The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at the University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an Assistant Director of Contracts to serve in a leadership role for the OSP Contracts team. Reporting to the Associate Director of Contracts, the Assistant Director leads an experienced and high-performing team of clinical trial agreement negotiators handling contract negotiation and related services for the University’s academic and research community. The position has signing authority for the University.

The Assistant Director’s responsibilities include working collaboratively with OSP Leadership to implement and lead process changes and participate in initiatives to meet the University’s research goals. The Assistant Director will be expected to actively manage individual and team performance.

OSP at UVA operates as a hybrid work environment. The Assistant Director of Contracts is eligible for on-site, remote, or hybrid work.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of contract negotiators including work assignments and performance management and evaluation
• Serve as lead negotiator for departmental portfolio and resolve exceptionally complex or difficult issues arising in the team’s portfolio
• Review all documentation and serve as signatory for the team and work with team members to address contractual deficiencies
• Oversee onboarding for new team members including the development of training plans and guidance documentation
• Create plans and opportunities to develop staff for growth
• Advise and support researchers on design and implementation of unique and complex projects
• Identify opportunities for, lead, and implement process improvements and participate in work groups across the university to implement process improvements in collaboration with other members of leadership and stakeholders
• Serve as subject matter expert on university structure and industry standards
• Liaise with OSP leadership on ad-hoc basis
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Knowledge & Skills

• Significant experience negotiating and drafting clinical trial study agreements, particularly in an academic setting, with a broad working knowledge of the regulatory landscape of clinical research administration
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with school/department administrators, officials, and faculty
• Previous institutional signing authority
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and ability to manage individual contributors
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft and web-based tools.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree.
Experience: At least seven years of grant and contract experience, typically in an academic environment. Four additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.

Physical Demands: This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This role does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and/or programs.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: An advanced degree.

Experience: Prior experience with Grants and/or Contracts in a Higher Education environment, with at least 4 years of experience negotiating Clinical Trial Agreements.

Licensure: Additional credentials such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), MBA, project management certification, and/or data protection certification, or similar.

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

This position is located in Charlottesville, VA, and provides an option to work in a hybrid environment following the University's flex-work guidelines. To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Anticipated salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application review will begin after January 28.

This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship at this time.

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

For information regarding the position or the application process, please contact Lyndsay Thaxton at enn9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.