Contracts and Proposals Specialist

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Overview

• Department: Commercial Operations
• Reporting to: Director of Commercial Operations
• Location: Hybrid / Remote (ideally based in our Bottisham office for 2 days per week)
• Contract: Fixed Term Contract (FTC)
• Contract Duration: 12-month contract
• Working pattern: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
• Salary: From £45,000 to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Role Summary

We are looking for a Contracts and Proposals Specialist to join our busy and fast-paced team. This is a varied and pivotal role within the business, central to driving sales opportunities through the proposals process and ensuring high-quality contractual agreements with our clients and partners. Collaborating with diverse teams across the business including sales, scientific, marketing, operational, and legal colleagues, you will play a key role in preparing compelling proposals, managing contracts, and supporting responses to requests for information (RFIs).

Key Responsibilities

• Proposal and Budget Management
  • Drive the development of clinical trial proposals and budgets, transforming complex requirements into clear, compelling submissions to sponsors that position our solutions to win business.
  • Collaborate with sales leads and cross-functional teams to understand individual client requirements and deliver proposals that are both technically accurate and commercially persuasive.
  • Lead and contribute to strategy and deal review meetings, providing insight and recommendations that influence business decisions.
  • Represent the team in client calls regarding proposals, budgets, and RFIs, ensuring our solutions meet sponsor expectations.
  • Maintain accurate, accessible, and up-to-date proposal, contract, and RFI information in CRM and other systems, enabling the team to operate efficiently and strategically.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline processes, enhance quality, and improve the speed and effectiveness of the proposals workflow.
• Contract Management
  • Draft, review, and finalise start-up agreements (SUA) and statements of work (SOW) that protect the business while enabling successful client partnerships.
  • Collaborate with Operations, Project Management, Legal, Finance, and leadership to negotiate and finalise contracts ensuring alignment with organisational policies and approval matrices.
  • Ensure contract terms and budgets align with project objectives and compliance requirements, enabling efficient project execution and client satisfaction.
• Requests for Information (RFIs)
  • Review and coordinate the preparation of technically accurate and commercially compelling RFI responses.
  • Engage subject matter experts across the business to ensure high-quality responses that reflect both scientific credibility and business value.
  • Track and manage RFI submissions to maximise impact, responsiveness, and client engagement.

What we need from you

We are seeking a proactive, organised, and commercially minded professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will:

• Bring experience in contracts, proposals, or business operations within clinical research, biotech, medtech, or related scientific/technical sectors, with a proven ability to perform in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.
• Demonstrate strong experience in contract development, proposal development, and budgeting, producing high-quality, accurate, and commercially compelling outputs that drive business growth.
• Possess a strong understanding of commercial and financial principles, and the ability to ensure proposals and contracts align with project objectives and company strategy.
• Be highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, using these tools to analyse data, create reports, and deliver persuasive presentations.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing and collaborating with colleagues across diverse functions including sales, science, operations, finance and legal teams.
• Demonstrate strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills, managing multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Be highly organised, independent, and adaptable, able to manage competing tasks while supporting team goals and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Be familiar with CRM systems and other databases to track proposals, contracts, and client interactions effectively.
• Experience within CNS-focused clinical research or related therapeutic areas.
• Experience with clinical research digital tools, such as eCOA platforms, and familiarity with modern clinical operations workflows.

Even if you don’t have all the experience we’ve listed, we’d still love to hear from you if you’re interested.

What we can offer you

• Be part of a driven team to achieve commercial success and make an extraordinary impact on global health.
• Flexibility – 2 days a week at our office in Bottisham, just outside Cambridge; and 3 days from home.
• 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays (including 3 days for Christmas break) with a holiday buy/sell scheme.
• Generous pension with up to 6.5% company contribution.
• Life assurance 2x base salary.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Private Health Insurance - Bupa Insurance, Simply Health Cashback Scheme.

Cambridge Cognition is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnerships.

Seniority level: Entry level

Employment type: Contract

Job function: Legal