Contract Specialist I - 526694

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $62,300 - Midpoint: $81,000 (Salaried E10)

Department/Organization: 702101 - Office for Res & Tech Agrmnts

Normal Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Job Summary: The Contract Specialist I ensures contract compliance with applicable laws, University policies, and best practices.

Additional Department Summary: The Office for Research and Technology Agreements (ORTA) facilitates the review, drafting, and negotiation of a wide range of research-related contracts, including industry, federal, and state-sponsored agreements. This includes master agreements, sub-awards, collaboration agreements, data and material transfer agreements (MTAs), and confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The unit works closely with external sponsors, internal researchers, and university administrators to ensure timely and compliant agreement execution that supports the University's research enterprise. ORTA plays a key role in resolving complex contractual and regulatory issues, including those involving the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), HIPAA, FERPA, FISMA, and export control requirements under ITAR and EAR. ORTA assists the University's innovation and commercialization by managing the intellectual property (IP) portfolio, monitoring patent prosecution status, coordinating with external patent counsel, supporting the evaluation of invention disclosures. ORTA contributes to the educational and outreach efforts aimed at faculty, students, and staff involved in the research enterprise and innovation process. ORTA serves as a cross-functional placement to ensure enhanced coordination between contractual and commercialization across ORED.

Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of contract management, negotiation, development, and/or compliance experience; OR master's degree and two (2) years of contract management, negotiation, development, and/or compliance; OR juris doctorate and some experience in contract management, negotiation, development, and/or compliance experience.

Juris Doctorate and some experience in contract management, negotiation, development, and/or compliance experience.

Skills and Knowledge: Excellent interpersonal skills. High degree of logical problem solving and analytical reasoning skills. Demonstrated experience and understanding of federal regulations, how they are applied and interpreted. Understanding of working with Federal agencies and agency specific regulations (including DOD, DOE and NASA).

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with legal transactions in a research-intensive university setting including intellectual property issues. Professional experience working with university rules, regulations and policies specifically related to sponsored projects. Experience working with FAR, HIPAA, Bayh-Dole, and EAR/ITAR. Knowledge of business organizations, intellectual property, privacy laws and technology commercialization laws.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.