Associate Director, Clinical Contracts Counsel

Umoja Biopharma

. Draft, review, and negotiate clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, master services agreements, ancillary contracts, consulting agreements, and informed consent forms .

Posted 10/6/2026full-timeRemote • Washington • United StatesSenior💰 $205,000 - $226,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in drafting and negotiating clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, and master service agreements while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Possesses strong analytical and communication skills to provide practical legal advice and support contract lifecycle management in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Highest-signal resume keywords

J.D. From An Accredited Law SchoolActive Membership In A U.S. State Bar5+ Years Of Legal Experience In Biotechnology Or Pharmaceutical IndustryClinical Trial Agreement Drafting And NegotiationContract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Contract DraftingContract NegotiationLegal Risk AnalysisCompliance ConsiderationsContract Lifecycle ManagementIntellectual Property LawRegulatory RequirementsContract Templates DevelopmentClause LibrariesNegotiation Playbooks

Soft Skills

Analytical SkillsCommunication SkillsNegotiation SkillsStakeholder ManagementRelationship Building

Industry Keywords

BiotechnologyPharmaceuticalLife SciencesClinical OperationsClinical Study FrameworksContract ComplianceLegal OperationsContract Process ImprovementFast-Paced EnvironmentCross-Functional Collaboration

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Draft, review, and negotiate clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, master services agreements, ancillary contracts, consulting agreements, and informed consent forms
Develop clear, practical, and risk-balanced contract terms supporting business objectives
Customize contract structures and terms while maintaining company standards
Review and analyze contracts for legal risks, compliance considerations, and business implications
Partner with internal stakeholders to understand operational objectives and provide guidance on contractual rights, obligations, and risk trade-offs
Ensure contracts align with company policies, legal requirements, and strategic priorities, escalating complex or high-risk issues as appropriate
Provide practical, business-focused legal advice on contract-related matters
Advise on intellectual property, indemnification, limitation of liability, confidentiality, and other contractual issues
Develop and deliver training materials, guidance, and presentations on contract processes, policies, and best practices
Monitor contractual obligations to support compliance with agreed terms and conditions
Collaborate with cross-functional partners to implement contract compliance processes and mitigate legal and operational risk
Assist with internal audits, issue resolution, and continuous improvement of contracting practices
Support contract lifecycle management, contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, standardized processes, and workflow optimization
Report to the Chief Legal Officer and collaborate with cross-functional teams to support clinical programs

Requirements

What you’ll need

J.D. from an accredited law school
Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar; Washington State bar membership preferred
Minimum of 5 years of combined law firm and/or in-house legal experience within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industry
Minimum of 2 years of direct experience serving as a contracts attorney with responsibility for drafting and negotiating clinical trial agreements
Experience supporting clinical operations contracting and negotiating clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, master service agreements, consulting agreements, and informed consent forms (ICFs)
Strong understanding of contract law, U.S. and ex-U.S. clinical study frameworks, and applicable regulatory requirements
Ability to identify and assess legal and business risks and provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance
Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving biotechnology environment
Collaborative, client-service-oriented approach with ability to build trusted partnerships across Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Finance, and other cross-functional teams
Experience supporting contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems, developing contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, and standardized contracting processes
Experience leading or supporting legal operations, contract process improvement, and workflow optimization initiatives
Experience within a clinical-stage or commercial-stage biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences organization
Ability to sit for extended periods of time
Ability to do typical desk work in an office environment

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical plans
Dental plans
Vision plans
401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to the first 4% deferral
Generous Paid Time Off policy
Employee commuter benefits
Cell phone stipend