Budget Manager, Industry Sponsored Trials

COG Research Foundation, LLC (Research Foundation) is a California 501(c)(3) entity founded in 2024 to serve as a fiscal sponsor to support research programs by providing legal, fiduciary, and administrative oversight for the program. The Research Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

COG, a member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.  COG unites over 13,500 experts in childhood cancer at more than 220 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia to conduct more than 50 active clinical trials, with approximately 9,500 participants registered each year in the fight against childhood cancer.

Position Summary 

All staff are employed through the Research Foundation. This role will be in service to COG.

The Budget Manager will provide scope of work and budget management responsibilities for the full portfolio of the Industry Sponsored Trials Department. The Budget Manager will be responsible for providing bidding/proposal management, budget development and negotiation, scope of work development and negotiation with external vendors, COG’s fiscal sponsor and industry partners. The Budget Manager will help coordinate special projects, which may include and is not limited to the general development and ongoing refinement of standard operating procedures and process improvement related to clinical trials, related scope of work and budget management and will assist with the development of templates, tools, metrics, and reports to provide critical operational information to Leadership.  The Budget Manager will also work with various stakeholders to ensure timely budget negotiations, disbursing, tracking, and monitoring of the industry trials portfolio. This position will report directly to the Associate Director of Industry Sponsored Trials (IST).

The COG Research Foundation, LLC is a 100% remote employer, though some travel may be required. Employee must reside within the United States.

Full salary range for this position: $91,910 to $137,348 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $91,910 (minimum) to $114,629 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage bidding/proposal process with applicable vendors on projects with industry support. Negotiate budget and scope prior to initiation of a trial and oversee any necessary revisions throughout the conduct of the trial.  
• Manage the development of budgets and payment terms (including review of protocols and meeting with applicable stakeholders) and acquire internal budget approval.
• Negotiate budgets/payment schedules with industry partners to ensure appropriate financial terms and conditions prior to initiation of a trial and oversee any necessary revisions throughout the conduct of the trial. When budget revisions occur during negotiations that affect budget structure, cost reallocation, indirect cost allocation or payment terms, work with applicable stakeholders for review and approval.
• Manage budget justifications and fair market value assessments as needed.
• Develop and negotiate scope of works (SOWs) for contracts that address the roles and responsibilities of COG sites, internal operations, statistics, vendors and that of the pharmaceutical industry partner that align with budgets prior to initiation of a trial and oversee any necessary revisions throughout the conduct of the trial.
• Manage the flow down of applicable scope, budgets and terms and conditions from industry supported agreements to vendors and sites to ensure alignment with prime agreements.
• Maintain IST budget trackers and records. Ensure IST folders are updated, organized, and pertinent budget and scope of work documentations are saved.
• Serve as liaison and provide support to industry partners and participating sites regarding scope and budget questions on studies with industry support.
• Analyze, present, and clearly communicate budget information and reports in an accurate and timely manner. Provide regular budget reporting and make any necessary strategic and operational recommendations.
• Collaborate with fiscal sponsor to ensure budgets and allocation calculations are reflected in the financial system according to the approved budget and terms.
• Monitor all contract related updates, not limited to protocol amendments, enrollment closures, and completion of studies that have scope and budget impact.
• Maintain, create and/or optimize metrics, templates, tools, and reports to provide critical scope and budget information and assess current internal process efficiencies and provide recommendations to streamline or establish efficient processes.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external leaders and stakeholders, with a strong focus on customer service and continuous quality improvement and assist in executing process changes and overseeing to completion.
• Develop, refine, and maintain standard operating procedures and process improvement related to the scope of work and budget management of clinical trials.
• Support the Associate Director of Industry Sponsored Trials (IST) to ensure that the IST Department’s scope of work and budget responsibilities are handled and optimized.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Six (6) years of direct experience developing and negotiating clinical trial budgets and scopes of work.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related field, or substitute with four (4) additional years of related experience.

Other Qualifications

• Experience with Industry budget development and negotiations.
• Experience in financial planning, reporting, and analysis, with knowledge of finance policies, practices, and systems.
• Experience with or knowledge of nonprofit budgeting, including complex clinical trial budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and reporting.
• Experience with bidding/proposals with external vendors.
• Ability to gather, organize, and perform scope and budget negotiations with limited supervision.
• Excellent budget negotiation skills.
• Excellent math skills.
• Strong reasoning and analytical skills.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and common desktop/web applications.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and prioritize projects with short deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to be an effective team player with ability to relate well with others.
• Ability to be creative, resourceful, reliable, trustworthy, and discrete.

Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) Status

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

Background and Credit Checks

Employment with COG Research Foundation, LLC is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include verification of criminal history, employment history, education, and other information as permitted by law. A credit check may be required for positions where it is relevant to and permitted based on the nature of the job duties, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. All background check results will be evaluated through an individualized assessment in accordance with applicable law. COG Research Foundation, LLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair chance hiring practices.

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to be on the ground floor of a critical role within a mission-driven organization. This position will play a vital part in shaping the function of the Children’s Oncology Group, contributing to lasting change and making a difference in the lives of children and families impacted by cancer.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit options include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), accrued Paid Time Off (PTO), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), cell phone and internet stipends, wellness stipend, paid holidays, and more. Employees who work 20 hours or more per week are eligible for these benefit options. These benefits are provided for informational purposes only and are subject to change in accordance with applicable policies and plan documents.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

COG Research Foundation, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

COG Research Foundation, LLC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Employment at COG Research Foundation, LLC is based on merit, competence, and qualifications, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for training and advancement for all employees. COG Research Foundation, LLC is also committed to making our application process accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, please feel free to access it here. 

ADA/Application Accommodation Statement 

COG Research Foundation, LLC is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities in the application and employment process, consistent with applicable law. Applicants who require accommodation are encouraged to make their request at the earliest opportunity to allow COG Research Foundation, LLC sufficient time to evaluate and respond to the request. Accommodation requests may be directed to the Recruitment Team at [email protected].

This position falls under a contract with the Federal Government and is subject to the provisions in OMB Circular A-76 which prohibit contractors from performing inherently governmental functions. Specifically, employees placed in agency positions will not perform inherently governmental functions, nor supervise any personnel other than the contractor’s own staff, nor make final decisions or sign documents that commit the U.S. Government.