Senior Contract Negotiator, Office of Sponsored Projects

Job Posting Title:

Senior Contract Negotiator, Office of Sponsored Projects

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Hiring Department:

Office of Sponsored Projects

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) serves as the coordinating office for externally funded research and sponsored projects at The University of Texas at Austin. The mission of OSP is to assist faculty and professional research staff in their efforts to secure and ensure proper stewardship of external funding. We do that by assisting research faculty and staff with the following: proposal review, authorization, and submission; award negotiations and acceptance; account management; close-out, reports, audits, collection; professional development and education; export control, and research compliance.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage  

• Retirement contributions

• Paid vacation and sick time

• Paid holidays

• Eligible for telework

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

Support the Research Community at the University of Texas at Austin in capacity of Senior Contract Negotiator for the Office of Sponsored Projects. Primary duties are to review and negotiate sponsored research contracts, agreements and subcontracts, and make recommendation on terms, compliance risks and other contractual issues by interpreting University and sponsor policies and procedures and applying university, state and federal rules, regulations and laws as they relate to sponsored research.

Responsibilities

CONTRACT/AGREEMENT NEGOTIATION

• Independently drafts, reviews and negotiates new sponsored research agreements for compliance with University policies, federal and state law and regulations, including terms regarding intellectual property, publication, insurance/indemnification, export control, governing law, disputes, budget, invoicing and payment

• Independently drafts, reviews and negotiates non-financial research agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, data use agreements, teaming agreements, etc., to align with University policies, and federal and state law and regulations

• Independently submits detailed written exceptions and recommendations on contractual language in a timely manner to sponsors; coordinates negotiation meetings, as required, regarding contractual language with sponsors/contracting party legal offices, technical representatives and University researchers;

• Independently drafts and negotiates standard and some more complex sponsored research and non-financial agreements when such agreements are not provided by the sponsor. 

• Works collaboratively, under minimal supervision, with teams within Office of Sponsored Projects and appropriate University offices in the review and handling of various contractual issues (e.g., Discovery to Impact, Risk Management Office, Research Security Office, Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs, and The University of Texas System Office of General Counsel)

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

• Independently reviews terms and conditions of pre-award solicitations at the proposal stage and provides proposal exceptions for submission to the sponsor; reviews and finalizes contract modifications, including funding increments, extensions, and various revisions to terms and conditions; collaborates with other OSP functional areas on the handling of post-award contract issues including, but not limited to re-budgeting, invoicing, payment concerns and reporting issues

• Enters and maintains thorough and accurate documentation, data and negotiation notes related to agreement and modification actions into UT Research Management Suite (UTRMS) and E-Share Repository

COMMUNICATION

• Responds, or acknowledges, email or phone communication within 48 hours & communicate results of follow-up as appropriate. If volume does not permit timely follow up, communicate with the Assistant Director of Contracts and/or Associate Director of Contracting for assistance or guidance.

• Takes action or forwards correspondence as appropriat