Research Contracts Officer in Liverpool

We are seeking a Research Contracts Officer to join our established Research Contracts team. This is an opportunity to play an important role in enabling research that addresses major global health challenges, working across a varied portfolio of UK and international projects.

You will work closely with academic teams and professional services colleagues, including our Legal and Governance team, as well as external research partners, funders and other organisations to develop, review and negotiate a broad range of research-related project-specific agreements. These include research collaboration agreements, industry contracts, material transfer agreements and confidentiality agreements.

The role offers considerable variety and professional responsibility. You will manage your own portfolio of agreements, provide specialist advice on contractual risk and help colleagues navigate issues including intellectual property, data protection, liability, insurance and research governance. You will balance the need to protect LSTM’s interests with a pragmatic and collaborative approach that enables research to proceed as quickly as possible.

You will be joining a supportive and experienced team at an important point in the development of LSTM’s research contracting service. Alongside managing individual agreements, you will have opportunities to contribute to the improvement of templates, guidance, systems and ways of working across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Be accountable for the preparation, review, negotiation and execution of a range of Contracts, including but not limited to Research Collaboration Agreements, Industry Contracts, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements and Services Agreements.
• Review, negotiate and execute Research Contracts offered by partner/funding organisations to assess their fitness for purpose.
• Draft project specific Research Contracts, identifying, amending and using the appropriate LSTM templates.
• Identify potential conflicts of interest, other risks and liabilities and take action to mitigate their impact upon LSTM.
• Ensure that Contract documentation is developed and executed in a timely and efficient manner, liaising closely with stakeholders, keeping them fully informed of progress.
• Ensure that amendments and reviews are monitored, gathered and acted upon as appropriate.
• Manage the direct negotiation of contractual clauses, working with colleagues within and outside of the organisation to bring agreements and contracts to mutually acceptable conclusions.
• Work closely with Academic and Professional Services colleagues to advise on and interpret clauses within the wider context of a project.

Contract Policy, Risk and Audit

• Provide comprehensive advice and guidance to staff on issues relating to Research Contract risk, insurance and liabilities.
• Ensure that all allocated Research Contracts are risk assessed, recorded and presented alongside contract documentation ahead of signature.
• To register and record all Research and technical assistance projects and ensure that relevant information is provided to insurers.
• To receive information from the Research Management Services Team on relevant changes to funding requirements.
• To refer any post-award legal challenges associated with existing Contracts as they may arise.
• To develop and implement effective contract risk audits and schedules.
• To contribute to the review of LSTM regulations, policies and procedures relating to Contract Research and related activities, including IP management, commercialisation and exploitation and governance.
• Contribute to regular team reviews of LSTM’s standard research contracts and agreements templates.

General Responsibilities

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the role.
• Act in a manner that safeguards children and at-risk adults, including LSTM staff and students, in accordance with safeguarding policies reporting any concerns using the LSTM reporting system.
• Engage with and support a departmental commitment to maintain a high level of confidentiality in all aspect of your work.
• To engage, support and deliver training programmes when required within LSTM that are consistent with the aspirations of external organisations such as RCUK for research staff.
• Contribute to and support the development of robust administrative and operational systems for Contracts and Agreements.
• Keep current with changes and developments in relevant legislation, practices and procedures.
• To be a primary point of contact for contract support and relevant legal expertise and to establish good practice and procedures for the area of work.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Qualified to degree level (or equivalent) in a legal or business-related field and/or substantial contract officer experience in a relevant sector.
• A good standard of general education, including Mathematics and English at GCSE/O-Level.
• Experience of preparing, reviewing and negotiating a range of Contracts for internal and external review.
• Experience of reviewing and analysing Contracts to identify risks or gaps in information.
• Experience of maintaining and using Contract templates to support efficient Contract Service delivery.
• Experience of providing advice and support to colleagues on issues relating to Contract risk.
• Excellent knowledge, experience and understanding of developments in relevant legislation, practices and procedures.
• Excellent knowledge of the impact of Data Protection law upon Research Contracts.
• Experience of IP management and commercialisation.

Additional benefits of joining LSTM:

• Access to support for your career growth through a variety of internal and external learning and development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Platform offering a range of wellbeing initiatives and support, in addition to high-street discount offers.
• 30 days annual leave, plus 8 UK bank holidays, in addition to 6 Christmas closure days.
• Generous occupational pension schemes including USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme) and NHS pension schemes (subject to eligibility).
• Government backed “cycle to work” scheme.
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre.
• A range of enhanced family friendly policies.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may sometimes close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.