Director, Contracts and Budgets (Clinical Research)

About Folio Clinical Research

Folio Clinical Research is a leading urologic research network treating urologic cancers, urinary stones, Peyronie’s disease, sexual and erectile dysfunction (ED), low testosterone, prostate disorders, urinary incontinence, and more. We partner with leading physician practices to create a cohesive, quality-oriented clinical culture, facilitating best practice sharing across our platform. Our affiliated practices gain access to a broad suite of clinical trials, providing significant benefits to both physicians and patients.

Position Overview

The Director of Contracts and Budgets leads the development, negotiation, and financial oversight of clinical trial contracts and study budgets for Folio as a site management organization (SMO). Reporting to the COO, this role owns the full range of agreements that support Folio’s trials: contracts between Folio and the physician clinics and networks (sites) it represents; contracts between Folio and sponsors/CROs, including negotiations conducted on behalf of the sites Folio represents; and agreements with the vendors that support the trial process. The Director partners closely with Clinical Operations, Finance, and Legal to drive timely site activation, fiscally responsible trial execution, and fair, market-aligned budgets across all parties.

This is a high-visibility, fully remote leadership role for an experienced clinical research contracts professional who thrives at the intersection of contract negotiation and clinical trial finance, and who can build scalable processes to support a rapidly growing, private equity–backed site network. The ideal candidate brings direct, hands-on experience with research sites and how they operate, along with a proven track record creating and negotiating site-facing clinical trial contracts and budgets — CTAs, site agreements, and vendor agreements — whether that contracting experience was gained at a research site, SMO, academic medical center, sponsor, or CRO.

Key Responsibilities

Contracts \& Negotiations

• Negotiate and manage Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs), amendments, and related agreements with sponsors and CROs, including negotiations conducted on behalf of the sites Folio represents.
• Negotiate and manage agreements between Folio and the physician clinics and networks (sites) it represents.
• Negotiate and manage vendor agreements that support the trial process (e.g., central and specialty labs, imaging, and other trial-support vendors).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractual and budgetary discussions with sponsors, CROs, sites, and vendors.
• Collaborate with Legal to ensure agreements protect Folio’s and its sites’ interests and comply with regulatory, contractual, and organizational requirements.
• Develop and maintain standard contract language, negotiation playbooks, and fallback positions across all contract types.

Budget Development \& Financial Oversight

• Own the development, negotiation, and approval of site budgets, payment schedules, and pass-through costs, ensuring Folio and its sites are fairly and competitively compensated.
• Partner with Clinical Operations and Finance to align budgets with protocol requirements, enrollment strategies, and timelines.
• Review and approve budget amendments related to protocol changes, enrollment adjustments, or operational scope shifts.
• Ensure budgets are competitive, compliant, and aligned with market benchmarks.

Operational \& Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with Clinical Operations to support site selection, site activation, and trial startup timelines.
• Provide financial and contractual guidance to internal stakeholders throughout the trial lifecycle.
• Identify risks related to cost overruns, delayed negotiations, or contractual bottlenecks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support audit readiness by ensuring accurate documentation and contract compliance.

Process Improvement \& Strategy

• Establish and continuously improve contracting and budget processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and predictability.
• Track negotiation timelines, cycle times, and budget performance metrics.
• Contribute to long-range planning, trial feasibility assessments, and portfolio-level financial forecasting.
• Support vendor selection and oversight from a contractual and financial perspective.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 7\+ years of experience in clinical research contracts and budgeting, with hands-on responsibility for creating and negotiating site-facing CTAs, site agreements, and/or vendor agreements.
• Direct experience with research sites and their operational and financial needs — whether gained at a research site, SMO, academic medical center, sponsor, or CRO — and a demonstrated ability to structure contracts and budgets that serve Folio and the sites it represents.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, site workflows, and study startup processes.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Legal, and Finance.

Preferred

• Experience at a research site, SMO, academic medical center, or multi-site clinical research network.
• Familiarity with Fair Market Value (FMV) methodologies and benchmarking tools.
• Experience supporting multi-site or multi-study portfolios.
• Advanced degree or relevant certification (MBA, JD, CCRA, etc.).

Skills \& Competencies

• Contract negotiation and financial acumen.
• Strategic thinking with strong attention to detail.
• Clear, confident communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Process-driven mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.

Pay: $110,000\.00 - $160,000\.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you worked at or directly with research sites (e.g., a site, SMO, academic medical center, sponsor, or CRO)? Please describe.
• Have you owned budget development, payment schedules, and pass-through cost negotiation for clinical trials? Please briefly describe your role.
• How many years of experience do you have negotiating clinical trial contracts and budgets (CTAs, site agreements, and/or vendor agreements)?
• Describe your experience creating and negotiating clinical trial contracts and budgets that involve research sites — e.g., CTAs with sponsors/CROs, agreements with sites, and vendor agreements.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Fair Market Value (FMV) methodologies and benchmarking tools: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Remote