Houston, TX, US
5 days ago
Attorney, Director of Research Contracts - this position is 100% remote (must live in Houston, Texas area)
Welcome page Returning Candidate? Log back in! Attorney, Director of Research Contracts - this position is 100% remote (must live in Houston, Texas area) Facility Telecommute Job Locations US-TX-Houston Category Finance and Legal Position Type Full-Time Department HMRI Finance Administration Shift 1st - Day Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Director, Research Contracts position is responsible for providing strategic support for research activities and acts as a legal expert and liaison between all department personnel and funding agencies, directs and coordinates staff, systems, and procedures related to contract review and negotiation and analysis of clinical trial agreements, basic and translational sponsored research agreements, confidentiality agreements and related ancillary agreements from industry, government, and academic sources. Will also act as the primary liaison between the Houston Methodist Academic Institute and Houston Methodist Department of Legal Services.

The Director position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

 

Additional Information: this position is 100% remote (must live in Houston, Texas area). Will require onsite meetings periodically. 

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.Practices the Caring and Serving ModelDelivers personalized service using HM Service StandardsProvides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given jobDisplays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principlesActively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators: action readiness score, tier level.Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one's area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.Manages the daily activities of contract staff to ensure timely execution of research agreements, including setting goals, performance appraisals, and cross training.Provides expertise to all department personnel in the negotiation of contract terms.


SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.Prepares and monitors regular status reports on contract submissions and executions.Provides responses to contract status: compliance, modification, deviation, negotiation, execution, and termination expeditiously.Provides clear and professional verbal and written communications to colleagues, client groups and collaborating departments.


QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).Oversees and reviews research contract submissions on behalf of Houston Methodist Academic Institute.


FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.Resolves contract and budget issues as identified by contract and research staff.


GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the individual development plan (IDP) on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and IDP.Develops procedures and systems for the electronic submission of research contracts as well as internal operating procedures.Leverages streamlining strategies such as Master Clinical Trial agreements and standardized language to accelerate contract negotiation timeline with Industry Sponsors.


This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Juris Doctorate required


WORK EXPERIENCE

Seven years of experience in a paralegal, legal, operations, research, or regulatory position.Experience in other positions utilizing basic analytical skills will also be considered. License/Certification

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

ATT-JD - Attorney - State Bar -- Licensed to practice law in Texas KSA/ Supplemental Data

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluationsSufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or securityDemonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organizationAbility to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one's own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involvedDemonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skillsAbility to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequencesExtensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changesDemonstrates highly effective communication skills-strong written communications and platform presentation abilitiesAbility to work effectively in a fast-paced environmentDemonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplaceCapable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadershipAbility to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action orientedProficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation softwareMaintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanorProfessional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive informationExhibits comprehensive understanding of Institution's interests with regard to specific agreements.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

Uniform NoScrubs NoBusiness professional YesOther (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area YesMay require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No Company Profile

Houston Methodist Research Institute was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research, the research institute houses over 1,500 staff and trainees, 284 principal investigators and has more than 570 ongoing clinical trials.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested. Application FAQs

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