Contract Manager

Contract ManagerWe are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies. Our mission is to develop effective, safe, and accessible cell therapies for patients with devastating autoimmune diseases. We aim to develop therapies that patients and physicians can utilize in a community setting. Our lead product candidate, AlloNK®, is a non-genetically modified, cryopreserved NK cell therapy being evaluated in combination with B-cell targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We believe the compelling cell killing properties of NK cells, when combined with mAbs for targeting, creates an opportunity to generate potentially transformative therapies.The Contract Manager, reporting to the Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, is responsible for managing all aspects of Artiva's contract activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both commercial contracts and clinical trial agreements with development-stage biotechnology companies, as well as experience or interest in other areas of legal operations.Duties/Responsibilities:Lead the preparation, review, negotiation, and execution of a range of contracts (including but not limited to master services agreements, statements of work, consulting agreements, and amendments), ensuring key terms are clearly defined, accurately tracked, and aligned with playbooks, Company policies, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.Serve as a primary point of contact and a partner for business users to provide guidance on the contract process and support the timely intake, negotiation, execution, and administration of contracts, ensuring appropriate communication throughout and coordination with Finance and Procurement.Independently manage contract workflows, ensuring contracts progress efficiently through intake, review, negotiation, execution, and tracking of obligations.Collaborate with representatives from contract research organizations (CROs) on clinical trial agreements (CTAs) and amendments with clinical trial sites, including development of CTA templates and playbooks, review and negotiation of CTAs, and identification and escalation of issues.Identify contractual, operational, or compliance risks and escalate appropriately, providing clear issue framing and recommended paths forward.Coordinate execution of agreements, including routing for signature, maintaining accurate records, and facilitating distribution of fully executed documents.Co-lead the selection and implementation of a contract lifecycle management (CLM) tool, including collaborating with internal stakeholders across functions to identify and address requirements; manage the CLM tool once implemented and train business partners on use of the CLM tool.Support the Company's data privacy compliance program.Assist with other aspects of legal and compliance operations, depending on the Company's needs and the candidate's areas of experience and interest.Requirements:Paralegal certification or J.D. degree.Minimum of 5 years of recent experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industry.Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and third parties.Experience managing high-volume contract workflows, with the ability to prioritize, track, and drive contracts to execution in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.Proficiency with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools including contract intake, workflow management, and reporting.Strong understanding of GxP/GMP environments and the role of contracts in supporting clinical, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory compliance.Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing priorities, and reach practical, business-aligned outcomes.In addition to a great culture, we offer:A beautiful facilityAn entrepreneurial, highly collaborative, and innovative environmentComprehensive benefits, including:Medical, Dental, and VisionGroup Life InsuranceLong Term Disability (LTD)401(k) Retirement PlanEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Flexible Spending Account (FSA)Paid Time Off (PTO)Company paid holidays, including the year-end holiday weekOur recognition program, Bonus.ly, is where you can trade in points earned for things you want.If all this speaks to you, come join us on our journey!Base Salary: $122,000 - $145,000. Exact compensation may vary based on level, skills and experience