Senior Contracts and Proposals Writer

Overview

Certara accelerates the potential of bringing medicines to market and to patients using biosimulation software, technology, and services to transform traditional drug discovery and development. Our clients include more than 2,400 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 70 countries.

Our goal is to enable the life sciences industry’s use of data, modeling, and analytics to make better decisions across the various phases of discovery and drug development. Our software and scientists incorporate modern advances in scientific understanding, drug development experience, data analysis, and AI resulting in significant opportunities to decrease the cost and increase the probability of success for new drug approval and commercialization.

The Sr. Contracts and Proposals Writer is responsible for the leading the development of complex responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Work (SOWs) and Change Orders (COs). The Sr. PCW will determine proposal concept by assembling information including project scope, objectives/outcomes/deliverables, methods, timetable, staffing needs, budgets, and standards of performance and evaluation. The Sr. PCW will be responsible for the writing, revising, and editing of drafts until the final proposal is approved by management. Sr. PCWs can operate independently with minimum to no oversight on projects.  This position also trains/mentors less experienced staff and drives implementation of process and development initiatives. This role reports to the Team Manager, Commercial Operations.

Responsibilities

• Key duties and responsibilities include

  • Lead daily coordination of team prioritization activities when needed

  • Independently write proposals, SOWs, and COs, and develop project budgets across accounts and global opportunities under tight deadlines in support of Business Development (BD)

  • Prepare responses to RFPs, SOWs, and COs with little oversight

  • Prepare SOWs and COs according to client and internal specifications/standards

  • Create and maintain content within a content database

  • Complete desktop publishing of proposals, SOWs, and COs as required

  • Perform quality control review, adjudicate comments, and edit proposals, SOWs, and COs as required

  • Participate in client meeting preparations, as needed

  • Support Functional Department Heads and Business Unit Leaders on the implementation of operational strategies for proposals

  • Support administrative aspects of proposal development, including, but not limited to tracking proposal/SOW/CO status in the company’s customer relationship management system, contributing to metrics reports, and ensure security and integrity of documentation

  • Perform contract vetting, finalization, and signature procurement activities as required

  • Lead team with process and development initiatives

  • Mentor/train newly hired proposal/contract staff as needed

  • Liaise with internal Subject Matter Experts and external partners for proposal development input

  • Conduct analysis and develops tools to drive process improvements and functional excellence

Qualifications

• Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent in a science, business, or related field

  • A minimum of three years of related proposal or contract writing experience (e.g., RFIs, RFPs, Statements of Work)

  • Two years of experience as a Proposal or Contract Writer within industry is preferred, but not required

  • Fluent in English

  • Excellent technical writing/documentation skills

  • Microsoft Office proficiency

  • Graphics development experience is a plus, but not required

  Other Skills, Abilities, and Requirements

  • Professional presence and excellent communication skills, focused on exceptional customer service

  • Proven ability to lead and manage multiple projects and adapt quickly to changing business needs

  • Attention to detail and diligent follow-through in documenting all activities

  • Self-starter, solution-oriented, and displays sound judgment and attention to accuracy and high-quality deliverables

  • Deadline conscious with strong management of process

  • High degree of confidentiality and discretion

  • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain highly effective internal and external relationships

  • Demonstrated ability to provide, accept, and incorporate constructive feedback

  • Must pass a background check

  KPIs

  • Achieves assigned quantitative and qualitative goals per workplan

  • Meets assigned expectations

  • Ensures proper record keeping using available sales tools, Salesforce CRM, and document management systems

  • Completes required training and development objectives within the assigned period

Certara bases all employment-related decision on merit, taking into consideration qualifications, skills, achievement, and performance. We treat all applicants and employees without regard to personal characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental condition, genetic information, military service, or other characteristic protected by law.