Associate Director of Contracts

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at the University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an Associate Director of Contracts to serve in a key leadership role for OSP. Reporting to the Executive Director of OSP, the Associate Director leads an experienced and high-performing team of 13 negotiators, handling contract negotiation and related services for the University's academic and research community. The position has signing authority for the University and provides guidance to the Lead Contract Negotiators on signatory issues.

The Associate Director's responsibilities include liaising with institutional leadership, including school leadership and the Office of University Counsel. The Associate Director coordinates with administrative and compliance offices in both the academic division and health system and works closely with the research administration community to support and facilitate research and meet ever-changing compliance requirements more effectively.

UVA has a growing research enterprise and is developing infrastructure to meet the demand. The Associate Director of Contracts will help shape the future of sponsored programs at UVA by working collaboratively with OSP Leadership to implement and lead process changes and participate in initiatives to meet the University's research goals. The Associate Director will be expected to establish performance expectations for the Contracts team, actively manage individual and team performance, and transparently report aggregate performance metrics to the University community.

OSP at UVA operates as a hybrid work environment. The Associate Director of Contracts has the option of a hybrid work arrangement. A regular presence in Charlottesville and on Grounds will be expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve in a senior leadership role as a direct report to the Executive Director of OSP; inform leadership of emerging issues and opportunities as identified by the team; provide input into unit budget requests and reports on team activities for senior leadership.
• Direct and coordinate contracts staff, systems, and business processes related to negotiation and execution of agreements, and other research-related activities.
• Manage personnel actions including hiring, performance appraisal, promotions, transfers, and vacation schedules for direct reports. Actively recruit qualified candidates for open positions from professional networks.
• Promote the professional development and work satisfaction of team members, who range in experience from early career through highly experienced contract negotiation professionals.
• Provide expert guidance on contractual matters to faculty, research administrators, external colleagues, and sponsor personnel.
• Lead efforts to develop and improve business processes, procedures and policies.
• Maintain partnerships across units and schools/central leadership for effective operations and strategic initiatives.
• Provide and conduct training sessions for the team and constituents.
• Clarify, interpret, and disseminate information related to sponsored programs to colleagues with varying knowledge, experience, and focus.
• Serve as an OSP representative on relevant committees.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and at least seven (7) years of related experience. An additional four (4) years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), data protection certification or project management certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced degree
• Experience with research administration, including a broad knowledge of sponsor terms and federal regulations and other research compliance areas.
• Background negotiating non-clinical contracts with foundation, industry and international entities.
• Strong background in contract negotiation, including significant experience with government and industry clinical trial negotiations.
• Expertise in industry/university partnerships, including managing international collaborations and complex multi-party contracts or subawards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of governmental regulations (e.g. FAR, Uniform Guidance, FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR).
• Experience with leading a team, facilitating professional development and promoting a culture of inclusiveness, mentorship, collegiality, and support.
• Familiarity with medical research and Intellectual Property issues.
• Previous institutional signing authority.
• Experience negotiating and facilitating internal data security and privacy reviews (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA, CUI, GDPR, etc.)
• Active with professional organizations such as National Council of University Research Administrators and Society of Research Administrators.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft and web-based tools.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Application Process:

Please apply online, and search for R0067346. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs.' Complete an application online with the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field; multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.A minimum of three is required.

Review of applicants will begin December 2, 2024, and the position will remain open until filled.

For additional information regarding this search, please contact Lyndsay Thaxton, Talent Acquisition Manager, at enn9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.