Research Contracts Lead

We are recruiting to our Research Funding and Contracts team with the University’s Research Services department and are looking for experienced and motivated candidates to lead a team. The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

Research Services is one of the key Professional Services Departments supporting Oxford’s research and innovation community. Our values include teamwork, professionalism, continuous improvement, empathy, respect and trust.

The role will based in our contracts team which is a busy and friendly team which plays a vital role in enabling our internationally renowned research.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working

About the Role

You will be responsible for leading and managing a team that puts in place contractual arrangements appropriate for specific research activities. You will be expected to line manage the team, assessing and nurturing the personal and professional development of your team, balancing workloads and ensuring excellent working relationships with your team’s designated departments.

You will work proactively with researchers, departmental administrators and external collaborators/funders to acquire the necessary information to fully understand the context of a situation and to assess potential risks and requirements.

As a result, you will then, review and/or draft the appropriate contracts and carry out the negotiation, if needed, in order to ensure that the terms fall within the University’s legal, policy and risk management framework and protect the researcher’s interests.

About You

To be successful in this varied and interesting role, you will need to be someone who strives for excellence and enjoys providing high quality customer service, whilst acting as a role model and providing training and support to both your team and the wider Research Funding and Contracts team.

You will have extensive experience of negotiating, reviewing and drafting complex agreements, ideally in a similar setting, and an understanding of the university research sector and its drivers. You will also have great people and communication skills, confident in your ability to communicate with external parties, students and academic staff with tact and diplomacy.

You will also have a positive attitude with a flexible and adaptable approach to your work and be comfortable when priorities (for your own work and your team’s work) suddenly need to change or flex.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18 January 2023 at 12:00 noon.

Interviews will take place during week commencing 30 January 2023 and will be conducted either face to face or virtually.

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