Research Contract Officer at InsideHigherEd

Position OverviewContract Negotiations is a department within the Office of Research at the University of Kansas. It is responsible for negotiating award terms and conditions of sponsored agreements prior to acceptance by the university; identifying research compliance issues; preparing and negotiating sub recipient agreements; and negotiating other research related agreements such as Material Transfer Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, and others. It manages approximately 1200 agreements and associated transactions annually and plays a significant role in the administration of over $215 million in externally funded sponsored project expenditures. This is a key position in the daily research administrative operations of the Office of Research.

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho & Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.Job Description60%

• Reviews, negotiates, and accepts contracts supporting sponsored activity at the university, including the drafting of acceptable terms that are beyond the standard parameters normally established by university policies. These negotiations are commonly with attorneys or chief administrators of governmental, for-profit, non-profit, or state agencies/institutions and frequently involve highly sensitive and unique issues. The language offered, decisions made, and any additional stipulations are typically made independently by the individual in this position. In high-risk situations, or in cases where a decision clearly violates university policies, issues may be escalated to higher management for review. This position has delegated signing authority for all agreements supporting sponsored projects as needed for the KU Center for Research, Inc. and the University of Kansas. Reviews and negotiates incoming agreements and writes and negotiates outgoing subawards and subcontracts under all sponsored projects regardless of funding source (federal, state, for-profit, or not-for- profit).

5%

• Acts as resource for Pre-Award and Post-Award staff related to negotiation or acceptance of terms and conditions in grants and contracts. Helps resolve issues related to the interpretation of internal and external policies and procedures.

5%

• Serves as primary resource contact for faculty, staff, sponsoring agencies, and others needing grant administration guidance or decisions on appropriateness of specific actions both pre- and post-award.

5%

• Represents the Associate Director or department in meetings.

5%

• Reviews compliance with university and sponsor requirements to confirm compliance with issues such as human subjects, animal care, restricted research and biohazards; assures university and federal standards for management of sponsored project funds; and gathers compliance information and prepares certifications for submission to sponsors as needed.

5%

• Communicates with investigators and sponsors to resolve complex grant administration problems/issues.

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• As an advisor for the Pre-Award unit, this position determines the appropriateness of terms and conditions that are unusual or that require acceptance or interpretation prior to submittal of a proposal. Drafts letters in response to RFPs when certain terms are unacceptable or will require future negotiation if an award is offered.

5%

• Trains departmental staff and researchers in grants administration, university and research foundation policies, and sponsor guidelines.

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• Assists in the development, writing, and implementation of policies.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and four (4) years or more of sponsored project or other relevant experience, or a J.D. and two (2) years of relevant experience may be substituted for the four (4) years' sponsored project or other relevant experience.
1. One (1) year experience reading and comprehending contracts with attention to detail.
2. Excellent writing skills reflecting conciseness and accuracy as demonstrated by application materials.
3. One (1) year experience working in a university or similar environment (familiarity with university policies and procedures or similar systems).
4. Previous experience that required working independently and cooperatively as part of a team as shown in application materials.
5. Previous experience that required organizing, prioritizing, and efficiently handling multiple projects and assignments as evidenced in application materials.
One (1) year experience with basic computer applications including word processing, spreadsheet, and database system use.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectationsPreferred Qualifications

Three (3) years’ experience in sponsored research administration at a university or in a related field OR in the interpretation of governmental regulations.
1. Work experience negotiating, reviewing, editing and writing complex contracts or agreements as evidenced in application materials.
2. Previous experience analyzing and interpreting agency, federal, and state grant or contract regulations as shown in application materials.
3. Experience negotiating, reviewing, editing and writing contracts or agreements with for-profit entities/industry partners as evidenced in application materials.
4. Law or other relevant graduate or professional degree.

Additional Candidate InstructionsIn addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. Resume. List of three (3) professional references.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Monday, November 3, 2025 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Contact Information to ApplicantsAaron Crim
[email protected]
Advertised Salary Range$65,000-75,000, commensurate with experienceApplication Review BeginsMonday November 3, 2025Anticipated Start DateSunday November 23, 2025Apply to Job