Faculty or Department: Research and 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 is normally in the range of £37,337 to £44,906 per annum, with potential progression up to £51,298 per annum
Apply by: 21/03/2025

Role Description

We welcome applications from enthusiastic and passionate individuals to join our team and contribute towards enabling and supporting Cranfield in its national and international research and development activities.

About You

You will have an undergraduate degree or equivalent practical legal experience working in a large/diverse organisation.

We are looking for a proactive and engaged individual who thrives in a collaborative environment. You will actively participate in discussions, contribute ideas and feedback, communicate effectively, and foster good working relationships with stakeholders internally and externally. You will have a positive attitude and a keen interest in contributing to the success of the team.

We are particularly interested in individuals who can take a holistic and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, managing challenges and dealing with competing priorities with ease. The ability to meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of involvement and a solution-focused mindset is essential.

About the Role

You will work closely with Cranfield researchers and departments to ensure the University’s research and related activity is governed by suitable terms that both protect the University’s interests as a charitable institution of research and teaching and enable effective collaboration to flourish.

You will be responsible for drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of research collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, studentships, amendments and associated documents.

You will report one of the Senior Research Contracts Managers and your primary responsibilities will be to:

• Review, draft and negotiate a range of research and related contracts covering the full spectrum of research activities including industry sponsored research collaborations, EU contracts, charitable funding and research consortium agreements, along with NDAs, MTAs and other agreements.
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice on the implications of contractual terms within the context of the research, using a 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 mitigated within each contract ensuring compliance with University policy, and where necessary escalating to a Senior Research Contracts Manager.
• Interact with external clients, as appropriate, to communicate clearly and concisely the points of negotiation, and work internally with academic staff and key stakeholders.
• Build, develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and interest on key legislation and developments within the sector relevant to your role and ongoing professional development.

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 Precious Chenjerai, Senior Research Contracts Manager, on (E): Precious.Chenjerai@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 5005.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 21 March 2025