Department: Office Sponsored Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

As a professional staff member of Northwestern Sponsored Research (SR), the Contracts Officer is integrally involved in the review and analysis of complex contractual issues including the preparation, drafting, review, redlining, and negotiation of sponsored research contracts and related agreements that require advanced knowledge of University, sponsor, and Federal regulations and policy. The Contracts Officer will manage a range of research agreements with federal, corporate and private industry, subcontracts, and associated agreements pertaining to nondisclosure, confidentiality, licensing, data use, and material transfer for all academic departments on Northwestern's Chicago, Evanston and Doha, Qatar campuses.

The Contracts Officer interfaces with a number of individuals in SR, in other Northwestern offices and departments, and outside the university. Incoming agreements and proposals may come from Senior Contract Officers in OSR, from the faculty members proposing the research, or from the entities seeking to sponsor the research. The Contracts Officer works with these individuals and coordinates compliance with the University's Innovations and New Ventures (INVO) office, Office of Corporate Relations, Office of General Counsel, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and others. Reporting to the Assistant Director, Contracts & Negotiations, the Contracts Officer has autonomy and ownership over particular agreements, transactions, relationships, and issues.

Northwestern Sponsored Research is committed to being BRAVE (Battling Racism and Valuing Equity). Through deliberate words and actions, we endeavor to confirm to our colleagues that we see them and acknowledge their humanity and value.

The Contracts Officer will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

Specific Responsibilities:

Contract and Agreements Negotiation and Acceptance

• Draft various complex contracts, subcontracts, and other legal documents.
• Negotiate terms and conditions for industry basic, applied and development research contracts, master research agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, letters of indemnification, novation agreements for sponsored projects, termination agreements for sponsored projects, subcontract agreements for sponsored projects, and other award instruments. In this capacity, Contracts Officer assumes responsibility for differentiating between negotiable positions and absolute requirements.
• Accept contracts and awards exercising appropriate delegated signatory authority.
• Develop knowledge base of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and analyze proposed agreements to determine whether clauses in the prime agreement should properly flow down to Northwestern and, if not, negotiate such revisions or waivers with the other party.
• Conduct comprehensive analyses of provisions regarding intellectual property ownership and licensing, publication and confidentiality, liability, indemnification, warranty, export control, choice of law, scope of work, deliverables, and budgeting.
• Conduct negotiations to ensure an appropriate balance between the needs of the sponsor with those of the PI and the University. Clearly and concisely, convey University positions and the rationale for these positions to sponsors while working to maintain good sponsor relations.
• Identify issues during research negotiations in which Northwestern's position and/or goals diverge from the sponsoring entity, work with Contracts & Negotiations Managers and Directors, as appropriate, to favorably resolve those issues, and assist with alerting more senior management when resolution is not able to be reached in a timely manner or when there are issues that are broad-based or potentially applicable to or problematic in other situations.
• Solicit input from principal investigators and other central administrative offices, such as IRB, IACUC, Technology Transfer, Financial Operations, General Counsel, and Risk Management as appropriate.
• Advise principal investigators and their staff of unusual or problematic terms, coordinate plans of action and keep informed of negotiation process.
• Work with Grants Officers, Coordinators and Assistants to ensure that each sponsored project has the appropriate University approvals for human subject research, animal use, and if applicable, indirect cost waivers prior to execution.

Agency and Industry Liaison

• Maintain ongoing liaison with funding entity personnel to enhance ongoing research relationship.
• Monitor proposed and imposed modifications in sponsor regulations, requirements, and policies.
• Assist SR leadership in providing university management with critical analyses of these changes and or analyze potential impact to the University, alternative responses, and implementation strategies.

Training, Professional Development, and Other Duties

• Work with SR management team and other central and University units to develop training programs and materials on sponsored research related topics such as working with sponsors, industry, patents and intellectual property.
• Provide support to investigators and Grants Officers in the proposal review and submission process for sponsored research proposals.
• Ensure that proposals and terms of award adhere to University, agency, and federally mandated requirements.
• Assist in education and training meetings, specialized training seminars, and staff professional development and participate actively in staff meetings and departmental working groups.
• Participate actively in national and regional research administration organizations and activities, with an emphasis on continuously enhancing job knowledge and skills.
• Represent Sponsored Research and the University as part of working groups.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• A Juris Doctor or MBA from an accredited institution.
• 1-3 years Experience negotiating government, industry, and non-profit agreements and contracts.
• Prior transactional legal experience: drafting, redlining and negotiating contracts and agreements.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted contracting and subcontracting principles, practices and issues (e.g., indemnification, intellectual property, publication) related to institutions of higher education).
• Working knowledge of federal and international regulatory requirements and guidelines involving research.
• Ability to read statements of work, and other accompanying documentation to understand the research and communicate potential contractual or regulatory issues.
• Working knowledge of FAR clauses applicable to agreements with educational institutions.
• Knowledge of general management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, teamwork, conflict resolutions, and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Management and professional experience, business acumen, judgment and integrity to work with investigators and sponsors, while continuously advancing the best interests of the University.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under deadline pressures.
• Ability to manage challenging situations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Strong service orientation.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Juris Doctor from an accredited institution
• 3+ years' experience negotiating government, industry, and non-profit agreements and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience with university contracting.
• Experience in regulatory and transactional work.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $83,000-$100,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-EN1