Job Information
University of Washington SENIOR CONTRACTS SPECIALIST, TEAM LEAD in Seattle, Washington
Req #: 234627
Department: OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS
Job Location Detail: This position is eligible to work fully remote within the United States.
Posting Date: 05/22/2024
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $8,000 - $9,400 per month
Shift: First Shift
Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf )
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
The University of Washington’s Office of Sponsored Programs has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Contracts Specialist, Team Lead, on the Contracts team. This position will be part of a unit within the Office of Research dedicated to processing sponsored research-related agreements and will report to the Contracts Team Manager.
The Senior Contracts Specialist, Team Lead (Compliance Analyst), will review, negotiate, and execute research related agreements that may include clinical studies, amendments related to clinical trial agreements, industry and Government contracts, collaborative research and other unfunded agreements on behalf of the UW. This position also fulfills team operational leadership responsibilities, including the coordination of the day-to-day operational activities of the team.
Position Dimensions and Impact to the University:
This position is expected to conduct any work that falls within the Contract team’s overall scope, up to their level of signature authority. They may also provide support to other OSP teams during times when high volumes are experienced.
The Senior Contracts Specialist, Team Lead is expected to stay current on regulatory changes, sponsor negotiation issues and trends, and UW policies and processes. They must be comfortable collaborating and advising with various levels of leadership at the University and will work collaboratively with their OSP colleagues, sponsors, Campus departments and other involved offices, such as UW CoMotion (Tech Transfer Office) and the Human Subjects Division.
The Senior Contracts Specialist, Team Lead will have significant prior experience negotiating and finalizing complex agreements and must have knowledge of copyright law, publication policy, intellectual property rights, and data ownership as well as some working knowledge of conflict of interest regulations, human subjects and FDA regulations, animal care policies and other non-fiscal compliance areas. They will also have experience collaborating across internal teams, creating and maintaining templates, assisting with work distribution, and developing educational resources related to contracts and/or contract negotiations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Contract Team Operations Leadership
This position provides operations leadership for the team on a daily basis:
Assists other team members to resolve complex contract questions or issues that arise.
Serves as an additional resource for team members and promotes consistency of OSP’s response to campus and to sponsors.
Escalates operational issues within the team and serves as an additional resource for campus or external OSP partners.
Works closely with the Team’s Manager to escalate appropriate, widespread or procedural issues to the OSP Leadership Team for resolution.
Primary point of contact for non-personnel related emergencies in the absence of the Team Manager.Team Operations SupportThis position helps coordinate the overall assigned work within the team and supports team operations and performance.
Review Sponsored Projects Administration & Electronic Research Compliance (SPAERC) task lists, pending Funding Action reports and other appropriate workload reports to help coordinate and support the team’s workload on a day to day basis. As needed, the Team Lead will coordinate task list coverage when team members are out of the office.The Team Lead will support team operations, provide ongoing feedback and assistance if needed, and collaborate with the Manager to support any development or training needs.
Meets regularly with the Team’s Manager and other OSP leaders.
Active leader in regular team meetings and assists in drafting of meeting agendas and notes.
Presents at OSP staff meetings or communicate to the wider OSP staff membership via email or other means.
Continue his/her own development in leadership and research administration technical skills by pursuing POD, HR leadership/management training, CRA certification, and/or other professional development opportunities, as appropriate.Contract Policy and Process DevelopmentThis position collaborates with the OSP leadership team in providing OSP overall strategic leadership on an ongoing basis:
Participate in meetings with other team leads to spearhead and coordinate development and updates to policies and processes.
Lead or be involved with work groups and/or action teams that are formed to address policies and processes and to assist in the development of internal policy, process and system improvement projects to develop and promote relevant best practices.
Help coordinate campus outreach and education efforts/visits.Team Mentorship and Development This position assists in developing team members’ professional development plans and opportunities, as needed.
The Team Lead can act as a mentor for individual team members.
In collaboration with the Team’s Manager and individual team members, the Team Lead will assist in creating mentoring plans, as needed, to help guide those he/she mentors to learn, grow and become more effective and successful in their jobs and to help them achieve their stated goals.
The Team Lead will assist the team in assessing relevant classes, courses, webinars, or other educational/professional development opportunities as they arise, or as the team requests, and make recommendations to the team and Manager, accordingly.Contract Review and Negotiations
Reviews and evaluates award terms and conditions for individual agreements;Collaborates with department representatives and/or faculty during negotiations;
Negotiates acceptable award terms that are consistent with federal and state law, University policy, processes and systems; and that are also consistent with originating sponsor or funder requirements; and
Maintains current and accurate SPAERC agreement files of record. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's Degree and 6 or more years of increasingly responsible experience and development of expertise in contract negotiations.Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Knowledge of federal regulations concerning management of federal assistance funding, including the Uniform Guidance
Understanding of compliance requirements
Understanding of roles and responsibilities at a large, research university
Working knowledge of non-fiscal compliance areas such as conflict of interest regulations, human subjects and animal care policies
Understanding of copyright law, publication policy, intellectual property rights, and data ownership
Knowledge of sponsor types and the differences in sponsor requirements
Knowledge of federal acquisition processes and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
Ability to interpret, explain and apply complicated rules, regulations and policies
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
A demonstrated capacity to work with and within a diverse community
Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining templates, policies and processes related to sponsored program contracts and/or contract negotiation guidance
Demonstrated experience developing and presenting educational resources for various audiences DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
JD or Master’s Degree in related discipline, such as Business Administration or Public Administration. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.