Agreement Associate

This position may be considered for partial or full remote work, subject to the terms of an annual telecommuting agreement, with the potential need to come to campus for meetings on limited occasion. While telecommuting/remote working, the employee is responsible for ensuring a worksite environment suitable for accomplishing their regular job duties during scheduled hours of work and, if applicable, arranging for dependent care just as they would if they were working in person at a UCSC worksite.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 10/01/2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Managed under the UC Santa Cruz Office of Research, the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub is the point of entry for industry partners and entrepreneurs to connect with UC Santa Cruz discoveries, innovations, resources, and talent. Within the Hub, the innovation transfer team is responsible for identifying, fostering, protecting, and licensing innovations resulting from UC Santa Cruz research with the goal of enabling the development of products and services for public benefit. The team works closely with faculty, students, and staff on the innovation disclosure and assessment process, and coordinates with external legal counsel and UC Research & Innovation to protect UC Santa Cruz intellectual property, including patents and copyrights, and engages companies and other organizations to facilitate access to intellectual property rights through the licensing process. The innovation transfer team also collaborates with partners in the Hub focused on corporate relations and innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Director of Innovation Transfer and in coordination with the Assistant Director of Innovation Transfer, the Agreements Associate has responsibility for preparing a wide range of standard agreements, with a primary emphasis on high-volume research- and collaboration-enabling agreements with external parties, and managing associated workflows and administrative tasks. The Agreements Associate will also coordinate programs and initiatives focused on external party access to recharge facility services and software copyright licenses as well as support other intellectual property protection, marketing, and licensing efforts.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $100,666 - $106,400/year. Proportionate to time worked. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Part-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 75%, 30 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 006237 (IP OFCR 2) - Grade 23

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

50% - AGREEMENTS

• Draft, review, and negotiate high-volume research- and collaboration-enabling agreements with external entities including incoming and outgoing material testing and transfer agreements (MTAs), data transfer and use agreements (DTUAs), and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) using industry standard approaches and following established processes and University of California (UC) and campus policies and guidelines.
• In coordination with other Office of Research units, complete necessary compliance, disclosure, and sponsor obligation checks and manage the execution process for final agreements.

40% - TRACKING & REPORTING

• Manage administrative tasks including processing agreement intake requests, communicating with Principal Investigators (PIs) and other stakeholders, setting up workflows, tracking project progress, reporting on metrics, and organizing and filing documentation and agreements following established processes and utilizing systems, tools, and shared file infrastructure.
• Stay abreast of UC policies and guidance and support development of and updates to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and agreement templates.

10% - COORDINATION/OUTREACH AND MARKETING

• Coordinate structured program participation and standard agreements with external parties for recharge facility services and software copyright licenses.
• Support intellectual property protection and licensing efforts by coordinating standard inter-institutional agreements (IIAs), conducting market outreach, assessing commercial interest, and soliciting stakeholder feedback.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, science or related area.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating research- and collaboration-enabling agreements.
• Working knowledge of and application of standard principles, theories and concepts such as laws, regulations, and practices pertaining to the protection and management of intellectual property, and university technology transfer.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent customer service skills with a drive to meet and exceed expectations and address the needs of a diverse client base.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively address high volume of activity.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and written policies and guidance.
• Strong attention to detail consistently reflected in work products and communications.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion, be resourceful, and maintain a professional and positive attitude while under pressure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in law, business, engineering, science or related area.
• Knowledge of UC research, contracts and grants, and other related policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of research compliance, conflict of interest, foreign influence, technology transfer, and other research engagement considerations.
• Ability to perform high-level analytical and marketing assignments for new inventions.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate has the option to work a hybrid work schedule. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• The University of California has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy covering all employees. To be compliant with the policy, covered employees must submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exception or deferral, eight (8) weeks from date of hire.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.