About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Continuing

Position Summary

Continuing, full-time (2 positions available)

Compensation Grade:
Higher Education Officer Level 6

Salary Range:
$79,938 - $85,231 pa

Organisational Unit:
Research Development and Support (RDS)

Reporting to:
Senior Research Contracts Officer

Under general to broad direction, the Research Contracts Officer is responsible for providing research contract administration and management services to the Flinders University researchers. This includes working closely with researchers in the preparation, review and negotiation of various types of standard form research contracts: research project variations, confidentiality agreements for research purposes and IP sharing with external parties; memoranda of understanding with industry or other research institutions, material transfer agreements and subcontracting arrangements with government, industry and other research institutions.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Research Contracts Officer is accountable for:

• Providing valued support to the Flinders research community in the administration and processing of contracts and agreements for externally sponsored projects, funded/unfunded, and providing expertise, customer service and timely advice.
• Reviewing and negotiating the terms and conditions of research related agreements with industry, government and other research institutions (including but not limited to sponsored research agreements, clinical trial agreements, non-disclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding, material transfer agreements, multi- institution agreements and subcontracts and variations).
• Preparing and negotiating the terms and conditions of student or status holder Intellectual Property agreements.
• Reviewing and providing advice to researchers on contractual obligations, special conditions or restrictions, or programmatic and other deliverables required by specific funding schemes. This may include cost-sharing obligations in multiparty research projects (e.g. ethics or defence export control permits).
• Working with the other members of the Research Development and Support team to identify, define and resolve issues related to sponsored project contracting activities in accordance with Commonwealth or State government, or other funding bodies, institutional policies and regulations.
• Utilising and maintaining systems and procedures related to the processing of contracts and agreements and proactively contributing to the development of internal processes and service delivery standards in relation to research contracts.
• Engaging Legal Services and Risk and Assurance to provide complex specialist level advice as necessary.
• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

Key Position Capabilities

• Completion of tertiary qualifications with subsequent relevant experience or significant experience and specialist expertise in research contract administration.
• Demonstrated expertise in research contract management and administration, including drafting, negotiating, reviewing and administration of research contracts and other related documents in a complex environment.
• Significant ability to negotiate strong business outcomes with significant stakeholders including the Commonwealth Government, Industry Partners and other research institutions to protect the interests of Flinders University research.
• Contemporary knowledge of compliance requirements for major grant funding schemes including Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
• Excellent time management skills, demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks for a team of professionals to meet tight deadlines.
• Well-developed to high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, exercise initiative and judgement in interpreting and applying a range of policies and procedures and work with a broad range of stakeholders, such as academic and professional staff.
• High level verbal and written communication skills.

For application enquiries please contact: Ms Camilla Liddy

Pursuant to Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA) this position has been deemed prescribed. It is an inherent requirement of the position that the successful candidate maintains current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University.

Information for Applicants: You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

27 Jan 2021