Global Head, Site Contracting

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Global Head, Site Contracting based in Germany.

We are seeking an experienced global leader to drive investigator contract and budget strategy across an international clinical development portfolio. In this senior role, you will lead a multi-regional team of contracting professionals, overseeing the negotiation and execution of clinical trial site agreements while ensuring compliance with legal, financial, and regulatory requirements. You will serve as a key subject matter expert on investigator contracting, authorised signatory processes, and operational standards. Working closely with country operations, finance, budget specialists, and external service providers, you will strengthen consistency, efficiency, and quality across global contracting activities. You will also guide strategic improvements, manage complex escalations, and support integration initiatives. This is an opportunity to influence global clinical operations and help ensure that clinical research partnerships are managed effectively and responsibly.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the global and regional execution and oversight of investigator site contracts and specialty agreements across the clinical development portfolio.

• Manage, develop, and guide a multi-regional team of contract professionals, establishing clear priorities and performance expectations.

• Act as the primary subject matter expert for investigator contract and budget negotiations, including authorised signatory processes.

• Partner with Country Operations Enablement Leads to develop and implement efficient processes for triaging and managing contract requests while maintaining strong legal and financial controls.

• Maintain and deliver operational guidelines and standards for investigative site contracting and budgeting.

• Ensure alignment with budget specialists on per-subject cost development, applying appropriate benchmarking and fair market value principles.

• Collaborate with invoicing specialists, external invoice service providers, and site budget teams to ensure consistency between contractual terms, compensation requirements, and payment processes.

• Oversee compliance with applicable legal and financial requirements, including Sarbanes-Oxley, transparency regulations, and data privacy laws.

• Serve as the primary expert for integration activities, supporting the adoption of contractual terms and continuity of payments for integrated studies.

• Define and implement strategic improvements to contracting processes, documentation quality, and operational efficiency.

• Respond to changes in legal, financial, and compliance requirements, including trade controls, inflation, inspection outcomes, and audit findings.

• Oversee Contract Research Organizations (CROs) within the scope of the Site Contracting function and provide outsourcing guidance when required.

• Escalate significant budget exceptions and complex contractual matters to senior leadership.

• Monitor key performance indicators and ensure that site contracting activities meet established operational and quality expectations.

Requirements:

• Advanced understanding of legal concepts and principles relating to clinical trial agreements and other clinical research contractual documents.

• An advanced degree, such as a JD, MBA, or another relevant graduate qualification, a professional qualification, or extensive equivalent experience.

• Significant experience in clinical development operations, clinical trial outsourcing, or a closely related field.

• Strong knowledge of investigator contracts, negotiation principles, contracting practices, and operational processes.

• Demonstrated experience developing investigator site budgets, including understanding protocol-required procedures, contingent cost coverage, and budget construction, modification, and negotiation.

• Understanding of global investigator budget requirements and fair market value principles, including country- and region-specific considerations.

• Excellent negotiation and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to manage complex discussions and reach balanced outcomes.

• Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including knowledge of finance principles and activity-based budgeting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across functions and geographies.

• Proven leadership experience, including the ability to coach and develop colleagues, guide teams, collaborate with peers, and deliver meaningful business outcomes.

• Experience with Ariba Contract Workbench, Grants Manager, Grants Plan, or other industry-specific costing and planning tools is an advantage.

• Ability to operate strategically while maintaining oversight of operational details, compliance standards, and performance expectations.

Benefits:

• Fully remote work arrangement, with the role available across designated locations in Europe and North America.

• Full-time employment.

• Annual US base salary range of $214,900–$358,100, depending on applicable location and compensation structure. This US salary range does not apply to locations outside the United States.

• Eligibility for a Global Performance Plan, with a target bonus of 22.5% of base salary.

• Eligibility to participate in a share-based long-term incentive programme.

• Comprehensive benefits and wellbeing programmes, with packages aligned to the location of hire.

• For eligible US-based employees, benefits include retirement savings plans with employer contributions, paid vacation and holidays, personal days, caregiver, parental and medical leave, and medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage.

• Relocation assistance may be available depending on business needs and individual eligibility.

• Local compensation information is provided during the recruitment process where required by applicable pay transparency regulations.