Michael Theiss
Springfield,PA
Summary
Dynamic Contract Manager with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, adept at contract negotiation and budget management. Proven track record in enhancing value through innovative strategies and ensuring compliance. Skilled in stakeholder engagement and team collaboration, I streamline processes to drive efficiencies and reduce costs, delivering impactful results in clinical trial operations.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Contract Manager
ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS, LP
Wilmington, DE
06.2017 - 04.2025
- Delivered contract and negotiation expertise to align with business needs and enhance value.
- Negotiated language changes in Clinical Study Agreements, Consulting Agreements, and other contracts, safeguarding AstraZeneca’s interests.
- Reviewed budgets and contracts for quality control across vendors and subsidiaries.
- Developed US and global budgets for clinical trials to ensure financial accuracy.
- Streamlined processes to increase efficiencies and reduce costs through innovative strategies.
- Ensured compliance with internal SOPs, HIPAA, GCP, and ICH Guidelines during negotiations.
- Managed CRO relationships for outsourced studies, ensuring timely delivery of all outputs.
- Provided litigation support by preparing memorandums and facilitating document discovery.
- Read through contracts, regulations and procedural guidelines to verify comprehension and compliance.
- Coordinated and conducted classes to teach procedures to new staff members.
Clinical Operations Manager - Finance
PRA HEALTH SCIENCES
Blue Bell, PA
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: (assigned to Merck Research Laboratories)
- Provided contract and negotiation expertise to address business needs and provide business value.
- Negotiated requested language changes for Clinical Trial Research Agreements, identifying changes that are critical to Merck’s interests.
- Negotiated clinical study budgets and determine grant payments within Fair Market Value for US clinical trials.
- Prepared historical cycle times and discuss sites and recommendations with the CRM (Clinical Research Manager).
- Discussed sites with high potential for being selected and opportunity for pre-work (i.e. pre-populating budgets and contracts).
- Assigned to each study PRA performed CTA management through PMP model Project Related reporting into the Reginal PM Assignment.
- Timely delivery of the CTA negotiations process at the project level.
- Attend Legal Kick-Off meetings and budget kick-off meetings (by the CMs of each region involved).
- Lead Contract manager for multiple studies maintaining the collaboration between Contract Managers involved.
- Worked in partnership internally with GCTO (Global Clinical Trial Operations) country operations, finance, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, legal and regional operations, HQ functional areas and externally with vendors and sites.
- (assigned to Merck Research Laboratories)
Paralegal
Delta-T Group, Inc.
Bryn Mawr, PA
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Corporate and Senior Paralegal for General Counsel and responsible for thirteen separate corporate entities.
- Risk management and contract review professional in the corporate legal department.
- Was responsible for developing innovative processes to streamline processes, increase efficiencies and reduce cost.
- Was responsible for all corporate filings, including set up for new corporate entities.
- Filed annual reports and licensing for all corporate entities.
- Negotiated contracts, lease agreements.
- Handled unemployment claims and represented the company in unemployment hearings.
- Reviewed Human Resource concerns that were escalated to the general counsel.
- Coordinated with Risk Managers to provide legal review.
- Proactively developed risk management and mitigation plans to resolve issues of concern.
- Reviewed, filed and maintained all business insurance documents and lease agreements.
Contract Implementation Lead
Sunoco, Inc.
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Coordinated implementation of two vendor contracts, enhancing procurement processes.
- Tracked multiple new procurement initiatives, ensuring timely execution and compliance.
- Liaised with business units to vet insurance and safety protocols for refineries, chemical plants, and gas stations.
- Led contract writing team in various projects, streamlining documentation efforts.
- Oversaw contract information project as associate lead, managing tasks of one attorney.
- Directed office supplies team in transitioning to a new vendor across the company.
- Reviewed and synchronized contract writing between sourcing and contract teams.
- Managed contract documentation, maintaining safety qualifications and insurance certifications in all folders.
Claims Representative
State Farm Insurance Company
Concordville, Pennsylvania
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Customer problem solving; Interpreted policy contract language; Providing policy information and interpretation; Reviewed and paid complex claims based upon the appropriate policy contracts and endorsements; Negotiated settlements; Liability investigator and claims representative; Research and investigate auto repair standards, recalls and trends; Conducted intense claims investigations and interviews; Licensed motor vehicle appraiser; Procured and contracted services with field investigators and other vendors; Trained Fraud and specialty claim investigator.
- Medical claims investigation; Coordinated team investigations and determined conclusions for coverage questions and fraud referrals in automobile accident, fire and theft claims.
- Successfully led the Claims/Underwriting Communication and Coordination Committee to match claims and underwriting standards resulting in increased claims efficiency; Reviewed and updated procedures to match contract and contract endorsement language; Coordinated the data; maintained the database and designed the materials for 'diversity days' internal job fair and for the departmental greet and meet.
Wine Educator and Sales Staff
Chaddsford Winery
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
01.1998 - 01.2010
- Research, design and teach wine education classes; Sales and marketing of product line; Train new employees; Manage corporate and private events; Supervised event staff of up to six wine staff; Attend and design product education classes; Implementation and design of facility/educational tours and special events; Provided an elevated customer experience specifically tailored to generate a loyal business clientele; Built long-term customer relationships and advised customers on purchases and promotions.
QMRP/Case Manager
Melmark, Inc.
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Coordinate, contract and oversight of therapeutic services; Procurement, sourcing, negotiating, contracting and requisitioning of adaptive equipment and other supplies for multiple clients, sites and facilities through RFP process; Project management of opening of 2 new residential facilities; Planning, designing, acquisition and implementation of equipment, services, funding and treatment care plans for clients and facilities; Leader of interdisciplinary treatment teams; Review and maintain various medical, clinical and client care charts; Develop and coordination of behavior plans; Presentation via PowerPoint of human rights and behavior plans to Human Rights Committee; Participate in development of agency policies and procedures; Staff supervision of 20 plus staff and supervisors in multiple locations; 24-hour on-call responsibility; Staff and treatment team member training; Vetted safety and insurance information of providers/vendors.
Case Manager
Pennsylvania Hospital Hall-Mercer IMH/CR
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Coordinate, procured, implemented and contracted medical, therapeutic, residential and recreational services; Monitored care and treatment plans; assured that services provided were meeting patient needs via metrics measurements and assessments.
- Represented the city of Philadelphia for budget requests, services needs and oversight of care plans and service providers, especially as related to specific lawsuit defined class service levels.
Case Manager/Lead Coordinator
The Center for Developmental Disabilities
Hicksville, New York
01.1989 - 01.1999
- Coordinated, procured, contracted, implemented and oversight of medical and therapeutic services; Monitored care and treatment plans; Represented Suffolk County for service needs, budgets, care plans and services; Sourced and contracted services, designed treatment plans and developed care plans for two newly opened group homes; Interviewed and hired staff for activities of daily living care; Sourced, contracted and ordered durable goods, household supplies, medical supplies, office supplies, medications (with RN and MD oversight) and cleaning supplies through RFP process; Design and develop day program treatment and training plans for clients and staff; Coordination of services with other providers.
Education
Associate Healthcare Case Manager Certificate - School of Social Welfare and School of Nursing
State University of New York At Stony Brook
Stony Brook05-1998
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Social Sciences Interdisciplinary, History
State University of New York At Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY08-1997
Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
- Contract negotiation and drafting
- Budget management and oversight
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Litigation support and claims representation
- Vendor management and relations
- Team collaboration and leadership
- Financial analysis and reporting
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Attention to detail
- Effective communication skills
- Problem solving and conflict resolution
- Procurement and purchasing strategies
- Invoice management and processing
- Assessment and analysis techniques
- Staff training and development
- Sourcing and acquisition strategies
- Product research and evaluation
- Contract interpretation and implementation
Additional Skills And Training
- PA Certified Abuse Investigator
- CPR
- PA MR Case Management trained
- Trained as PA Incident Manager
- Incident Reporting Staff
- PA Medication Administration
- Attended Seminars on: Structured teaching; How to Become a Better Communicator; Sales Strategies; Financial Outlook Planning; Applied Behavior Analysis; Implications of Pharmacology on Developmentally Disabled Adults; Psychopharmacology.
- Attended annual national conference of Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMRP) with various seminars on medications, treatments, residential and daily living programming.
- Intermediate and Advanced Certificates in Wine towards a Master of Wine in the WSET International Program
Affiliations
- Scoutmaster for a 50 plus member Scout Troop
- Wine and Spirits Education Trust Intermediate and Advanced Certification
- Coached youth soccer for many years
- Wine Educator with many years experience in the Wine and Spirits industry
- Recently was on the Board of Directors of our community pool.
Timeline
Contract Manager
ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS, LP
06.2017 - 04.2025
Clinical Operations Manager - Finance
PRA HEALTH SCIENCES
01.2016 - 01.2017
Paralegal
Delta-T Group, Inc.
01.2013 - 01.2016
Contract Implementation Lead
Sunoco, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2012
Claims Representative
State Farm Insurance Company
01.2005 - 01.2011
QMRP/Case Manager
Melmark, Inc.
01.2001 - 01.2004
Case Manager
Pennsylvania Hospital Hall-Mercer IMH/CR
01.1999 - 01.2001
Wine Educator and Sales Staff
Chaddsford Winery
01.1998 - 01.2010
Case Manager/Lead Coordinator
The Center for Developmental Disabilities
01.1989 - 01.1999
Associate Healthcare Case Manager Certificate - School of Social Welfare and School of Nursing
State University of New York At Stony Brook
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Social Sciences Interdisciplinary, History
State University of New York At Stony Brook
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