Senior Contract Negotiator

Notice: This job posting has closed. The information presented below is for historical reference only.

UNC Charlotte

Part-Time
Closes on Saturday, April 6, 2024

Job Description

The Senior Contract Negotiator reports to the Associate Director, Contract Award and Negotiations in the Office of Research Services. The Senior Contract Negotiator is responsible for research compliance in contract review, drafting, negotiation, execution, and other aspects of contract administration, thus supporting academic departments, interdisciplinary research centers, and institutional strategic initiatives. The Senior Contract Negotiator creates, negotiates, reviews, and drafts contractual agreements between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and federal, state, private, and foreign organizations. The Senior Contracting Negotiator reviews agencies' guidelines, regulations, and proposals to ensure that resulting awards will be efficiently monitored and administered.

  • Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of research agreements, including Research Funding Agreements, incoming Subcontracts, amendments (funded and non-funded), and other agreements.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on research administration, ensuring compliance with state, Federal, and University rules, regulations, policies, and practices (such as FAR, Uniform Guidance, sponsor guidelines, etc.) and guide staff and faculty in understanding applicable policies and obligations. Applies extensive knowledge of general contracts and intellectual property law.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator is required to keep abreast of new developments in grants and contracts policies and procedures, as well as federal, state, and institutional regulations pertinent to research agreements to serve as an up-to-date source of information and guidance for the research community.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator is expected to have a sufficient degree of experience, maturity, and good judgment to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the position. Efficient administration includes responsiveness to the needs of the University and its faculty as well as timeliness to assure adherence to the legal provisions of an award. Advise University stakeholders on contractual risks, ensuring that all research contracts comply with regulatory and institutional standards.
  • Expertise in project management, including international collaborations and complex multi-party contracts or subawards. The Senior Contract Negotiator serves as a project manager to maintain systematic control over all incoming and outgoing correspondence related to his/her assigned awards. Resolve complex research-related issues in cooperation with senior management or key University constituencies. Unresolved items will be referred to the Associate Director, Contract Award, and Negotiations in the Office of Research Services by providing all background data and a recommended course of action. Ability to negotiate and communicate effectively and diplomatically, both orally and in writing, with both University and agency representatives at all levels. Maintain open lines of communication with researchers and administrators with both University and agency representatives, ensuring clarity and timely progress in contract matters. Develop and implement best practices related to contract management and negotiation processes. Review and approve all authorization documents as needed by the contract/grant. The Senior Contract Negotiator will establish and maintain contract and grant files in keeping with good administrative practice and using the university’s electronic research administration systems. Works independently, and receives minimal guidance. Uses best practices and knowledge of internal and external University issues to improve services. The Senior Contract Negotiator must be cognizant of additional complex issues to negotiate which include addressing security issues and classification of research as well as the time involved in negotiating contracts.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator will identify key clauses for action by the post-award management team in the Office of Research Services. The Senior Contract Negotiator may be asked to provide advice to the college-based research officers as to the allowability of certain terms and conditions of an award.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator prepares negotiation memoranda that sets forth the results and understandings that resulted from negotiations and updates external departments, as needed, working to create compliance with accepted terms and conditions on all grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and sub-awards.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator acts as a resource and trainer for colleagues with less experience. The Senior Contract Negotiator will participate in training programs to be conducted by DR/ORS for campus customers.
  • The Senior Contract Negotiator works closely with the Associate Director, Contract Award and Negotiations in the Office of Research Services, legal staff, the Executive Director of Research Commercialization and Development, and the decentralized college-based research officers
UNC Charlotte
Senior Contract Negotiator - 120541