Senior Contract Manager at Korsana Biosciences, Inc. – Waltham, Massachusetts

About Us

Korsana Biosciences is a private biopharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. In partnership with Paragon Therapeutics, we have developed Therapeutic Targeting (THETA™), a novel blood-brain barrier-penetrant shuttle platform designed to enable dramatically higher drug concentration inside the brain and overcome the limitations of earlier shuttle technologies. Our lead program is KRSA-028, an investigational, shuttled antibody targeting amyloid beta designed to be a best-in-class treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Our mission is to advance precision-engineered therapies, designed to address some of the biggest unmet needs in medicine. For more information, please visit www.korsana.com.

Position Overview

Korsana is seeking a Senior Contract Manager to lead day-to-day contract intake, drafting, negotiation support, execution and contract operations across the company. This role is for a business-focused contracts professional, not a practicing attorney. The Senior Contract Manager will partner closely with cross-functional leads and drive a high-volume portfolio of research, clinical, and corporate agreements with a focus on speed, precision, and business-oriented risk management.

The right candidate is highly organized, practical, responsive, and comfortable managing a high volume of agreements in a fast-moving biotechnology environment. This person should be able to spot issues, drive process, keep stakeholders aligned, and escalate legal or business risks appropriately.

Key Responsibilities

Drive the full contract lifecycle by drafting and reviewing a high volume of core biotech agreements, including CDAs, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), complex Statements of Work (SOWs), Consulting Agreements, vendor and supply agreements, and clinical and research-related service agreements. Manage routine and mid-level negotiations directly with counterparties and escalate material legal, regulatory, IP, privacy, insurance, compliance and liability issues when needed. Provide strategic contractual guidance to cross-functional teams, acting as a first line of defense to identify and mitigate potential operational, regulatory, and business risks within agreements. Maintain and improve contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation guidelines, and internal playbooks. Optimize contract infrastructure by leading management of a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system to track contract status, key terms, renewal dates, termination rights, notice deadlines, payment obligations, and other critical milestones. Support contract governance, including signature authority, version control, records management and repository hygiene. Support audit, diligence, financing, and business development requests by organizing and summarizing agreement data. Identify bottlenecks and recommend process improvements that reduce cycle time without weakening controls. Partner with key internal stakeholders to ensure contract execution is aligned with Korsana’s strategic goals, project timelines, and budgetary requirements. Manage external legal resources by coordinating with outside counsel as needed for highly specialized contract reviews or complex regulatory support. Uphold rigorous compliance standards by ensuring all contracts meet applicable laws, industry regulations, and clinical standards, including FDA, GCP, and GDPR.

Education & Experience

7+ years of professional experience in contract management, specifically within the life sciences or biotech sectors. Bachelor’s degree is required. Demonstrated experience managing a high volume of agreements across multiple business functions with strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through. Strong drafting and redlining skills. Ability to identify legal and business risk issues and escalate appropriately. Experience in a fast paced, high-growth startup environment. High proficiency with modern legal technology, including CLM platforms (Korsana uses Agiloft), DocuSign, AI-assisted contract review and drafting tools, and the Microsoft Office Suite. Familiarity with IP-related contract provisions, including intellectual property, licensing terms, and publication rights.

Skills & Attributes

Business-oriented and practical approach to balancing execution speed with risk awareness. Highly organized and process-driven mindset capable of managing multiple priorities. Clear and professional communicator who works effectively across all functions and levels. Detail-oriented and discreet steward with a strong commitment to accuracy and confidentiality. Comfort with ambiguity while working both independently and collaboratively. Calm under pressure.

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $125,000 - $150,000. This role may also be eligible for a target annual bonus and equity-based compensation, as well as participation in the company’s benefit programs. Actual compensation will depend on several factors, which may include, but are not limited to relevant years of experience, educational background, and geography.

Korsana Biosciences is the sixth groundbreaking company launched by Paragon Therapeutics, a premier biotech incubator founded by Fairmount Funds in 2021, known for its expertise in discovering and developing cutting-edge therapeutic assets in-house.

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Korsana Biosciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.