Principal Contract Specialist

Thermo Fisher Scientific

. Lead preparation, negotiation, and finalization of contracts for assigned study-site workloads .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeRemote • North Carolina • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates mastery-level understanding of contract law and investigator grant budget negotiation, with a strong ability to manage complex site contracts and provide training to junior staff. Proven skills in risk assessment, problem-solving, and effective communication in both English and local languages are essential.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Contract Law MasteryInvestigator Grant Budget NegotiationRisk AssessmentTraining and MentoringEffective Communication

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Contract NegotiationBudget ManagementLegal Risk AssessmentImpact AnalysisProblem Solving

Soft Skills

MultitaskingPrioritizationFeedback Provision

Tools & Technologies

In-House SoftwareOff-the-Shelf Software

Industry Keywords

Site ContractsComplianceContractual ProcessesStudy-Site WorkloadsCountry Process Improvement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead preparation, negotiation, and finalization of contracts for assigned study-site workloads
Manage the most complex site contracts
Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize agreements with study sites
Negotiate investigator grant budgets, contractual terms, and conditions within approved parameters
Ensure compliance with negotiation parameters, approvals, contractual processes, budgetary guidance, templates, client expectations, and corporate directives
Identify and assess legal, financial, and operational risks and escalate issues appropriately
Provide recommendations and alternative resolutions for contract negotiations
Coordinate with internal functional departments on site-startup activities and contractual timelines
Align contract negotiations with the critical path for site activation and achieve target cycle times
Provide training and mentoring to junior staff
Participate in country process-improvement initiatives and country-team meetings
Act as country subject-matter expert for contract-training materials
Liaise with Global Site Contracts to ensure compliance with global processes
Complete periodic quality reviews and peer-feedback reports
Lead amendment/novation client projects and oversee confidentiality-agreement negotiations
Own and manage training plans and content for local teams and Contract Specialists
Draft and provide input on improvements and revisions to Investigator Contracts documents
Serve as an escalation point and liaison between Country Teams and the Global Site Contracts Team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification
8+ years of comparable experience
Effective communication skills in English and local language
Mastery-level understanding of contract law, including business, intellectual property, local tax, and stamp laws
Mastery of investigator grant budget negotiation within negotiation parameters
Ability to independently train and mentor staff
Ability to provide feedback and insight on country or regional budgetary trends
Excellent problem-solving, risk-assessment, and impact-analysis abilities
Ability to multitask, prioritize competing demands, and resolve complex issues
Ability to escalate out-of-parameter issues and suggest resolutions
Ability to negotiate contracts in the best interests of the company and client
Ability to work upright and/or stationary for 6–8 hours per day
Repetitive hand movement and ability to make fast, repeated movements with fingers, hands, and wrists
Frequent mobility; occasional crouching and stooping; frequent bending and twisting
Ability to lift and carry 15–20 lbs.
Ability to use in-house and off-the-shelf computer software
Regular and consistent attendance
Equivalency through a combination of appropriate education, training, and/or directly related experience may satisfy requirements

Benefits

Comp & perks

Global team environment
Collaboration and development opportunities
Opportunity to contribute to scientific excellence and innovation