Agreements Manager

The Agreements Manager is a strategic member of the Technology Development and Industry Engagement (TDIE) department responsible for advancing St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's research, innovation, and technology commercialization objectives through the development, negotiation, and management of complex research and intellectual property agreements. This role plays a critical part in enabling scientific collaboration while safeguarding institutional interests, ensuring researchers have the contractual infrastructure necessary to pursue transformative discoveries that support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children.

Serving as a trusted partner to investigators, institutional leaders, and external collaborators, the Agreements Manager oversees a diverse portfolio of agreements that facilitate research partnerships, technology transfer activities, intellectual property management, and industry engagement. The role provides strategic guidance throughout the agreement lifecycle, balancing scientific, operational, legal, and business considerations to support both near-term research objectives and long-term institutional goals.

As part of the TDIE team, the Agreements Manager helps bridge the gap between discovery and impact by enabling collaborations that accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies, therapeutics, diagnostics, and research tools. Through effective negotiation, compliance oversight, relationship management, and stewardship of intellectual property assets, this position plays a vital role in maximizing the global reach and influence of St. Jude innovations while supporting the institution's commitment to advancing pediatric health worldwide.

This position may be eligible for remote work. However, St. Jude requires all remote employees to:

• Travel to our Memphis campus for the interview process and/or orientation, if selected
• Travel to Memphis to work on-site for one week per quarter, or as requested based on business needs, if hired.

By applying, you acknowledge and agree to these travel requirements as a condition of employment.
 
This position is remote within approved U.S. locations. Due to state-specific employment regulations, we are unable to consider applicants currently residing in California for remote work; however, candidates based in California who are willing to relocate to an approved location may be considered.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage and monitor complex agreements, including confidentiality, material transfer, inter-institutional, option, license, and corporate collaborative research, to disseminate and protect SJCRH intellectual property. Interact with SJCRH investigators. Interact with outside academic and industry representatives. Monitor existing license agreements for compliance with terms. Assist in development of strategies for licensing of inventions. Provide recommendations for structuring of license and collaboration deals to accomplish objectives.
• Manage material transfers into and out of SJCRH, and supporting documents; monitor these transactions for compliance with terms.
• Ensure researchers are aware of their obligations under new agreements. Compose correspondence and reports as needed.
• Manage reporting federally funded inventions to the federal government, including election of title to inventions, patenting and licensing activities, as required by federal law.
• Maintain a knowledge base of institution's research activities.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's Degree in life science required.
• Advanced degree in life science, law, or business preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Five (5) – Seven (7) years of related experience with agreements.

Special Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Drives and monitors clear goal setting, accountability, and feedback for the department (and matrixed teams). Manages ER issues as they arise. 
• Guides performance of direct reports (or indirect if managing people indirectly) through coaching and development.
• Consistently evaluates and addresses the team’s overarching development needs in line with the talent strategy.
• Proactively builds and maintains key relationships within and outside the organization.
• Guides structured evaluation of priorities with stakeholders for critical decision-making with a long term focus.
• Facilitates communication and solutioning between stakeholders to address needs and perspectives.
• Explores, identifies, and implements best practices around project management tools and risk management frameworks.
• Leads complex/ long-term projects with a focus on resources, contingencies, and budgets.
• Proactively engages with internal and external project leadership/ cross functional teams to optimize project outcomes.
• Drives development of project management capabilities within organization to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Strategizes value-based messaging and storytelling approaches through compelling narratives that influence the audience and inspire action.
• Exhibits thought leadership in brand management practices, actively contributing to advancing the brand's long-term success and functional practices and standards. 
• Builds internal connections and external partnerships across executive/leadership levels.
• Strategically understands stakeholder needs and manages expectations and relationships on a regular basis.
• Can handle highly sensitive or tough situations with social and emotional grace and maturity.
• Models resourcefulness by reaching out to people within and outside functional groups to get work done effectively.
• Keeps large teams/ departments energized and focused on high-quality results by leveraging data/ analytics-based approaches.
• Builds systems, processes, and capabilities that can set and deliver a high-performance culture.
• Shows strong skills in thinking critically with a systemic view.
• Shows expertise in taking a structured approach to analyze and resolve issues.
• Able to distinguish between different sets of issues, set priorities, and make decisions.
• Can craft the functional strategy aligned with business outcomes by understanding the needs of the business and helping them see the longer-term value from the function.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the healthcare landscape and the internal customer's needs to consistently make data-driven decisions that drive strategic value for the business.
• Has a strong grasp of the budgeting process and understands where the function can make or lose money to make the right choices that drive business value. 
• Strong breadth of expertise across multiple sub-functional areas within communications, and some across functional areas at St Jude.
• Proactively tracks industry trends and emerging communications technologies and practices.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $86,320 - $154,960 per year for the role of Agreements Manager.

Explore our exceptional benefits!

We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.