Contracts Manager

UCL AI Centre; London; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is hiring a Contracts Manager to facilitate negotiations for research contracts. This role requires expertise in contract law, risk management, and the ability to convey complex legal concepts effectively. The position is part of a dynamic team supporting UCL's impactful research initiatives.

Benefits

41 days holiday

Defined benefit pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

On-site nursery

On-site gym

Enhanced family leave

Employee assistance programme

Discounted medical insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in negotiating research contracts and legal agreements.
• Familiarity with intellectual property and risk management.
• Comfort working collaboratively while managing individual responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and negotiating research agreements.
• Advising on legal risks and compliance.
• Collaborating with academics on contractual obligations.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Knowledge of contract topics

Ability to convey complex information

Job description

Ref Number B09-01232 Professional Expertise Legal, Governance and Secretariat Department Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) (B09) Location London Working Pattern Full time Salary £54,172-£63,752 Contract Type Permanent Working Type Hybrid Available for Secondment No Closing Date 22-Jun-2025

About Us

Welcome to London’s global university, where research transforms lives. We are second in the UK for research power, tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges: from developing ground-breaking cancer treatments, helping people out of poverty, taking action on climate change, improving children’s mental health, championing equality and diversity and protecting human rights. We attract investment from across the world and generate £10bn a year in UK economic activity.

Research And Innovation Services (RIS) Provides UCL’s Academic And Professional Services Community With The Tools, Support, And Expertise They Need To Deliver Cutting-edge Research And Innovation

• We support UCL Academics to submit more than 4,000 applications each year
• Our service supports UCL Researchers to secure around £470million in funding every year
• There are around 6,000 active awards and contracts in our portfolio
• UCL is No. 2 in the UK for research power and No.1 in London – REF 2021
  
  

Our Contract Services team in Research and Innovation Services (RIS) plays a pivotal role in managing, facilitating, and negotiating contracts for research and innovation activity across UCL. UCL has seen unprecedented success in the volume of successful grants in recent years. This, alongside growth in complexity of the international research environment, has increased the scope and reach of UCL's contracting team.

In response to this growth and complexity, and as part of a suite of strategic changes to UCL's research and innovation support, we are we are investing in a programme of transformation around UCL's research and innovation contracting, bringing in additional capacity, expertise and development opportunities.

About The Role

In partnership with colleagues across UCL and a range of partners and funders, Contract Managers represent UCL in contractual negotiations for a wide range of UCL’s research and innovation activity. The role holder will work as part of a high-profile team and will provide advice to UCL Academics and Departments on the contractual obligations, responsibilities and risks arising from research-related activity.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities Include

• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide variety of research and research related agreements supported by Research and Innovation Services, including but not limited to funding agreements; research collaborations; sub-contracts, framework agreements, studentships; sharing of confidential information for pre-contractual discussions; transferring materials; accessing data; and loaning and accessing equipment.
• Providing advice on the rights, obligations, and risks of engaging in research and research related activities under an agreement and to ensure compliance with relevant domestic legislation.
• Reaching a commercially acceptable position for UCL in relation to liability and indemnity, the right to publish, protection in intellectual property, licences and general commercialisation rights, and other key contract related issues.
  
  

Please see the job description for full details. When completing your supporting statement, please tell us, using examples, how you meet the essential and if applicable desirable criteria stated in the person specification.

About You

You will enjoy stimulating and challenging work, playing a key contributing role in enabling UCL’s world-changing research. While holding significant individual responsibility, you are also likely to thrive on working collaboratively and building strong relationships, and will be comfortable challenging and negotiating, bringing a supportive but resilient approach. You will be comfortable advising a range of UCL colleagues on complex points of law and policy, though will look to senior team members for support with the most complex and demanding cases. The role will also suit those keen to develop their skills and contribute to an exciting change agenda.

You will be able to demonstrate the following key skills and experience:

• Knowledge of key contract topics (e.g., intellectual property, performance, publication, confidentiality, warranties, liability and indemnity, data protection/privacy, governing law and jurisdiction) and an understanding of how these can be addressed when reviewing, drafting and negotiating research contracts or legal agreements.
• Commercial and pragmatic contract negotiation skills.
• Ability to convey complex information to a non-specialist audience.
  
  

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance
  
  

Visithttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefitsto find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion.

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: G8_ Contracts Manager.docx