Contracts Manager

Job Summary

Avidity Biosciences is currently seeking a motivated and skilled individual to join our legal team to administer corporate legal processes and manage company agreements. This position requires relevant in-house experience in the legal department of a biotech or pharmaceutical company, although experience with a leading law firm may be considered. The successful candidate will join a growing legal team in the support of all aspects of our business, clinical, corporate, and research goals. This is a full-time position and is located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA.

Primary responsibilities of this position will include:·         This position has primary responsibility for contract negotiation, management and administration. ·         Creates, analyzes, updates, and manages Company contract records in a contract management system. ·         Reviews contract records for completeness and accuracy.

• Completes initial redlines of contracts with escalations to attorneys as required.

·         Maintains contract management system and updates, importing of legacy documents. ·         Manages life cycle of contracts, from contract request through expiration/termination. ·         Supports creation of contracts by gathering and vetting required inputs including but not limited to business terms from a variety of functional owners. ·         Guides internal colleagues in the contract request process and obtains input as needed. ·         As contract intake coordinator, reviews contract requests and SOWs for consistency with Company requirements and policies, and manages requests according to current priorities. ·         Performs review of mature contracts and manages renewals and amendments. ·         Acts as a liaison between internal colleagues and Legal for timely processing of contracts. ·         Handles status inquiries, process questions, and directs inquiries to the appropriate colleague. ·         Works with procurement, finance, R&D, IP, and IT to streamline the contract process and integrate information with other functional area needs.  ·         Identifies and assists Legal with resolution of issues impacting completion of contracts. ·         Maintains standardized forms and templates and assists in updating them. ·         Formats documents for finalization and execution including use of e-signature services. ·         Manages transfer to company records and maintenance of fully executed agreements. ·         Gathers, analyzes, and reports on legal department budget related information. Requirements

Avidity is a newly public company that is rapidly expanding in all aspects of its business.  Avidity is a company with a specific focus on biotechnology pharmaceutical research and development and the legal department handles a variety of different relationship types. As such the requirements of this position are not routine, and include:

• A life sciences Bachelor’s degree is preferred, and a paralegal certificate is a plus but not required.
• 4+ years contract/budget management work experience in a pharmaceutical company.
• High degree of ability to navigate unsettled contract issues to find solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects to be efficient and timely with work product.
• Excellent communication skills among colleagues and outside parties.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders including colleagues, vendors, CROs, CMOs, service providers, consultants, collaboration partners, and clinical sites in a highly professional manner.
• Comfortable communicating issues and problems and proposing solutions for timely resolution.
• Expressing ideas for continuous improvement.
• Proficient in managing the processes related to contracting and purchasing.
• Familiarity with the life sciences industry, especially in drug discovery and clinical development.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, written and oral communication skills.
• Superior attention to detail and adaptability with new/evolving processes will be key.
• Positive outlook, willingness to learn and contribute, and a team-oriented attitude.
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, Adobe, DocuSign.