Duties & responsibilities:

• Provides leadership, direction and management for the Office of Research Contracts to provide customer service to the faculty, staff, and students engaged in research and educational activities.
• Manages departmental budget and expenditures.
• Acts as contracting signing authority.
• Conducts negotiations and finalizes complex agreements with industry, federal, state and local government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
• Negotiates intellectual property and publication rights, confidentiality, indemnification, jurisdiction/governing law, and payment terms.
• Identifies contractual and policy issues regarding compliance, conflicts of interest, and accounting while raising issues to appropriate University officials and providing follow through until resolved.
• Resolves contractual problems that develop during course of projects by consulting with investigators, staff and sponsors.
• Reviews and revises standard agreements to reflect changes in University policies, Federal regulations, and laws.
• Works with other research administration and compliance units on common policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Works with staff to ensure appropriate and timely data collection on agreement activities.
• Manages agreement performance metrics.
• Participates in the development and delivery of training and outreach programs.
• Informs, advises, and collaborates with the senior RII leadership, UA leadership, external business partners, and state and federal agency representatives to establish and oversee UA research requirements and ensures that they are aligned with federal and state laws and regulations.
• Manages and supervisors a team of contracting professionals including recruitment, staff training, coaching and development, and performance management.
• Additional duties may be assigned.

Knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Ability to manage multiple negotiations and work efficiently under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to network and consensus build with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and to provide leadership and direction
• Ability to work as a team member demonstrating self-reliance and resourcefulness