Senior Research Contracts Officer

Flinders University; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 94,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% Superannuation

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development

Diversity and inclusion

On-campus health care services

Gym

Job summary

Flinders University invites applications for a Continuing Full Time Higher Education Officer role in the Research Development and Support team, at HEO6 or HEO7 level. The position involves contracts administration, review, negotiation, and guidance for externally sponsored projects.

Based in Bedford Park (Kaurna Country), you will collaborate with researchers and stakeholders to streamline contracting processes, mentor colleagues, and pursue improvements while upholding ARC/NHMRC compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract administration, drafting or legal review.
• Experience in higher education, government, or research environments.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with institutional goals.
• Strong time management and ability to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of ARC and NHMRC grant funding compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the research community in contracts and agreements for externally sponsored projects.
• Review and negotiate terms of research agreements with industry, government, and other research institutions.
• Collaborate with the Research Development and Support team to resolve contracting issues.
• Advise researchers on contractual obligations and funding scheme requirements.
• Administer and process strategic, complex research contracts.
• Assist with supervisory responsibilities and mentoring within the team.
• Identify and implement process improvements in contract administration.

Skills

Contract administration

Drafting

Negotiation

Time management

Stakeholder management

Job description

Position Details

• Continuing I Full Time
• Higher Education Officer Level 6 | $94,456 - $100,710 pa | 17% Super
• Higher Education Officer Level 7 | $102,589 - $113,561 pa | 17% Super
• HEO6 Position Description | HEO7 Position Description
• Location: Bedford Park / Kaurna Country

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and skilled professional to join our Research Development and Support team. This unique opportunity is being offered at either the HEO6 (Research Contracts Officer) or HEO7 (Senior Research Contracts Officer) level, depending on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

In the Research Contracts Officer position, your duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Providing valued support to the Flinders research community in the administration and processing of contracts and agreements for externally sponsored projects, 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.
• Working with the other members of the Research Development and Support team to identify, define and resolve issues related to sponsored project contracting activities.
• Reviewing and providing advice to researchers on contractual obligations, special conditions or restrictions, or programmatic and other deliverables required by specific funding schemes.

In addition to the above, in the Senior Research Contracts Officer position, your duties will include (but are not limited to):

• The administration and processing of strategic, complex and escalated research contracts and agreements.
• Assisting with supervisory responsibilities, including developing and mentoring members of the Research Contracts team, and providing backfill for management where required.
• Identifying and implementing innovative process improvements in contract administration and management.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have a strong background in contract administration, drafting, or legal review, preferably within a higher education, government, or research-intensive environment. You possess exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to solve complex problems and balance legal risk against strategic institutional goals. To be successful, you will also require:

• Excellent time management skills and demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks to meet tight deadlines.
• Contemporary knowledge of compliance requirements for major grant funding schemes including ARC and NHMRC.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, exercise initiative and judgment in interpreting and applying a range of policies and procedures and work with a broad range of stakeholders, such as academic and professional staff.

Life at Flinders

Flinders University is driven by a bold purpose: to change lives and change the world. Through Agenda 2035 – Impact. With Purpose., we are expanding the scale, reach, and ambition of our research to deliver meaningful outcomes for communities, industry, and global health systems.

Reaching beyond the limits of buildings, borders, and backgrounds, ours is an inclusive culture that believes absolutely in equality and opportunity for all. We don’t just accommodate differences; we embrace and celebrate them.

So,why work at Flinders?

• 17% Superannuation + salary packaging options
• Flexible working arrangements
• Wide range of professional development activities and services
• We embrace diversity and promote equity and inclusion for all students and staff
• Vibrant campus life and amenities including on campushealth care services,gym andchildcare centre(Bedford Park, South Australia).
• Support future initiatives like the Flinders HealthCARE Centre

Our Commitment to Reconciliation and Indigenous Employment

Flinders University is proud to be an organisation that is committed to our Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Workforce Strategy. Our vision is to be a preferred employer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are committed to progressing Indigenous advancement in education, research, employment, and wellbeing, and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all Flinders vacancies.

• Please see here for our Reconciliation Action Plan
• Please see here for our Indigenous Workforce Strategy

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

Flinders University will require a current completed Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Gender Based Violence Declaration which is satisfactory to the University. The contract of Employment is conditional upon the receipt of these completed compliance checks. A disclosable outcome will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. Each case will be assessed on its individual merits and relevance to the inherent requirements of the role.

For more information regarding this position, please contact Sophie Trabilsie.

Certification

National Police Check - Australian Federal Police, Working With Children Check - Government of South Australia

Applications to be submitted before 10.00pm:

01 Nov 2026

At Flinders we embrace and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Flinders. Fearless.