Senior/Contracts Manager

Crescent Biopharma’s vision is to build a world leading oncology company bringing the next wave of therapies for cancer patients. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes its lead program, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, as well as novel antibody-drug conjugates. By leveraging multiple modalities and established targets, Crescent aims to rapidly advance potentially transformative therapies either as single agents or as part of combination regimens to treat a range of solid tumors. For more information, visit www.crescentbiopharma.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn and X.

We are seeking a Senior/Contracts Manager to lead day-to-day contract intake, drafting, negotiation support, execution, and contract operations across the company. This role is for a business-focused contracts professional, not a practicing attorney. You will partner closely with cross-functional leads and drive a high-volume portfolio of research, clinical, and corporate agreements with a focus on speed, precision, and business-oriented risk management. The right candidate is highly organized, practical, responsive, and comfortable managing a high volume of agreements in a fast-moving biotechnology environment. You should be able to spot issues, drive process, keep stakeholders aligned, and escalate legal or business risks appropriately. This role is based in Waltham, MA and you must have experience in biotech.

Responsibilities Drive the full contract lifecycle by drafting and reviewing a high volume of core biotech agreements, including CDAs, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), complex Statements of Work (SOWs), Consulting Agreements, vendor and supply agreements, Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) and clinical and research-related service agreements.

Manage routine and mid-level negotiations directly with counterparties and escalate material legal, regulatory, IP, privacy, insurance, compliance, and liability issues when needed.

Provide strategic contractual guidance to cross-functional teams, acting as a first line of defense to identify and mitigate potential operational, regulatory, and business risks within agreements.

Maintain and improve contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation guidelines, and internalplaybooks.

Optimize contract infrastructure by leading management of a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system (LinkSquares) to track contract status, key terms, renewal dates, termination rights, noticedeadlines, payment obligations, and other critical milestones.

Support contract governance, including signature authority, version control, records management, and repository hygiene.

Support audit, diligence, financing, and business development requests by organizing and summarizing agreement data.

Identify bottlenecks and recommend process improvements that reduce cycle time without weakening controls.

Partner with key internal stakeholders to ensure contract execution is aligned with CBIO’s strategic goals, project timelines, and budgetary requirements.

Partner with the finance department to continuously improve the contract/PO process and lifecycle.

Uphold rigorous compliance standards by ensuring all contracts meet applicable laws, industry regulations, and clinical standards, including FDA, GCP, and GDPR.

Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree is required. 5+ years (7+ for Senior level) of professional experience in contract management,specifically within the life sciences or biotech sectors.

Experience negotiating CTAs in the US and rest of world (ROW) is required.

Demonstrated experience managing a high volume of agreements across multiple business functions with strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.

Strong drafting and redlining skills.

Ability to identify legal and business risk issues and escalate appropriately.

Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment.

High proficiency with modern legal technology, including CLM platforms (we use LinkSquares), DocuSign, AI-assisted contract review and drafting tools, and the Microsoft Office Suite. LinkSquares experience is not required but is highly desired.

Familiarity with IP-related contract provisions, including licensing terms and publication rights.

What We Offer Opportunity to join a mission-driven team where you'll contribute to impactful work, take on varied responsibilities, and grow quickly in a dynamic environment

Competitive compensation, including base salary, performance bonus, and equity

100% employer-paid benefits package

Flexible PTO; also, two, one-week company-wide shutdowns each year

A commitment to your professional development, with access to resources, mentorship, and growth opportunities

Crescent Biopharma is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.