Senior Research Contracts Manager

School/Department: Research & Innovation
Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £45,751 to £50,798 per annum
Apply by: 26/02/2023

Role Description

About the Role

You will work closely with Cranfield departmental teams to support our researchers to develop high quality contractual arrangements, protecting Cranfield’s interests as a charitable institution. You will be responsible for drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of research collaboration agreements, Material Transfer Agreement’s, studentships, amendments and associated documents. 

About You

You will be expected to have demonstrable knowledge and experience of complex contract negotiation, drafting and intellectual property issues as they apply in the context of a higher education institution and against the backdrop of funded research. It is essential that you have a Law Degree or equivalent or significant practical legal experience working in a large/diverse organisation and line management experience.

You will report to the Research Commercial Director and your primary responsibilities will be to:

• Review, draft and negotiate a range of research and commercial contracts covering the full spectrum of research related activities including agreements relating to industry sponsored research collaborations, EU contracts, charitable funding and research consortium agreements, along with NDAs, service, consultancy, framework and material transfer agreements.
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice on the implications of contractual terms within the context of the research, using a comprehensive working knowledge of research contract issues, such as confidentiality, publication requirements, intellectual property, VAT and other related issues
• Ensure that contractual terms are clear and appropriate, and that institutional risk is identified and appropriately assessed within each contract, whilst meeting the University’s approved contractual position.
• Interact with external clients, as appropriate, to communicate clearly and concisely the points of negotiation, and work internally with the appropriate researcher.
• Build, develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) supports researchers in working together to achieve excellence and impact in delivering the University’s vision for research and innovation.  The Research Commercial function within RIO is focused on enabling the research activities of the University whilst mitigating and protecting against contractual risk.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Alicen Nickson, Director Research and Innovation, on (T); +44 (0) 7584 143500 or (E); alicen.nickson@cranfield.ac.uk

Apply online now. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4414.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   26 February 2023