Proposals and Contract Manager

When our values align, there's no limit to what we can achieve.

At Parexel, we all share the same goal - to improve the world's health. From clinical trials to regulatory, consulting, and market access, every clinical development solution we provide is underpinned by something special - a deep conviction in what we do.

Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy and we're committed to making a difference.

About Parexel

Parexel is a leading global clinical development partner delivering insights-driven clinical and consulting solutions to the life sciences industry. With 22,000+ employees worldwide, we partner with biopharmaceutical companies and research sites to design and deliver patient-focused clinical trials that broaden access and make research a care option for anyone, anywhere.

We work with focus, agility, and shared purpose - moving with urgency to address patient needs and accelerate the delivery of new therapies. We embrace bold thinking, adapt quickly to change, and continually raise the bar for the speed and quality of clinical research. We are expanding our team and seeking talented individuals to help drive industry-leading innovation, With Heart®.

About the Role

We are seeking a Proposal and Contract Manager to join our team in a remote capacity in the United States. In this role, you will lead proposal and contract activities that help Parexel respond to client opportunities and establish the commercial foundations for clinical research programs. You will manage requests for proposals from receipt through delivery, coordinate subject matter experts and cross-functional partners, develop and revise proposals and budgets, and support contract preparation, negotiation, and signature.

You will work across Operations, Project Management, Legal, Business Development, Finance, and other specialist teams to deliver accurate, compelling, and commercially sound client materials. This role offers broad exposure to global clinical study operations, pricing strategy, contract management, client engagement, and process improvement, with opportunities to serve as a resource and mentor to colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end Request for Proposal process, from receipt and analysis of RFP documentation through final delivery.
• Analyze study protocols or synopses, assign and engage the appropriate subject matter experts, and coordinate strategic, operational, proposal, and budget inputs.
• Prepare and revise proposals and budgets in response to RFPs and client revisions, incorporating subject matter expert feedback and following the Decisions Right policy.
• Identify barriers and risks that could affect RFP completion and implement effective mitigation strategies to meet client deadlines.
• Obtain third-party quotations as needed and ensure proposals and budgets align with the RFP, client specifications, communications, and internal assumptions.
• Manage contract activities for assigned accounts by coordinating Operations, Project Management, Legal, Business Development, Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Develop account-specific contracting standards, contract strategies, delivery plans, budgets, payment terms, and contract language, and discuss or negotiate these with clients as appropriate.
• Create, negotiate, and finalize contracts in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures, guidance, and work instructions.
• Amend project and client budgets using internal tools and reports, ensuring complete input from project and functional teams and clear rationale for cost changes.
• Lead relevant internal and client meetings, negotiate costs and terms with minimal support, and work toward targeted client signature dates.
• Prepare contract documents from Parexel templates and manage contractual matters requiring Finance, Tax, Legal, or other stakeholder input.
• Maintain complete, accurate documentation and current system data for metrics and key performance indicators; independently map client bid grids and support process and tool improvement initiatives.

Candidate Profile

You'll thrive in this role if you bring:

• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple varied tasks and strict deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and consistently high-quality work, including under pressure or when client timelines require irregular or extended hours.
• Clear written and verbal communication, highly developed interpersonal skills, and confidence working with colleagues and clients at all levels.
• The ability to lead internal and client meetings proactively, negotiate client discussions with minimal support, and escalate difficult issues appropriately.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach and the ability to work independently in a global matrix environment.
• A sense of urgency, a positive attitude, and a willingness to support colleagues, mentor less experienced team members, and contribute to improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Science, Business, Languages, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4-6 years of experience in project support, finance, contracting, or proposals within a contract research organization or similar life sciences environment.
• Strong experience in proposals and/or contracts in a contract research organization or other life sciences environment. Finance experience may be suitable when paired with proposal or contracting experience.
• Broad experience with proposal and contract management principles, contractual terms, pricing structures, pricing tools, and data systems such as Salesforce.
• Strong understanding of the operational aspects of clinical study conduct across different regions of the world.
• Knowledge of client contract processes, account management, reporting, cash flow, and revenue recognition.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, and databases.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, including the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with clients.
• Ability to work from home and to work irregular or extended hours when needed to meet client proposal deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA
• Early Phase clinical research experience.
• Previous proposal development experience.
• Experience working in multinational and multicultural companies.

Benefits and Compensation

• Health, Vision & Dental Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Work/Life Balance
• 401(k) with Company match
• Pet Insurance

For a complete list of benefits, please visit www.parexel.com/us-benefits.

If this job doesn't sound like the next step in your career, but perhaps you know of someone who'd be a perfect fit, send them the link to apply!

We believe in flexibility, growth, and creating space for people to do their best work. Join us and be part of a team where your contributions help shape the future of clinical research.

EEO Disclaimer

Parexel is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, which in the US includes race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.