Contracts Manager in Norwich

Overview

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes Partnership (NBIP) has an exciting opportunity for a Contracts Manager to join their busy Research Grants and Contracts department.

Background

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes are a cluster of internationally renowned research organisations, working to tackle major challenges of the 21st Century – the sustainability of our environment, our food supplies and healthy ageing.

The NBI Partnership provides high quality, non-scientific support services for the diverse community of staff, students and visiting workers at the Institutes (the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute Bioscience) and for the NBI Partnership. Based on the Norwich Research Park amongst 230 hectares of parkland, you will be joining a committed, professional and welcoming team. In addition, you will enjoy a competitive salary and annual leave, our defined contribution pension scheme, excellent recreational facilities and a range of other employee benefits.

The NBI Partnership Research Grants and Contracts Office is highly respected, dynamic, professional, effective and results driven. It provides expert advice, guidance and management to the John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, The Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory. The office supports scientists in identifying and winning grants from a wide variety of external funding sources including UKRI, the European Union (EU), and industry. In addition, the office negotiates and manages all research related contracts, ensuring freedom to operate, protection of interests, intellectual property and provision of appropriate indemnity.

The role

• Working alongside our current Contract Managers, as well as colleagues across the Partnership and Institutes, you will lead on drafting and negotiating high quality contractual arrangements for sponsored research including, but not limited to, collaboration agreements, commercial contracts, confidentiality agreements, consultancy agreements and material transfer agreements.
• Working in support of the researchers and driven by business needs, you will provide a professional, effective, timely and responsive contracts service.
• The role is important in protecting the Institutes\' reputation with third parties and stakeholders in how it drafts and negotiates contracts. It is key in managing risk in contracts, ensuring appropriate indemnity and mitigation from litigation. It will ensure scientific freedom to operate for the Norwich Bioscience Institutes researchers whilst ensuring appropriate Intellectual Property provisions including access rights and financial considerations.

The ideal candidate

• The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• You will have significant experience of contract law and drafting and reviewing contracts.
• You will be able to demonstrate your ability to work independently within a broad framework, manage diverse workloads and successfully deliver to deadlines.
• We are looking for someone with excellent organisational, communication and negotiating skills, who is committed, and results driven.

Additional information

• Salary on appointment will be within the range £45,450 to £50,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post offered on an indefinite basis.
• For further information and details of how to apply, please click the “Apply” button above or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004982.
• The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.
• The closing date for applications will be 25 November 2025