Site Specialist - Contracts & Budgets

Site Specialist with contracts and budget experience - India, Chennai - Office with Flex

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

We are currently seeking a Site Specialist I – Contracts & Budgets to join our high-performing and collaborative Site Activation team at ICON. In this role, you will take ownership of clinical trial agreement negotiations, budget management, and contract execution activities with investigative sites. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure timely site start-up, regulatory compliance, and effective risk mitigation across global clinical studies. This is an excellent opportunity for a contracts professional who thrives in a dynamic, client-focused environment and is passionate about delivering operational excellence.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Leading the negotiation, execution, and ongoing management of Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) and site budgets with investigative sites.
• Collaborating with Clinical Operations and Project Management teams to support timely site activation, including forecasting and tracking contract execution timelines.
• Partnering with Functional Management to ensure adherence to local laws, regulatory requirements, and departmental policies, minimizing legal and operational risk.
• Supporting study start-up activities, including coordination of translations and assisting with submission packages for Central and Local EC/IRB and Competent Authorities.
• Reviewing and evaluating client-requested contract changes, assessing deviations, escalating when required, and applying departmental guidelines to decision-making.
• Prioritizing and managing multiple contracts simultaneously, adapting to shifting timelines and business needs.
• Proactively identifying and escalating risks or issues to the CTA Lead, FSA PM, CTM, or Contract Manager to ensure smooth project progression.
• Ensuring contracts and amendments are complete, accurate, compliant with internal standards, and appropriately filed within contract databases.
• Maintaining clear and timely documentation of all site interactions and contract status updates.
• Mentoring and guiding junior Contract Associates, supporting their professional growth and development.
• Continuously identifying opportunities to enhance processes, strengthen collaboration with project teams and investigative sites, and improve overall service delivery.
• Providing strategic insights and recommendations to CTA Leads and Project/Functional Management to enhance team efficiency and responsiveness.

Your Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 3+ years' experience negotiating and managing clinical trial contracts and site budgets within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or CRO environment.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements for clinical trials across jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, set clear timelines, and deliver within deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently explain legal and financial concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• High attention to detail with a strong track record of risk identification and mitigation.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.

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Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Rewards & Benefits

ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.

Benefits may include:

• Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
• Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
• Retirement and pension plans
• Life assurance and disability coverage
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways

Benefits may vary depending on role and location.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

Inclusion and Accessibility

ICON is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

If you require reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know or submit a request here.

Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply