---
title: 'Senior Contracts Manager, Clinical Agreements at Kardigan'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-contracts-manager-clinical-agreements-kardigan-princeton-xthmawfmq41y'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Senior Contracts Manager, Clinical Agreements at Kardigan

- **Company:** Kardigan
- **Location:** Princeton, NJ
- **Compensation:** $153k–$199k
- **Posted:** 2026-10-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kardigan/jobs/5440676008

## 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.

Position Title: Senior Contracts Manager

Department: Legal

Reports To: Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions

Location: Princeton, NJ – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

Kardigan is seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to lead the negotiation and management of Clinical Trial Agreements and other clinical-related agreements in support of Kardigan’s clinical development programs. This is a hands-on drafting and negotiation role — the primary focus is clinical contracting, with additional responsibility for general contracting needs across the business as they arise. This role does not have ownership of Kardigan’s contract lifecycle management (CLM) system implementation or administration, which is led separately within the Legal team. Kardigan seeks an exceptional candidate with strong clinical contracts experience who can collaborate cross-functionally, negotiate agreements independently, and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Attention to detail is essential. You will join our fast-paced legal team, reporting to our Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions, and will interface directly with Clinical Operations, R&D, and other business stakeholders across the company.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Contracting (Primary Responsibility)

- Independently draft, review, and negotiate Clinical Trial Agreements (US and ROW), Local Sponsor Agreements, and CRO agreements.
- Draft and negotiate clinical-adjacent agreements including Data Sharing and Data Processing Agreements, Standard Contractual Clauses (GDPR), Informed Consent Forms, Early Access/Compassionate Use Program agreements, Pharmacy Agreements, Indemnification Agreements, and Letters of Authorization/POAs.
- Serve as the primary contracts point of contact for Clinical Operations, working closely with the team to troubleshoot obstacles that arise during clinical trial start-up, site activation, and ongoing conduct.
- Track key clinical contract obligations, milestones, renewals, and deadlines across active studies and sites.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with clinical sites, CROs, CMOs, investigators, and other external clinical stakeholders.
- Stay current on clinical trial regulatory and industry requirements (e.g., GCP, ICH) as they affect contract terms.

General Contracting

- Draft, review, and negotiate additional company contracts as needed, including vendor and supplier agreements, MSAs, SOWs/WOs, consulting agreements, and NDAs.
- Translate business needs into clear, legally sound contract language that balances risk mitigation with operational flexibility.
- Serve as a resource to internal stakeholders — including Legal, Procurement, R&D, Finance, and IT — on contracting matters outside the clinical space.
- Use Kardigan’s CLM system (Agiloft) for contract intake, drafting, routing, and tracking; partner with the Legal team members responsible for CLM administration on process and workflow questions, without owning system implementation or administration.

Risk Management & Compliance

- Identify, assess, and escalate legal and business risks in a timely manner.
- Ensure contractual terms comply with applicable laws, company policies, and industry regulations.
- Monitor contract-related activities for compliance with internal policies and applicable law.

Business Partnership

- Serve as a trusted advisor and liaison to Clinical Operations and other functions on contract negotiation strategy, process, and status.
- Communicate contract status, priorities, and risks clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
- Partner with the broader Legal team on cross-functional initiatives and process improvements affecting clinical and general contracting.

General

- Support special projects and other contract-related initiatives as needed.
- Perform other duties as requested

## Qualifications and Preferred Skills

- Bachelor’s degree preferred; paralegal certification a plus.
- At least 7–10 years of relevant contracts experience, with substantial, hands-on experience drafting and negotiating Clinical Trial Agreements and related clinical agreements within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry.
- Proven track record negotiating CRO and vendor agreements, data privacy agreements (GDPR/Standard Contractual Clauses), and reviewing Informed Consent Forms.
- Working knowledge of the clinical trial regulatory framework (e.g., GCP, ICH) as it relates to contracting.
- Comfortable also handling general commercial contracts (vendor, consulting, NDA, MSA/SOW) outside the clinical space.
- Experience with contract lifecycle management systems, e-signature platforms (e.g., DocuSign), and collaboration tools; prior experience with Agiloft a plus.
- Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to triage, prioritize, and manage multiple concurrent negotiations 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.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- 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 $153,000—$199,000 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)

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