Contract Manager

CSIRO; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO is seeking a Contract Manager to manage a broad range of commercial transactions, linking CSIRO’s scientific developments with industry to move research from the laboratory to the market.

You will collaborate with Partnerships & Business Development, Legal and IP teams to advise researchers, draft and negotiate terms, and ensure compliant recordkeeping across the contract lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Tertiary legal qualifications or equivalent contracting experience.
• Ability to draft and amend contract terms precisely.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage triage, review and progression of research contracting matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate research, funding, licensing, confidentiality and collaboration agreements.
• Provide advice on contracting pathways, agreement selection and contract‑related matters.
• Coordinate contract approvals, execution and record management, ensuring compliance with policies.
• Partner with researchers and stakeholders across Finance, Legal, IP and Business Development to support end-to-end contracting processes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of contracting systems, workflows and business processes, including reporting and training.
• Maintain accurate contract, workflow and matter management records to support reporting and governance.

Skills

Legal qualifications

Contract drafting

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary legal qualifications

Job description

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.

Role highlights

• Support the end-to-end lifecycle of research and IP-related contracting matters that enable CSIRO’s scientific impact
• Advise researchers on contracting pathways, risks and agreement selection
• Coordinate systems, processes and stakeholders to support efficient, end-to-end contract delivery

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

We are seeking a Contract Manager to support a broad range of meaningful commercial transactions at CSIRO. These contracts link CSIRO’s world‑class scientific developments with industry and can help take research from the laboratory to the market, creating real‑world economic, environmental and society‑wide value.

CSIRO’s Contract Managers work closely with Partnerships & Business Development, Legal and Intellectual Property (IP) teams, to assist staff with their research‑related contracting needs. Our network of Contract Managers across Australia can help with every aspect of the commercial contract life cycle.

As the Contract Manager, you’ll be responsible for managing the progression of research and IP‑related contracting matters from intake through to execution and recordkeeping, including providing advice on contracting pathways, maintaining contract records and systems, coordinating approvals and preparing and negotiating lower‑risk contract terms.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Manage the triage, review and progression of research contracting matters, acting as a key point of contact for researchers and external stakeholders.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of research, funding, licensing, confidentiality and collaboration agreements.
• Provide advice on contracting pathways, agreement selection and contract‑related matters, escalating complex issues as required.
• Coordinate contract approvals, execution and record management, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Partner with researchers and stakeholders across Finance, Legal, Intellectual Property and Business Development to support efficient, scalable and compliant end-to-end contracting processes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of contracting systems, workflows and business processes, including reporting, training, stakeholder education and the development of effective contracting practices.
• Maintain accurate contract, workflow and matter management records to support reporting, prioritisation, governance and organisational decision‑making.

Role particulars

Location: VIC, ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS or WA

Salary: AU$100k - AU$113k pa + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Indefinite, Full-time

Reference: 104258

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Tertiary Legal qualificationsor relevant experience in the drafting and amendment of contract terms and conditions.
• A history of professional and respectful behaviours, with a proactive, collaborative, and inclusive working style, and a willingness/ability to cooperate with others to achieve goals.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with ambiguity and adapt to changing circumstances and new responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including an ability to clearly communicate contractual issues and risks to relevant personnel.
• Demonstrated high level analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively identify and solve problems and make sound judgements.
• Demonstrated high level organisational skills, including the ability to manage a high volume of matters, maintain accurate records and data, and balance competing priorities in a process-driven environment.

Desirable

• Science qualifications or experience in a research environment.
• Experience working within the public sector, higher education, or similarly regulated environments.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description.

Support and workplace adjustments

We offer a range of reasonable supports and workplace adjustments. Please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description if we can help you to equitably participate in our recruitment process or the role itself.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please reach out to the contact on page 1 of the position description, to let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

W e work flexibly at CSIRO , offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Platinum Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

Applications close

18th October 2026, 11pm (AEDT)