Contract Negotiator - Grants & Contracts, Office of Sponsored Programs (Remote Eligible)

The University of Virginia (UVA) Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is seeking applicants for a Senior Contract Negotiator or a Contract Negotiator with experience analyzing, reviewing and negotiating agreements on behalf of an institution. This role will provide advanced contracting services and expert advice to UVA’s academic and research community in the School of Medicine. This position is eligible for on-site, remote or hybrid work.

The OSP Grants & Contracts group promotes excellence in research by providing comprehensive service in proposal submission, award negotiation, non-financial award management, and non-funded agreement negotiation. Contract Negotiators are responsible for research compliance and contract review, drafting, negotiation, execution and other aspects of contract administration, thus supporting academic departments, interdisciplinary research centers, and institutional strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

Contract Negotiator

• Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of basic research agreements, including Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, Data Use Agreements, Amendments, Collaboration Agreements, and other (mostly non-funded) agreements within a School of Medicine-based portfolio.
• Work under the direction of Senior Contract Negotiators to partner with School of Medicine Departments, Principal Investigators, administrators, other OSP units, research compliance offices, and other units within UVA’s research community.
• Resolve research-related issues in cooperation with Senior Contract Negotiators, OSP, senior management or key University constituencies.
• Serve as a liaison between the University, funding agencies and other sponsors, communicating as UVA’s representative.
• Ensure compliance with state, federal and University rules, regulations, policies and practices and provide guidance to staff and faculty in understanding applicable policies and obligations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Senior Contract Negotiator

• Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of research agreements (funded and non-funded), including Clinical Trial Agreements, Research Funding Agreements, incoming/outgoing Subcontracts, Collaboration Agreements, Consortium Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, Data Use Agreements, amendments and other agreements within a School of Medicine-based portfolio.
• Partner with School of Medicine Departments, Principal Investigators, other OSP units, research compliance offices, research groups, and other units within UVA’s research community.
• Manage multi-contract and complex projects, including drafting/negotiating agreements for multi-site studies, multi-party consortia, collaborations or subcontracts.
• Resolve complex research-related issues in cooperation with senior management or key University constituencies.
• Serve as a liaison between the University, funding agencies and other sponsors.
• Assist Departments in preparation of complex proposals within parameters of sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines.
• Serve as subject matter expert on research administration, ensuring compliance with state, federal and University rules, regulations, policies and practices (such as HIPAA, FERPA, FAR, Uniform Guidance, sponsor guidelines, etc.) and provide guidance to staff and faculty in understanding applicable policies and obligations.
• Identify and implement process improvements. Participate in and lead cross-Grounds projects. Train and advise on issues requiring specific technical expertise, including new regulations, policies, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of contracting is imperative
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomatic skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft and web-based tools
• Knowledge of governmental regulations (e.g. FAR, Uniform Guidance, FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR)
• Knowledge of financial analysis and/or accounting principles a plus
• Expertise in project management, including managing international collaborations and complex multi-party contracts or subawards a plus

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of job-related experience, or combination of education and relevant contracting experience in increasingly responsible roles.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree or extensive experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Other credentials such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), MBA, project management certification, data protection certification, and/or Top Secret Clearance are preferred but not required.

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits . This position is located in Charlottesville, VA, and provides an option to work on-site, hybrid or fully remote, following the University's remote work guidelines.

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/ .

Application review will begin after May 5.

This position will not be able to provide consideration for candidates who require sponsorship at this time. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree
Experience: Five years of job-related experience

Physical Demands: This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This role does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and/or programs.

Application Process

Please apply online , and search for R0071952 . Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching ‘Find Jobs.’ Complete an application online with the following documents:

• Resume
  
• Cover letter
  

Upload all materials into the resume submission field; multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process. A minimum of three is required.

For information regarding the position or the application process, please contact Lyndsay Thaxton at enn9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experience. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.