Research Contracts Specialist

1. Reviews industry and/or academic sponsored research contracts to ensure compliance with FHA policies, pertinent legislation and regulations which may include congruence with Research Ethics Board requirements. Ensures Fraser Health's interests are protected in complex arrangements for research activities by applying risk management skills and contractual expertise.
2. Drafts and negotiates contracts and agreements and changes to contracts/agreements required for both industry and academic sponsored research based on FHA standard requirements. Identifies and analyzes contractual risk exposure; proposes contractual language and/or alternative means to mitigate liability risk arising from FHAs participation in research. Identifies contract issues that require changes to FHA research policies.
3. Provides consultation and advice to the Director-DERS, staff and other stakeholders on research contract proposals and negotiations; promotes cooperation among all parties to the contracts/agreements in providing responsive service.
4. Develops relationships with affiliated academic institutions, health authorities and/or industry to maximize efficiency of the contract review process for FHA and the FHA research site.
5. Manages creation and execution of master research affiliation agreements for external researchers interested in conducting research at Fraser Health.
6. Reviews and assesses contracts and proposals for accuracy and completeness. Completes and verifies a variety of documents. Ensures FHA insurance requirements for each specific contract/agreement are met by academic and industry sponsors liaising with the Risk Management Branch of the Ministry of Health.
7. Ensures Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) and any other related research agreements with sponsors are thoroughly reviewed, meet high standards of quality control, and are complete prior to sign off by Fraser Health. Tracks execution of CTAs by all other parties to ensure timely and accurate completion.
8. Implements and maintains a tracking system for contract and sponsor related activities and timelines. Maintains relevant database, and research and contract related correspondence files. Compiles and prepares statistical reports as requested.
9. Collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs), and departments, as applicable, to create detailed, accurate budgets for research studies, ensuring alignment with project objectives, institutional guidelines, and sponsor requirements.
10. Support negotiations with sponsors and funding agencies by providing detailed budget breakdowns, justifications, and projections. Ensure terms meet both sponsor expectations and institutional financial policies. Maintain detailed records of budget proposals, approvals, modifications, and reports for audit purposes.
11. Ensure appropriate cost recovery by applying indirect costs and overhead charges according to institutional policies. Review all charges for accuracy and allocate costs appropriately across study budgets. Assist with the collection of overhead funds.
12. Provide training sessions for research staff on budget policies, cost accounting, and budget management. Offer consultation services to PIs and department leaders regarding budget development and management best practices.
13. Works with external partners to develop and implement a BC provincial standardized template and metrics for clinical trial agreements.
14. Collaborates with FHA sites to ensure that their specific needs are addressed by the CTA as applicable, in particular payee and budget information.
15. Supports the development of administrative processes for study budget account set up in the Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS). Liaises and co-ordinates with CTMS administrator to resolve related issues.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Business or health related field. Five (5) to seven (7) years of recent, related experience working with industry or the health research field including experience in Contract and Risk Management or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Competencies

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

Professional/Technical Capabilities:

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and analyze contract agreements.
• Demonstrated risk management skills as they relate to research and contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage a diverse range of complex projects and activities.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate business arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment including computer software applications.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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