Contracts Associate

As a member of the Contracts Team, you will play a key role in preparing, negotiating and executing contracts ensuring that the interests of the University are protected in relation to intellectual property, contract research, consultancy and technical services, thereby enabling significant commercialisation outcomes to be achieved.

You will provide specialist advice and assistance in the preparation, negotiation and execution of a range of contracts and other legal documents, including Research Contracts, Collaboration Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, Licence Agreements, IP Transfer Agreements. You will assist in the negotiation of disputed contractual clauses and manage any disputes in relation to IP or other contract agreements. You will evaluate and advise the University on risk mitigation associated with warranties and liabilities.

About the person:

You will hold an honours degree, preferably in law or other related discipline, with at least one years relevant experience and expertise in successful contract preparation, negotiation and execution. You will have excellent communication skills, a strong interest in the development of effective partnerships with internal colleagues and external organisations, and have the ability to work on your own initiative.

An ideal candidate would also possess a postgraduate or professional legal qualification with experience of working with or within a university, a research environment or a technology transfer environment.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

This is a 3 year fixed term post. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more on our website.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application.

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