Senior Contracts Specialist (R26-49)

Job Description:

The Senior Contracts Specialist is a member of the Pre-Award Services team in the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA). This position is responsible for providing high-quality development, review, and negotiation of contracts with a primary focus on industry-sponsored agreements. This position works closely with university faculty, research staff, legal counsel, and compliance specialists to assess complex contractual conditions involving intellectual property, export controls, data security, confidentiality, and other regulatory requirements. This position facilitates the contracting process from initiation through execution to support compliant award administration, protect institutional interests, mitigate risk, and foster productive partnerships with industry and other external organizations.

Description of Duties:

Contract Negotiation & Risk Assessment

• Review, draft, and negotiate agreements, with a primary focus on industry-sponsored agreements, such as research, consulting, master services, evaluative testing, teaming, and facilities use agreements.
• Manage timely agreement processing from inception through execution using SUNY Research Foundation electronic research administration systems, ensuring accurate records, documentation, and tracking.
• Collaborate with faculty, research staff, and compliance partners to evaluate and negotiate complex contractual provisions involving intellectual property, confidentiality, data security, export controls, and other regulatory requirements.
• Analyze contractual risk, provide recommendations to leadership and investigators, and communicate agreement status, issues, and outcomes to key stakeholders

Collaboration & Communications

• Provide expertise and guidance on industry and other sponsored agreements, compliance requirements, and regulatory interpretation.
• Review sponsor solicitations and contractual requirements, advising proposal and award-related compliance considerations.
• Partner with pre-award and post-award teams to ensure sponsor requirements are accurately interpreted and applied throughout the award lifecycle.
• Support continuous improvement of SPA policies, procedures, and best practices.

Institutional Initiatives

• Support strategic priorities, initiatives, special projects, and other duties as assigned.
• Participate in RFSUNY and University programs such as research-related presentations, webinars, and workshops (when offered virtually for fully remote staff).
• Engage with SPA teammates, University faculty, and research staff through meetings and working groups to share knowledge and advance SPA's mission.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree and at least three years of experience negotiating agreements, preferably industry-sponsored agreements in a higher education or research environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal training in contract administration, contract law, or related disciplines is required; Juris Doctorate (JD) preferred.
• Must have experience in interpreting and applying federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal contracting requirements, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and applicability to institutions of higher education.
• An in-depth understanding of sponsored program policies and regulations with a goal of facilitating research administration is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required, as well as the ability to think critically, to successfully research, analyze and present complex issues.
• Demonstrated ability to assemble and work in teams with a strong commitment to excellence in customer service.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word, are highly desirable.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience using Oracle management systems

Additional Information:

Salary Range: $85,000-$100,000 (annual)

Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements.

Federal law and regulations require notice to all prospective employees regarding crimes that have occurred on campus in the current three-year period. Please refer to the following website for the complete Annual Security Report ("Clery Report"): http://police.albany.edu/asr.htm

As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, criminal record, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status with respect to receiving public assistance, domestic violence victim status, a disabled, special, recently separated, active duty wartime, campaign badge, Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York offers exceptional benefits such as healthcare, dental, vision, pension plans, competitive pay, generous paid time off, tuition assistance, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. The University at Albany offers a variety of performing arts, world class libraries, and competitive sporting events.

Application Instructions:

Persons interested in this position should submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three work-related references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship