Contract Specialist

You will manage and negotiate pharmaceutical contracts while also owning key operational and governance activities that support the full contract lifecycle. This role blends independent contract management with strong execution, documentation, and cross-team coordination.

You will partner closely with internal stakeholders, support audits and litigation requests, and ensure contracts and records meet internal, legal, and regulatory standards. This role requires sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to operate independently while staying aligned with team priorities. Individuals based in the Republic of Ireland may split working time between the Dublin/Letterkenny office and home, in line with company policy.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements, and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our offices and telecommuting from a home-based office.

What you will do:

Contract management and negotiation

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage contracts with pharmaceutical companies using approved templates and controls.
• Redline agreements and resolve contract language issues in collaboration with Legal and business partners.
• Identify and address contractual risks and interpretation issues early.
• Manage contracts through execution, amendment, and renewal.

Contract lifecycle and governance

• Own contract records, version control, and data accuracy across contract repositories.
• Ensure contracts and supporting documentation meet internal standards, audit requirements, and retention rules.
• Support internal and external audits, including preparation and coordination of materials.
• Assist with litigation and information requests by gathering and validating required documents.

Operational delivery and coordination

• Coordinate contract-related activities across stakeholders in the US and Ireland.
• Track milestones, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure timely completion.
• Maintain clear communication with internal teams and external partners.
• Identify process gaps and suggest practical improvements to how work is delivered.

Relationship management

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with pharmaceutical partners.
• Act as a reliable point of contact for contract-related queries.
• Communicate clearly, professionally, and with appropriate escalation when needed.

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Typically 1 to 3 years' experience in contract management, contract administration, or a legal or commercial role.
• Experience in US healthcare, pharmacy benefit management, retail pharmacy, or pharmaceutical contracting is an advantage.

Professional skills

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proven experience with contract redlining and document review.
• Experience using CLM tools such as Salesforce CLM and Adobe Sign, or similar platforms.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable working across teams, geographies, and functions.
• Practical problem-solving mindset and attention to detail.

Working style expectations

• Works independently on day-to-day matters and seeks guidance on complex issues.
• Balances commercial, legal, and operational considerations.
• Takes ownership of outcomes rather than tasks.