Senior Contracts Manager, Technical Operations

Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. Crinetics is known for its inclusive workplace culture. We are also a dog-friendly workplace. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully-integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others.

Position Summary:

The Crinetics Legal Team is seeking an experienced paralegal to provide critical legal and contract support for Technical Operations (CMC) and quality-related activities across the product lifecycle. This individual will have deep experience preparing, reviewing, and managing a high volume of agreements that are essential to manufacturing, supply chain, and quality operations, including commercial supply agreements, quality agreements, and technical service contracts. The role will also support documentation and contract processes tied to GxP compliance, regulatory inspections, and post-approval obligations. ensure that all contract activities meet company policies, align with applicable quality and regulatory requirements, and are executed in a timely manner to support uninterrupted product development and manufacturing.

As a member of the Legal Team, this individual will primarily support Crinetics’ Technical Operations (CMC) and other R&D functions. This person will work independently on a wide variety of contracts, including negotiation, drafting and review of contracts in support of the R&D functions, including without limitation, Technical Operations (CMC) research and development and commercial supply agreements, agreements for Investigator Initiated Studies, MTAs to ensure that all contract activities meet company policies, align with applicable quality and regulatory requirements, and are executed in a timely manner to support uninterrupted product development and manufacturing.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

These may include but are not limited to:

• Prepare, review, negotiate and keep track of all important details of an agreement, including key deliverables, milestones, dates, deadlines, and opt-out/negotiation windows, and termination or cancellation requirements.

• Support manufacturing and quality metrics by ensuring contract deliverables are aligned with operational performance.

• Prepare, review, and track Technical Operations (CMC) and quality-related contracts, including quality agreements, technical service agreements, manufacturing and supply agreements, and related documentation.

• Coordinate with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure contract terms reflect current GxP requirements and support inspection readiness.

• Review, draft and negotiate various service agreements, including but not limited to, Master Service Agreements, Statements of Work, Consulting Agreements, MTAs, LOIs, etc.

• Work with the internal client to participate in development of RFPs and proposal reviews and ensure alignment with contract strategies and business objectives as well as ensure all requested contracts provide complete information, including but not limited to, service description, budget, and milestones as applicable.

• Ensure terms and conditions of the contracts align with current guidance and/or policy; review, draft, and document suggested language changes, and oversee resolution of all proposed changes to agreements

• Identify and resolve routine and moderately complex legal matters in area of responsibility with minimal supervision.

• Develop knowledge of Crinetics R&D business and quickly identify issues for appropriate escalation within the business, finance, compliance or legal.

• Facilitate contract actions and processes independently and effectively.

• Responsible for the reporting and analytics function of the CLM tool to provide key performance indicators (KPI) of the contract lifecycle

• Liaise with procurement and Finance to ensure appropriate and required information is communicated between Finance, procurement and Legal.

• Act as point person for all business users’ queries relating to submission of their contract requests.

• Coordinate execution of approved documents, update status in the system of record and assist with the distribution of documents, both internally and externally.

• Prepare, review, and track Technical Operations (CMC) and quality-related contracts, including quality agreements, technical service agreements, manufacturing and supply agreements, and related documentation.

• Coordinate with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure contract terms reflect current GxP requirements and support inspection readiness.

• Assist with maintaining documentation needed for regulatory submissions, inspections, and post-inspection follow-up, including corrective and preventive action plan (CAPA) documentation tied to contractual obligations.

• Monitor key contractual commitments related to manufacturing timelines, quality deliverables, and regulatory reporting, ensuring compliance and escalation of potential risks.

• Perform special tasks and assignments as required by management.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Paralegal with 16 years, or Paralegal and Bachelors degree with 12 years, providing direct legal support for pharmaceutical or biotechnology clinical trials

• Demonstrated contracting excellence in: (a) Leading the direct negotiation of contracts and providing oversight of the applicable amendments and site level negotiation using approved playbook and clause libraries; (b) Working in close collaboration with study sites as well as the Technical Operations / CMC and supply chain teams to ensure agreement execution within the timelines and in an efficient manner and (c) Partnering with site contract team to efficiently resolve and finalize contracts with an acute appreciation that patients are waiting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, project coordination, and interpersonal skills.

• Must have working knowledge of human subject protection laws, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and related regulations, US and global privacy laws, and other applicable federal and state laws and appreciate the need to escalate issues governing the research and development of human therapeutics.

• Must have experience involving clinical development programs, data sharing arrangements, clinical supply arrangements, and complex research collaborations.

• Proficient in the use of contract management software, spreadsheets, database and word-processing applications.

• Ability to rapidly establish credibility and relationships with a broad range of individuals.

• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy

Preferred

• Juris Doctor degree

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.

Travel:

You may be required to travel for up to 5% of your time.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

Total Compensation:

The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience and education. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is: $125,000 - $156,000.

In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.