Enterprise & IP Contracts Coordinator

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) support academic and research staff fulfil their research and enterprise objectives by providing expert advice and assistance in research funding, bid support and management, collaborations with industry and other strategic partners as well as the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property.

The University is ranked as a top UK University for consultancy income and has a number of highly successful enterprise (commercial focus) units. We have created more than 28 spin-out companies since 2000, three of whom have been floated on the stock market and the University is a founding member of the SETsquared Partnership which has been rated the top university business incubator in the world.

Research and Innovation Services is looking to expand on its consultancy and enterprise capability to meet increasing demand. We are therefore recruiting a Contracts Coordinator to join our successful team. You will be part of a dedicated contracts team that is responsible for the review, analysis, negotiation and management of enterprise and consultancy contracts for the University. With a strong focus on systems and customer service, you will advise and support academic staff throughout the contract negotiation process. You will facilitate collaborations with external partners by ensuring the use of appropriate contract templates are put in place taking responsibility of your own portfolio of contracts. Additionally, you will be responsible for organising and maintaining contracts through our contract management portals.

You will be IT literate and have excellent communication skills, be well-organised with the ability to multi-task and to work well as part of a busy and successful team. You will be a self-starter and enjoy the challenge of making things happen in a fast-moving environment. You will have strong office experience in a customer-focused environment. Experience in working in a similar capacity within the Higher Education sector would be advantageous but is not essential.

Our vision and mission at the University of Southampton is to have a community where staff and students feel welcome, supported and valued. RIS fosters a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity, encouraging applicants from diverse backgrounds, with the belief that excellence will be achieved through recognising the value of every individual. Our flexible working practices, including an emerging hybrid working model, where employees can split their working time between the office and home, support our belief that this balance brings long-lasting benefits for our institution as well as our people. For this role candidates will need to be on campus regularly and to be available to attend meetings and events externally as required.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Dr Tony Hill, Head of Head of Enterprise & IP Contracts, Research and Innovation Services: a.a.hill@southampton.ac.uk