What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Contract Officer position at University of North Carolina Charlotte?

Senior Contract Officer

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This posting will be used to fill two positions, 001327 & 003941.
The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with
the finalist.
Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to support your answers to the supplemental questions.
UNC Charlotte Benefits Information: https://hr.charlotte.edu/benefits/benefits-overview/

Position Information

General Information

Position Number	001327
Vacancy Open to	All Candidates
Working Title	Senior Contract Officer
Position Designation	EHRA Non-Faculty
Employment Type	Permanent - Full-time
Months per Year	12
Work Schedule	8:00 am - 5:00 pm; Monday - Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours required, as needed.
Hours per week	40
FLSA Status	Exempt
Division	Research
Department	Div of Research (Adm)
Work Location	Cameron Hall
Salary Range	$75,321 - $80,000
Primary Purpose of Department	The Office of Research Services (ORS) is the campus shared-services office for pre- and post-award administration, including proposal development and submissions, award acceptance, contract negotiation, subaward and award management and modification, and reporting. ORS organizes and gives strategic direction to the research program, manages the institutional signature process for the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs), provides faculty/staff/student support by reviewing and interpreting sponsor guidelines and regulations, prepares budget documents, reviews proposal packages for conformity to sponsor requirements, and submits and tracks proposals. ORS is also responsible for ensuring that funded projects are conducted in a manner consistent with the university and sponsor policies and procedures. ORS, in collaboration with other offices and units in the Division of Research, initiates and facilitates training opportunities for campus research administration staff, private, and foreign organizations. The Sr. Contract Officer reviews agencies' guidelines, regulations, and proposals to ensure that resulting awards will be efficiently monitored and administered.
Primary Purpose of Position	The Senior Contract Officer, under direction, is responsible for negotiating contracts. Responsible for writing, reviewing, and negotiating complex agreements, providing negotiation documentation and support to Principal Investigators, training and mentoring less experienced staff, and assisting the assistant directors with policy and procedure development and strategic planning.
Summary of Position Responsibilities	Independently review and negotiate terms and conditions of complex award documents and contractual agreements with various sponsors to ensure compliance with policies, federal and state laws, and sponsor guidelines. Draft and negotiate agreements, including those for technical data and intellectual property rights, publication rights, payment terms, title to equipment, and travel regulations. Write and review standard and complex agreements, subawards, and consulting agreements. Handle exceptions for Request for Proposal (RFP) documents. Collaborate with Principal Investigator and department administrators to ensure timely and compliant processing of all agreement types. Under minimal supervision, prepare correspondence and process requests to sponsors for modifications to existing agreements. Ensure modifications are managed efficiently and in accordance with the sponsor guidelines. Collaborate with the various offices in the Division of Research, Office of Legal Affairs, and other relevant offices to address compliance issues. Work closely with senior negotiators and direct supervisors to ensure all agreements comply with relevant laws, policies, and procedures, including those of the UNC System and sponsor requirements. Stay up to date with changing regulatory requirements and policies affecting sponsored research. Maintain and manage all negotiation-related documentation in the award management database and negotiations tracking system, ensuring records are updated and accurately reflect the current status of each negotiation. Ensure timely processing of all negotiations and keep all parties informed of the status. Assist management with implementing performance metrics and improving negotiation tracking systems. Provide expert advice on contract administration and negotiation best practices. Assist supervisors in training and mentoring other colleagues. Support less experienced staff by making recommendations on complex and non-routine contract issues. Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced contract negotiators on documentation management. Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and sponsors.
Minimum Education/Experience	Master's degree and 1 year of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience	Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and deadlines
Necessary Certifications/Licenses
Preferred Certifications/Licenses
Special Notes to Applicants	This posting will be used to fill two positions, 001327 & 003941. The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with the finalist. Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to support your answers to the supplemental questions. UNC Charlotte Benefits Information: https://hr.charlotte.edu/benefits/benefits-overview/
Posting Open Date	06/16/2026
Posting Close Date
Open Until Filled	Yes
Proposed Hire Date	08/03/2026
If time-limited please indicate appointment end date
Contact Information

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
- UNC Charlotte Website
- HERC Job Board
- Inside Higher Education
- Mitratech Circa (formerly known as Local JobNetwork)
- Another Website
- Agency Referral
- Advertisement/Publication
- Personal Referral
- Other
Where did you learn about this posting?
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have a master's degree and 1 year of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience?
- Yes, at least a master's degree and 1 year of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field
- Yes, a bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field
- Yes, an associates degree and 5 years of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field
- Yes, a high school diploma/GED and 7 years of experience in contract administration, negotiation, or a related field
- No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

Resume / Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
Contact Information for References

Optional Documents

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Salary : $75,321 - $80,000

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