--- title: 'Contracts Manager (Prolaio) at Kardigan' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/contracts-manager-prolaio-kardigan-chicago-42r8rkrddx72' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-17' --- # Contracts Manager (Prolaio) at Kardigan - **Company:** Kardigan - **Location:** Chicago, IL - **Compensation:** $100k–$130k - **Posted:** 2026-10-14 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan/jobs/5452856008 ## Job description ## About Us Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world. It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve. Led by Tassos Gianakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020. We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients. At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic—leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries. These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day. Prolaio is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager whose primary role will be to manage the complete contract lifecycle for Prolaio, including all aspects of contract creation, processing, drafting and administration for Prolaio.  Employed by Kardigan and embedded within Prolaio, this role will support other initiatives, projects and programs within the broader Legal Department as requested.  We are seeking an exceptional candidate with strong contract administration experience and attention to detail, 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. This is a highly visible position within the companies as you will interface directly with business stakeholders and leadership. Position Title: Manager, Contracts Department: Legal Reports To: VP, Corporate Law Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid Model (2-3 days a week) 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, 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. - Assist with the implementation of a contract lifecycle management (CLM) tool). - 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, service providers, consultants, clinical sites, and collaboration partners. - Contract Operations & Reporting - Manage contracts and process form 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. - 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. - 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, including initiatives supporting the broader Kardigan Legal Department. ## Qualifications and Preferred Skills - Bachelor's degree preferred; Paralegal certification preferred. - At least 7 years of relevant experience with a minimum of 5 years of contract administration within the pharmaceutical, life sciences, or medical device industry. - Proven excellence in contract drafting and negotiation, with a solid foundation in biotech/pharma/med device 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. - 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. - 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. Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location. Pay range Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location. Pay range $100,000—$130,000 USD ## About Kardigan ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Kardigan is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing targeted cardiovascular therapies with the aim of transforming treatment from symptom management toward functional cures. - **Entity Type**: Public (ticker not available from provided sources; IPO closed as per company announcement) - **Headquarters**: South San Francisco, California, United States (with additional offices in Princeton, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois) - **Founded**: Year not specified in available sources - **Founders**: Tassos Gianakakos (Co-Founder, CEO & Chair), Dr. Jay Edelberg (Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer), Dr. Bob McDowell (Co-Founder & Scientific Adviser), Brianne Puglisi (Co-Founder) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals – cardiovascular drug discovery and development - **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – healthcare providers, hospitals, payers, and patients; the company develops prescription medicines for serious cardiovascular conditions - **Mission or purpose statement**: “To make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.” ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/)) ## Products & Services - **Tonlamarsen**: A Phase 2/3 candidate for acute severe hypertension (ASH) and uncontrolled hypertension. Positive Phase 2 data presented as a late-breaker at ACC.26 and simultaneously published in JACC. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/)) - **Danicamtiv**: A Phase 3 candidate for genetic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), targeting the underlying inherited cardiac muscle disease. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/)) - **Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis (CAVS) Program**: A late-stage clinical program addressing calcium deposition that stiffens the aortic valve. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/)) - **Prolaio Subsidiary**: An AI and real‑world data platform integrated into Kardigan to generate insights, inform clinical trial design, and reduce time/cost of drug development. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/about-us/)) - **Cardiac Intelligence Platform**: A discovery and translational research engine that uses real‑world patient data, AI, and deep cardiovascular expertise to identify disease drivers and design targeted therapies. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/)) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources - **Key Metric**: Public company (IPO closed); annual revenue not disclosed - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not explicitly listed in provided sources; company built on the team’s track record from MyoKardia (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb for $13.1B in 2020) - **Growth Signals**: - Positive Phase 2 pivotal data for Tonlamarsen in hypertension, presented at ACC.26 and published in JACC - Three late‑stage clinical programs (CAVS, ASH, DCM) running in parallel - Active job postings across 210+ roles in clinical operations, data science, manufacturing, and corporate strategy, indicating scaling ([job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan)) - Integration of Prolaio’s AI platform to accelerate R&D ## Competitive Advantages - **Leadership expertise**: CEO Tassos Gianakakos previously scaled MyoKardia from startup to a $13.1B acquisition; the team includes veterans from MyoKardia, Sanofi, BMS, and Merck. - **Parallel pipeline strategy**: Multiple late‑stage programs targeting distinct cardiovascular diseases (valve, hypertension, cardiomyopathy) de‑risks development and creates data synergies. - **Cardiac Intelligence platform**: Proprietary combination of real‑world data, AI, and deep biological insight to move beyond symptom management toward modifying underlying disease. - **Focus on functional cures**: Each program aims to alter the course of disease rather than merely treat symptoms, creating potential for breakthrough efficacy. ## Strategic Focus - **Advance late‑stage clinical trials**: Continue Phase 2/3 studies for Tonlamarsen, Danicamtiv, and CAVS while preparing for potential regulatory submissions. - **Expand platform capabilities**: Leverage Prolaio’s AI and real‑world evidence to design smarter, faster trials and discover new drug targets. - **Build commercial infrastructure**: Growing corporate strategy, medical affairs, and manufacturing teams in South San Francisco, Princeton, and Chicago signals preparation for launch. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: “Everything we do starts with patients – and it’s powered by people.” Emphasis on collaboration, purpose‑driven work, and achieving the impossible together. Mission‑oriented environment focused on curing cardiovascular disease. ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/)) - **Work model**: Roles are listed for South San Francisco, Princeton, NJ, and Chicago, IL; likely on‑site/hybrid given the lab and clinical development nature. Not purely remote. - **Benefits**: - Competitive salaries and annual bonus program - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage - 401(k) plan, life and disability insurance - Flexible spending and health savings accounts - Commuter benefits, cellphone allowance - Paid holidays and time off - Employee assistance program ([kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/)) - **Engineering & data science culture**: Active recruitment for data analytics, AI, and clinical data science roles; Executive Director of Data, AI & Collaboration Services is an open position, reflecting a strong tech‑driven R&D approach. ## Sources 1. [kardigan.bio](https://www.kardigan.bio/) – Company homepage and pipeline descriptions 2. [kardigan.bio/about-us](https://www.kardigan.bio/about-us/) – About Us, mission, and Prolaio integration 3. [kardigan.bio/job-openings](https://www.kardigan.bio/job-openings/) – Careers page with benefits and open roles 4. [kardigan.bio/leadership](https://www.kardigan.bio/leadership/) – Leadership team and co‑founder backgrounds 5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan) – Detailed job listings (32+ postings) ## Other roles at Kardigan - [Medical Director, Clinical Development](https://feeny.ai/job/medical-director-clinical-development-kardigan-princeton-h0r5qrx667b5) — Princeton, NJ - [Executive Director, Global Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-director-global-program-manager-kardigan-princeton-22n8a9rqn2kb) — Princeton, NJ - [Director, Clinical Quality Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/director-clinical-quality-lead-kardigan-south-san-francisco-california-united-qzg2emd2he5j) — South San Francisco California United States Princeton New Jersey, United States - [Senior Director, Biostatistics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-biostatistics-kardigan-princeton-vb12pjj1sw78) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Director, Clinical Operations Program Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-clinical-operations-program-lead-kardigan-princeton-wswqw80bw3hb) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Contracts Manager, Clinical Agreements](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-contracts-manager-clinical-agreements-kardigan-princeton-xthmawfmq41y) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Director, Head of Statistical Programming](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-head-of-statistical-programming-kardigan-princeton-7ct1vkgyav05) — Princeton, NJ - [Manager, Forecasting](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-forecasting-kardigan-evanston-qvn5b2dgyy11) — Evanston, IL - [Manager, Accounting](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-accounting-kardigan-princeton-7tcvpdfvzv82) — Princeton, NJ - [Executive Director, Regulatory Strategy](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-director-regulatory-strategy-kardigan-princeton-b56gzz2zdy4z) — Princeton, NJ