, monitoring, and operation of electronic systems, focusing on improving contracting processes, including those associated with contract administration and subcontract management to streamline operations and maximize contracting efficiency. This position will play a key role in the scoping development and enhancement of business efficiencies by optimizing business interfaces with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring high-quality data management and effective timely communications. This position will participate in cross-departmental projects and initiatives which will require collaboration across organizational functions.
The Children’s Oncology Group is a 100% remote employer, though some travel may be required. Employee must reside within the United States.
Full salary range for this position: $70,296 to $101,911 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $70,296 (minimum) to $86,104 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
Business Process Administration
- Support the implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of business processes that meet operational and compliance needs while identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and enhance contracting efficiency.
- Ensure seamless integration between business processes, stakeholders and data.
- Work closely with other Research Foundation departments (e.g., IT, legal, accounting and finance, grants administration and industry sponsored trials) to align systems and processes with organizational goals.
Systems Setup, Monitoring and Reporting
- Assist in setting up and configuring system integrations.
- Conduct routine monitoring and maintenance of systems.
- Provide ongoing systems support to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of data.
- Generate routine reports on system performance, contract lifecycle management metrics, business process improvements and others as required.
Contracts Management Operations
- Assist with developing contract administration workflows.
- Support the smooth and efficient execution of subcontracts, agreements, work orders, amendments and other instruments as required.
- Optimize the quality and accuracy of data inputs, supporting timely communication with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a collaborative and high-performance contracting environment.
- Provide actionable insights to the Associate Director to improve contract turnaround times and other identified key performance indicators.
- Maintain the confidentiality of all contracting information.
- Adhere to internal policies and procedures.
Cross-functional Analytical and Change Management:
- Analyze contract management metrics to inform continuous improvement efforts and executive reporting.
- Design and deliver training sessions and user guides to support CLM system onboarding and adoption.
Compliance and Risk Management:
- Administer all contracts in the Manager’s portfolio to ensure compliance with industry prime terms and conditions, federal regulations, organizational policies, and applicable laws.
- Identify and mitigate potential risks in contract terms and conditions.
- Collaborate with the Associate Director and Senior Director to address legal and compliance issues.
Collaboration and Coordination:
- Serve as a back-up liaison to the Associate Director of Contracts Management in connection with the industry-related agreements’ portfolio, reporting directly to the Senior Director of Contracts Management as may be required from time to time.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including finance, legal, and program teams, to align agreements and CLM with organizational goals.
- Serve as back-up liaison to Manager, Federal Grants and Contracts in connection with that agreements portfolio.
Reporting and Analysis:
- Prepare and regularly present reports (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly as required) to the Associate Director of Contracts Management relative to contract status, perceived risks, and opportunities to improve. Collaborate with senior leadership under the direction of the Associate Director of Contracts Management to deliver actionable CLM results.
- Follow trends in contracting practices and CLM, as well aa endeavor to make recommendations for improvements to policies and procedures.
Other Responsibilities:
- All other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of (2) years of experience in business administration, contracts management, systems, or operations management, with a focus on contracting processes or similar functions.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, project management, or related field, or substitute with additional four (4) years of equivalent work experience in sponsored research contracting.
Other Qualifications:
- Experience supporting a contracts management department.
- Familiarity with contract lifecycle management systems (e.g. Docusign CLM)
- Intermediate experience with project management platforms for process optimization and workflow management (e.g. Smartsheet, Monday.com)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a proven track record of implementing solutions to streamline operational efficiency and drive system improvements.
- Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to collaborate with multi-functional teams on process improvement initiatives and change management processes.
- Experience with Microsoft 365 applications suite.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and training skills, including the ability to clearly convey operational information to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, time management, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining confidentiality and working collegially in cross-functional environments.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Ability to travel overnight to COG Group Meetings and any other business-related meetings as requested.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Five (5) years of experience in business administration, contracts management, systems, or operations management.
- Master's degree in business administration or related field.
- Experience with clinical trial agreements and subcontract agreements.
- Familiarity with data governance and reporting in business systems.
- Experience in a nonprofit or academic research organization setting, particularly related to clinical trial research.
- Prior experience in a newly established contracts management function or startup type environment.
- Experience in organizational transition or change management initiatives.
Why Join Us:
This position offers the opportunity to be a key player in optimizing the Contracts Management Department’s function within a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving pediatric cancer research. You will work in a dynamic environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to making a tangible impact on the lives of children affected by cancer.
FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS
This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.
