Senior Contracts Manager - Research and Innovation

Job Description

This exciting opportunity calls for a Senior Contracts Manager who possesses strong leadership qualities and a keen understanding of the not-for-profit sector. The role will be based in London, within the legal department of a large organisation.Client DetailsMy client is looking for enthusiastic and motivated self-starters for the post of Senior Contracts Manager within an established Business Development and Partnerships Team that is part of their Research Services Directorate.The Business Development team works in partnership with the Universitys academic community to support its excellent research. This role will be crucial in providing support to the researchers and Business Development Managers who are responsible for developingand delivering collaborative research and development projects, programmes and strategic partnerships within a range of business sectors and industries, as well as the public and third sectors externally. The post-holder will provide specialist contract supportto all internal stakeholders and will maintain a suite of legal templates of the highest professional standards.DescriptionThe post-holder will act on behalf of the researchers and the University to negotiate agreements ranging from material transfers to multi-party research collaborations, funded by a range of sponsors including Research Councils, charities and a wide rangeof industrial sponsors.As a Senior Contracts Manager, the post-holder will ensure that both the researchers and the Universitys interests are protected by agreeing terms that safeguard the researchers need to publish and pursue further research and the Universitys charitableand academic position. The post-holder will also consider protection of results for potential commercialisation, and appropriate access to intellectual property rights for sponsor and collaborators.The post-holder will have a pragmatic approach to drafting terms that facilitates the partnership between the University, research collaborators and funders, whilst assessing and managing inherent risks. Reporting to the Director of Business Developmentand managing various contract types, the post-holder will be required to work cooperatively with the wider Professional Services team to ensure harmony and high-quality contract management across the University.ProfileYou will ideally have gained extensive experience of drafting and negotiating agreements through working in either a university or a research-intensive organisation, including industry. You will have a proven track record on every aspect of contract managementincluding initiating, drafting, negotiating, and execution; providing advice on costing/pricing, regulatory and institutional compliance, as well as risk management and risk mitigation; scheduling meetings, recording case management, collecting, analysingand reporting data, and escalating problematic queries when needed. An understanding of the scientific research environment would be desirable.You will have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize tasks within a busy portfolio of contracts. Able to work well independently and have a positive, can-do approach, you will have excellent verbal andwritten communication skills with an aptitude for developing positive working relationships. You will have the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and concisely to a wide range of stakeholders, including the highest levels of academic, corporateand government representatives. The ideal candidate will take a pro-active approach to problem solving and risk management, whilst tracking progress and ensuring timely execution of legal agreements.In this key position, the successful candidate must be able to adhere to internal processes with the ability to work in fast paced environments. The ability to manage a diverse workload in changing environments is a must.Job OfferMy client offers competitive salaries, contact me to discuss the banding;They also offer access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities.In addition, they offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities including an on-site nursery at the campus.We invite all suitable candidates to apply for this rewarding position as a Senior Contracts Manager in the heart of London.