Research Contracts Specialist

Salary range: The salary range for this position is CAD $38.12 - $54.80 / hour Why Fraser Health?:
We are looking for a **Full Time **Research Contracts Specialist** to join our team in **Surrey, B.C.**

Joining our team offers you opportunities to work in a rapidly growing organization with health professionals who are excellent in their respective fields. Fraser Health offers opportunities for career growth and advancement and competitive benefits, including but not limited, to:

- Four weeks of vacation to start
- Comprehensive 100% employer paid benefits
- Immediate enrollment in a defined municipal pension plan
- 87% maternity top-up
- 50% subsidy on Translink passes

Detailed Overview:
**Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families**:
The Research Contracts Specialist identifies and analyzes contractual risk exposures and proposes contractual language and/or alternative means to reduce risks to acceptable levels. Drafts contracts for various research activities, reviews and assesses contracts for accuracy and completeness. Identifies opportunities and promotes partnerships and alliances to support business development in research ventures. Maintains database, research contract files and compiles statistical reports.

**Responsibilities**:

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Manages creation and execution of master research affiliation agreements for external researchers interested in conducting research at Fraser Health.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Works with external partners to develop and implement a BC provincial standardized template and metrics for clinical trial agreements.
- Collaborates with FHA sites to ensure that their specific needs are addressed by the CTA as applicable, in particular payee and budget information.
- 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.

Qualifications:
**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 c