Senior Manager, Contracts

About Us 

Position Title: Senior Manager, Contracts 

Department: Legal 

Reports To: Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions 

Location: South San Francisco, CA – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs) 

Job Overview 

Kardigan is seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Contracts to oversee all aspects of contract processing and administration. In this role, the Senior Manager, Contracts will manage the complete contract lifecycle and lead the implementation and administration of the contract management system. Kardigan seeks an exceptional candidate with strong contract administration experience who can collaborate cross-functionally, negotiate agreements, and communicate clearly and effectively. Attention to detail is essential in this role. You will join our fast-paced legal team, reporting to our Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions. This is a highly visible position within Kardigan as you will interface directly with business stakeholders across the company. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Contract Lifecycle Management 

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts including service agreements, consulting agreements, NDAs, vendor and supplier contracts, SaaS/software agreements, and statements of work (SOWs). 

• Translate business needs into clear, legally sound contract language, balancing risk mitigation with operational flexibility. 

• Ensure contractual terms comply with applicable laws, company policies, and industry regulations. 

• Lead implementation of a contract lifecycle management (CLM) tool and serve as the Legal administrator for the system (e.g., maintain users, update user roles and workflows). 

• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal teams including Legal, Procurement, R&D, Clinical Operations, IT, Finance, and others. 

• Track key contractual obligations, renewals, and deadlines. 

• Identify, assess, and escalate legal and business risks when necessary. 

• Drive collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including vendors, CROs, CMOs, service providers, consultants, clinical sites, and collaboration partners.  

Contract Operations & Reporting  

• Manage contracts and process from requests from intake to execution and track Manage contracts from intake to execution, tracking status and communicating risks, priorities, and solutions to stakeholders at all levels. 

• Lead weekly interdepartmental meetings with business stakeholders and contract negotiators on priorities, status of inflight contracts, and open issues. 

• Develop and prepare key performance metrics and generate periodic reports on contract management. 

• Coordinate and manage execution, renewals, and terminations of contracts. 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize contracting processes, workflows, operational efficiency, and cross-functional alignment. 

Business Partnership & Training 

• Serve as the primary liaison for internal partners and stakeholders on contract negotiations, processes, and operations, including anticipating contracting needs and providing guidance. 

• Develop and maintain training programs for contract processes and CLM system usage. 

• Develop communication plans to provide contract process updates and performance metrics to internal partners. 

• Partner with senior business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to support strategic contracting initiatives and organizational priorities. 

General 

• Monitor contract-related activities for compliance with internal policies, industry regulations, and applicable laws. 

• Support special projects and contract-related initiatives. 

• Perform other duties as requested. 

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

• Bachelor's degree preferred; Paralegal certification preferred. 

• At least 10 years of relevant experience with a minimum of 7 years of contract administration within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry, with a strong focus on drug discovery and clinical development. 

• Proven excellence in contract drafting and negotiation, with a solid foundation in biotech/pharma contract terms and best practices, and the ability to manage complex agreements independently. 

• Proficient in contract lifecycle and procurement processes, including experience with contract lifecycle management systems, e-signature platforms, and collaboration platforms; previous CLM implementation and administration experience strongly preferred. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives, identify and appropriately manage contract risks, and influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels. 

• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to triage, prioritize, and effectively advance multiple simultaneous projects 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. 

• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. 

• Experience with CMC-related contracts and workstreams preferred. 

• 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.