Clinical Research Budget Specialist/Analyst

Overview

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit, unified adult cancer care and research center that is clinically integrated with UW Medicine, a world leader in clinical care, research and learning. The first National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the Pacific Northwest, Fred Hutch’s global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy, and COVID-19 vaccines has confirmed our reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy, and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch, we believe that the innovation, collaboration, and rigor that result from diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission of eliminating cancer and related diseases. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an antiracist organization.  We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, antiracism, and inclusion.  

The Clinical Research Budget Specialist/Analyst position supports the financial and grant/contract management operations of the Infectious Disease Sciences (IDS) Program. The position collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and partners including Principal Investigators, program, division and FH staff, and sponsor organizations to ensure timely and accurate accounting, grant and contract applications, clinical trials budget development and negotiations, and financial reporting of sponsored projects in compliance with federal and external sponsor regulations and requirements.

The ideal candidate is responsible for budget development and financial grant/contract data analysis and serves as a liaison in the program to the Clinical Research Office for negotiation with industry biotech and biopharma sponsors. The position will design, develop, and be responsible for overseeing and managing grants and industry-sponsored study budgets/fiscal systems, policies, and procedures for contract budgets for Principal Investigators and management staff. They are expected to use initiative and sound judgment in carrying out responsibilities within the framework of the appropriate funding source/agency policies and procedures. The incumbent works with minimal supervision and reports to the Senior Manager of Research Finance in the Infectious Disease Sciences Program.

This role will have the opportunity to work partially at our campus and remotely.

Responsibilities

The position focuses on setting up systems for industry-sponsored studies and working with Principle Investigators (PIs) and clinical research staff to maintain, monitor, track and manage study milestones and payments, and importantly serves as the liaison for funding issues related to contract and clinical trial budget management and support. Each clinical trial is unique as PIs work with a multitude of industry sponsors and each contract and study varies based on enrollment criteria/eligibility, milestone tracking (e.g. patient visits, screen failures), complexity of reporting data, and close-out procedures.

• Develop, modify, and maintain multiple record keeping and reporting systems for varied and complex sources of funding of clinical research. Oversee and co-manage monthly budgets to actual reporting, year-end summary analysis and trend reporting to program leadership and PIs, and analysis of significant variances at a program and project level. Utilize online financial system to monitor budgets and resolve problems. Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial information in the development of complex technical fiscal analysis and financial reporting to multiple sources according to strict guidelines and deadlines. Review project costing classification and integrity of data used in financial reports, proposing resolutions of discrepancies in financial data to management, as needed.
• Assist with comprehensive and independent analysis of clinical trial protocols and other study documents, including the research study budget, contract, informed consent, pharmacy and lab manuals, and other supporting documentation to inform budgetary and billing decisions. Perform study protocol complexity analysis to drive the proper costing and effort application.
• Assist faculty, staff, and others in interpreting internal and external research billing policies, determining applicable review requirements, and facilitating timely budget approval.
• Manage/monitor sponsored and non-sponsored research projects funded with restricted contributions and communicate with program leadership/PIs for project approval and set-up, budget monitoring and project close-out. This includes working closely with teams and sub-awarding institutions on managing sub award setup, billing and payments. Conduct all necessary steps in closing out of expired budgets including cost transfers, salary transfers, and verifying that all sponsor payments have been received.
• Oversee accounting for industry contracts, and other designated funds so that contracts and research projects are managed in accordance with grantor and contractor requirements. Communicate with program leadership/PIs for project approval and set-up, budget monitoring and project close-out. This includes monitoring contract, clinical trial, clinical research and foundation budgets to document expenditures and verify proper accountability.
• Other financial forecasting, analysis and grant/contract management responsibilities may be assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required, with a degree in accounting or finance preferred. 
  • Clinical Research Budget Specialist/Analyst (RA-III level)
    • Three years of relevant work experience required.
    • Three or more years of clinical research grants/contracts administration in pre and post award, ideally in a research environment highly preferred.
  • Clinical Research Budget Specialist/Analyst (RA-IV level)
    • Five years of relevant work experience required.
    • Five or more years of grant/contract administration in pre and post award, ideally in a research environment highly preferred.
• Exceptional analytic skills and demonstrated ability to build financial models for business forecasting, variance analysis, and problem solving and providing recommendation based on results to PI and program management for strategic decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (including Pivot Tables), PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint and Word.
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to understand complex problems, to collaborate and explore alternative solutions. Ability to organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology.

Fred Hutch has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement, with exceptions only for approved medical or religious accommodations.
As a condition of employment, newly hired employees must provide proof of vaccination or initiate the accommodations process before their first day of employment. 

A statement describing your commitment and contributions toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in your career or that will be made through your work at Fred Hutch is requested of all finalists.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We are an Affirmative Action employer. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply and desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to our Employee Services Center at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.