Department: Office Sponsored Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

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

The Associate Contracts Officer interfaces with a number of individuals in SR, in other Northwestern offices and departments, and outside the university. Incoming agreements may come from Contract Officers in SR, from the faculty members proposing and conducting the research, or from the entities seeking to sponsor the research. The Associate 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 Senior Associate Director, Contracts & Negotiations, the Associate Contracts Officer has appropriate autonomy and ownership to negotiate, resolve and execute assigned agreements, transactions, relationships, and issues appropriate with the grade level and responsibilities.

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 Associate 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 contracts and other legal documents related to confidentiality disclosure, data use (DUA) and material transfer (MTA), using standard templates when possible.
• Negotiate terms and conditions for material transfer and data use agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other award instruments as assigned. In this capacity, Associate Contracts Officer assumes responsibility for differentiating between negotiable positions and absolute requirements.
• Accept contracts exercising appropriate delegated signatory authority.
• Conduct comprehensive analyses of provisions regarding intellectual property ownership and licensing, publication and confidentiality, liability, indemnification, warranty, export control, and choice of law, among others
• Conduct negotiations to ensure an appropriate balance between the needs of the parties with those of the PI and the University. Clearly and concisely, convey University positions and the rationale for these positions while working to maintain good relations between the parties.
• 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.
• Ensure that negotiated terms adhere to University, agency, and federally mandated requirements.

Agency and Industry Liaison

• Maintain ongoing liaison with external counterparts to enhance ongoing research relationship.
• Work efficiently and transparently with departmental stakeholders and external parties to move agreements towards execution in a compliant and timely manner

Training, Professional Development, and Other Duties

• Support SR management team and other central and University units as requested on training programs and sponsored research materials on relevant topics such as working with sponsors and industry.
• Attend and assist in education and training meetings, specialized training seminars, and staff professional development and participate actively in staff meetings and departmental working groups.
• Utilize tools and information from national and regional research administration organizations, to continuously enhancing job knowledge and skills.
• Represent Sponsored Research and the University as part of working groups as requested.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience negotiating contracts and agreements, preferably with government, industry, and non-profit entities.
• Transactional legal experience drafting and redlining contracts and agreements.

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

• Knowledge of generally accepted contracting and subcontracting principles, practices and issues (e.g., indemnification, intellectual property, publication), preferably related to institutions of higher education.
• Working knowledge of federal and international regulatory requirements and guidelines involving research.
• 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.
• 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:

• Juris Doctor or related graduate from an accredited institution
• Demonstrated experience with university contracting.
• Experience in regulatory and/or transactional work.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $76,000-$85,000 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

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html 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 https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html 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 https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

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 COVID-19 and Campus Updates 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.

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