Healthcare Community Contracting Sr Associate

Career Category

Job Description

Amgen’s Research and Development (R&D) Business Operations organization addresses complex business challenges with outstanding people, tools, and processes. The team delivers on key initiatives and capabilities to support R&D. This position is primarily responsible for overseeing and processing healthcare compliance related contracting and payments of proposed arrangements by Amgen staff with Members of the U.S. and global Healthcare Community (i.e. Fee for Service, Scientific Exchange, Consulting, Sponsorship, Donation, Exhibits, Advisory Boards or other similar engagements). We are looking for talent who have play a key role in supporting the healthcare contracting process and ensuring accurate and timely payments to members of the health care community. The senior associate requires a solid understanding of contracting as well as SAP software and its functionalities. The senior associate will collaborate with global, cross-functional teams, including legal, sourcing, accounts payable, and finance, to ensure smooth and seamless contract management and payment operations. We are a team that delivers for our partners!

Required Competencies and Skills:

Key Responsibilities:

Prepare, process and coordinate standard agreements and amendments using approved templates and established contracting procedures; identify and escalate non-standard terms, exceptions and complex matters for members of the healthcare community (Fee for Service, Consulting, Sponsorship, Membership, Donation, Exhibits or other similar engagements). Maintain contract documentation and ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions. Coordinate end-to-end contract execution, including onboarding, maintenance actions, and distribution. Maintain trackers, status fields, agreements, invoices, forms, expense documentation and supporting materials in the approved system of record. Triage intake from Amgen R&D or other supported functions to appropriate contract managers, as needed. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with sourcing, accounts payable, and other relevant teams to streamline financial processes and resolve any issues or discrepancies. Produce routine reports and data pulls on FFS hours, contract status, aging, payment status, engagement history and documentation completion. Ensure effective communication and foster positive working relationships. Process invoices, reimbursements, and payments related to healthcare contracts. Verify accuracy of invoices and resolve discrepancies with suppliers and providers. Ensure timely payments and adherence to payment terms. Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and regulations. Develop and enforce policies and procedures related to contracting and payment operations. Demonstrated ability to execute defined processes accurately, maintain documentation quality and meet service-level expectations in a high-volume environment. Participate in audits and assist with compliance-related activities as required. Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to optimize contracting and payment processes.

Knowledge:

• Excellent computer and MS Office skills
• Excellent writing skills; detail-oriented
• Communicates effectively within and outside department
• Familiarity with SAP
• Working knowledge of standard contracting and payment workflows, supplier onboarding, data-entry standards and applicable enterprise systems.
• Knowledge of current and legally binding contractual language and terminology.
• Solid understanding of purchasing and supply chain procedures.
• Solid understanding of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and healthcare regulations.
• Solid understanding of standard contracting legal principles. 

Problem Solving:

• Ability to process simple transactions from end to end, engaging business partners where appropriate.

• Identify and escalate business issues needing resolution, as well as identifying potential process improvements and manage multiple assignments at one time.
• Identify missing information, validate submission completeness and recognize discrepancies or out-of-process requests.

• Review and either approve payments or triage errors to the appropriate Amgen staff member.
• Review invoice/expenses related to Fee for Service Arrangements (i.e. CARFs) and triage any issues.
• Review invoice/expenses related to Advisory Board Arrangements (i.e. ABCARFs) and triage any issues.
• Communicate and escalate contractual and/or payment challenges to leadership team.
• Exercises good judgment.
• Interact with business partners to ensure compliance processes and standards are understood and followed.

Contribution:

• Consistent with Amgen’s Healthcare Compliance Policy and Standard Operating Procedures:

• Review proposed arrangements via Amgen’s healthcare compliance operations system of record (C3).
• Support Amgen staff members with any related questions and/or concerns such as C3 system support,

• Ability to read legal documents and facilitate legal review, interpret financial reports and technical documents.
• Manage payment inquiries that are received via the HCC Payment Requests mailbox from RAEs, Service Providers etc. Outcome may include further reviews, research and/or triage.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with internal stakeholders and external participants to obtain information, confirm next steps and support process completion.
• Proofread, edit and fact-check legal documents for accuracy and consistency.
• Time management and problem-solving skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Master's or Bachelor's degree and 5 - 8 years of related resource management, paralegal, contracting and/or financial accounting experience.

Preferred Requirements

Familiarity with biopharmaceutical industry as well as medical and scientific terminology. Knowledge of advocacy functionality at a large biotechnology organization.

Working understanding of healthcare regulations, contract terms, and payment processes.

Finance, resource, and budget management experience including cost analysis and reporting.

Experience with analytics software (Microsoft Access, Spotfire, Tableau, Smartsheet), document management applications, portfolio planning tools, supply chain and financial systems (Planisware, Veeva, SAP, Ariba).

Intermediate Microsoft Office user (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Experience working with virtual teams and using collaborative tools and platforms.

Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, critical thinking and verbal/written communication skills

Ability to work in a highly cross-matrixed environment

Strong planning and project management skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple high priority projects and minimal supervision.