Senior Contracts Manager, Clinical Agreements

The posting, as Kardigan wrote it

About Us

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.

Led by Tassos Gianakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.

We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic —leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn , we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.

Position Title: Senior Contracts Manager

Department: Legal

Reports To: Director, Contracts & Transactions Counsel

Location: Princeton, NJ – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

Kardigan is seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to lead the negotiation and management of
Clinical Trial Agreements and other clinical-related agreements in support of Kardigan’s clinical development
programs. This is a hands-on drafting and negotiation role — the primary focus is clinical contracting, with
additional responsibility for general contracting needs across the business as they arise. This role does not have
ownership of Kardigan’s contract lifecycle management (CLM) system implementation or administration, which
is led separately within the Legal team. Kardigan seeks an exceptional candidate with strong clinical contracts
experience who can collaborate cross-functionally, negotiate agreements independently, and communicate
clearly and effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Attention to detail is essential. You will join our fast-paced
legal team, reporting to our Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions, and will interface directly
with Clinical Operations, R&D, and other business stakeholders across the company.

Essential Duties
[…]
contract negotiation strategy, process, and status.

• Communicate contract status, priorities, and risks clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Partner with the broader Legal team on cross-functional initiatives and process improvements affecting clinical and general contracting.

General

• Support special projects and other contract-related initiatives as needed.
• Perform other duties as requested

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; paralegal certification a plus.
• At least 7–10 years of relevant contracts experience, with substantial, hands-on experience drafting and negotiating Clinical Trial Agreements and related clinical agreements within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry.
• Proven track record negotiating CRO and vendor agreements, data privacy agreements (GDPR/Standard Contractual Clauses), and reviewing Informed Consent Forms.
• Working knowledge of the clinical trial regulatory framework (e.g., GCP, ICH) as it relates to contracting.
• Comfortable also handling general commercial contracts (vendor, consulting, NDA, MSA/SOW) outside the clinical space.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management systems, e-signature platforms (e.g., DocuSign), and collaboration tools; prior experience with Agiloft a plus.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to triage, prioritize, and manage multiple concurrent negotiations in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent issue-spotting, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with individuals at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to integrity, ethical conduct, and handling confidential information with discretion.
• Meticulous attention to detail; able to work independently with good judgment and a strong team-oriented mindset.

Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Pay range
$153,000 — $199,000 USD