Contracts Associate (Research Administration & Sponsored Programs)

Overview

A Contracts Associate is needed to manage a portfolio of grant and contract activities within a research administration office. This role involves leading the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of domestic and international agreements to support research, educational, and training missions. Agreement types include sponsored research agreements, service agreements, material transfer agreements, non-disclosure agreements, data use agreements, memoranda of understanding, collaboration agreements, student and scholar placements and exchanges, internships, visitor agreements, and degree and non-degree educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft sponsored agreements for assigned departments.
• Collaborate with compliance offices, technology transfer offices, and legal counsel to resolve conflicts regarding award terms and conditions.
• Serve as liaison to funding agencies for pre-award problem resolution, agreement negotiations, and post-award matters.
• Provide advice and counsel to faculty and staff during proposal development and submission.
• Manage portions of pre-award activity, including interpreting and communicating rules, regulations, and compliance issues.
• Review proposals for completeness and compliance.
• Serve as signature authority on proposals and advise on proposal and award strategy.
• Ensure all necessary approvals are obtained, draft agreements or documentation, negotiate, and sign award documents.
• Advise faculty and staff on institutional compliance requirements.
• Work with collaborators, business partners, and sponsors to resolve award-related issues.
• Support users of research administration software in coordination with the Office of Research Information Services.
• Continuously expand knowledge of research compliance to guide faculty and staff.
• Support training programs for key positions and processes in research administration.
• Act as liaison to ensure integration with legal, compliance, IT, technology transfer, and post-award budget offices.
• Contribute to a customer service-focused work environment and continuous process improvement, including cross-training in various functional areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and vice versa according to equivalency formulas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s, PhD, or JD in a related field with relevant specialized training.
• Additional years of experience drafting and negotiating documents in sponsored project environments such as universities, non-profits, government agencies, or legal practice.
• Understanding of research compliance regulations.
• Experience with Federal Acquisition Regulations and other federal agency terms and conditions.
• Experience with contract management systems.

Technical Skills & Proficiency

• Intermediate analytical skills
• Intermediate contract negotiation
• Intermediate grant database management
• Intermediate knowledge of grant regulations
• Intermediate interpersonal skills
• Intermediate proposal and agreement review
• Intermediate regulatory compliance
• Intermediate research administration knowledge
• Intermediate research administration systems

Compensation & Benefits

• Classified Title: Contracts Associate
• Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE
• Starting Salary Range: $75,135 - $131,510 annually (commensurate with experience)
• Employee Group: Full Time
• Schedule: 5 days per week, 37.5 hours per week
• FLSA Status: Exempt

Location

• Remote

Department

• Research Administration Office