Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to maintain positive rapport with personnel at all levels and in all situations
Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities
Ability to work with difficult people and in difficult situations
Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and to adjust to new requirements
Ability to understand contractual issues, relevant contract law and health care policy within clearly defined parameters in accordance with institution policies, federal regulations, and professional ethics
Exhibits a comprehensive understanding of HM interests regarding specific agreements
Exhibits the strong ability to assess legal risk within the language of a contract, and the ability to provide alternative mitigating language as a means to resolution
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Collaborates with study staff, research administration and other internal partners to draft, negotiate, and finalize contracts and ensure investigator and institutional needs are met, which includes maintaining the highest level of responsiveness and service while communicating contract status updates to investigator and sponsor inquiries on pending agreements.
Partners collaboratively with Houston Methodist General Counsel, Risk Management, and all areas of HMRI Finance to ensure compliance with institutional policies. Functions as a liaison with industry sponsors in the negotiation processes and correspondence.
Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Oversees a portfolio of contracts related to research on behalf of Houston Methodist Research Institute. Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and finalizes research related agreements.
Confers with study staff, investigators, and administration, as necessary, to understand the nature of projects and relationships to identify appropriate agreement terms and conditions.
Maintains thorough documentation in an efficient and organized manner to facilitate effective knowledge transfer.
Maintains progress notes in the Methodist Online Research Technology Initiative (MORTI) system for all contracts in a timely manner and diligently updates contract statues in MORTI for tracking purposes.
Provides management, department, and Principal Investigator (PI) with status updates on assigned agreements, agreement negotiations and special projects in a timely manner as requested.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Analyzes contracts submitted to the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) Office of Research Contracts.
Ensures regulatory compliance by monitoring that safety committee approvals are in place; namely Institutional Review Board (IRB), and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approvals (IACUC).
Ensures compliance with internal policies, agency guidelines, applicable laws, and regulations (including export control).
Ensures language related to publication, confidentiality, intellectual property, insurance indemnification and subject injury reimbursement are compliant with institutional guidelines and policies.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reviews and negotiates favorable payment terms in research agreements which include ensuring compliance with institutional policies and federal regulations, institutional overhead, and fee requirements and internal budgets for clinical trials.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Provides feedback on errors or issues with MORTI system.
Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
Uniform: No
Scrubs: No
Business professional: Yes
Other (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 Yes
May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

 Work Shift: 1 - Day (United States of America)

 Job Category: Non-clinical

Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, seven community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care clinics, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Come lead with us!
 Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.