Contracts Officer

Full time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term: 1 year

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced research contracts specialist to play a key role in the continued evolution of our Research Contracts, Governance and Integrity team, supporting a wonderful variety of world leading research.

The Opportunity

We are seeking colleagues who will embody our values of expertise, community, integrity and collaboration.

The Research Contracts, Governance & Integrity team works closely with the University of Edinburgh research and professional service communities, as well as external stakeholders, to provide an expert research contracts service; to ensure that the University upholds its commitments to the highest standards of research integrity; to ensure the University meets its regulatory and legal obligations (including the Trusted Research agenda); and to provide an information governance service for research data.

Currently reporting to a Senior Contracts Manager, you will join a team of 15 contracts specialists in a busy team which receives approximately 1600 contract requests per year. You will play a key role in the delivery of ERO’s research contracts service. To do this you’ll work on the drafting, negotiation and signature of legal agreements required for University research. Your involvement in the contract ends at signature – please note this is not a procurement role. You will build positive working relationships with colleagues in ERO, the University’s research community and other allied, expert professional services teams.  

Personal Characteristics

We are ambitious for our research contracts service, and look forward to the contribution your insights and experience will bring. As well as your recent experience and understanding of the contracting process – whether you are a contracts professional in a research intensive institution or work drafting, negotiating and finalising legal agreements in another setting - we need your enthusiasm, proactivity and advanced communication skills.

If you would like to discuss the opportunity please contact Allan Shanks at Allan.Shanks@ed.ac.uk.

Closing Date – 20 February 2023 at 11.59 PM

Expected date of interviews – late February 2023

What skills and experience you will bring?

• Recent, or related, relevant experience or an understanding of drafting, reviewing, and negotiating research contracts. In particular, an understanding of material transfer agreements and confidentiality agreements would be an advantage.
• The ability to work independently, pay close attention to detail and to think pragmatically to develop legal solutions to contractual challenges,
• An ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to successfully conclude contracts in a timely manner.
• An aptitude for customer service.
• Excellent professional and communication skills

A full list of main responsibilities and the knowledge, skills and experience required for the role can be found in the full job description below.

Click here for a copy of the full job description.

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th’ ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

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