Associate Director - Contracts

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Tuition assistance

Wellness & life

Retirement

Job summary

Northeastern University seeks an Associate Director of Contracts to lead the technology transfer and commercialization agreements, partnering with faculty inventors and external partners, and supervise the contracts team to ensure risk mitigation and compliant execution.

The role collaborates with the Center for Research Innovation (CRI) and the Office of General Counsel, reporting to the Executive Director, focusing on contract quality, process improvement, and strategic IP commercialization

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; professional licensure or JD preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in technology licensing, contract negotiation, or commercialization.
• Experience drafting technology transfer and commercialization agreements.
• Knowledge of IP rights, indemnification, data ownership, and export controls.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and finalize technology transfer and commercialization agreements including licenses and NDAs.
• Evaluate contractual risk and develop mitigation strategies while escalating complex matters.
• Collaborate with General Counsel to ensure compliance with university policies and legal requirements.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to staff, supporting professional development.
• Oversee licensing revenue, reporting, and grant compliance deliverables.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Drafting agreements

IP & licensing knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Leadership and mentoring

Strategic oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Master's degree in Law or Business

Job description

About the Opportunity

Job Summary The Associate Director of Contracts plays a key role in enabling successful technology commercialization at Northeastern University. The role has a primary focus on drafting, negotiating, and managing legal technology transfer and commercialization agreements that facilitate partnerships between the University, faculty inventors, and external partners. The Associate Director leads the contracts function for the unit, providing strategic oversight, operational leadership, and subject matter expertise across all aspects of research and related agreements. The position is responsible for ensuring efficient contract execution, mitigating institutional risk, and advancing the continuous improvement of contracting processes and systems. The Associate Director of Contracts supports the Center for Research Innovation (CRI) through effective leadership of the technology transfer contracts function and works closely with the Commercialization Team to advance successful commercialization of the University's intellectual property. This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to accurately represent the University's legal position on matters related to complex intellectual property (IP) and research agreement terms. This position requires strong managerial capability combined with an entrepreneurial mindset to optimize the technology transfer contracts function of the Center for Research Innovation. Organized and timely communication, efficient time management, and demonstrated prioritization skills are essential for success in this role. This position directly supervises one full-time Contracts Administrator.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Contract Management and Agreement Execution (60%)

• Draft, negotiate, and finalize technology transfer and commercialization agreements, including exclusive licenses, non-exclusive licenses, field-of-use licenses, option agreements, inter-institutional agreements, material transfer agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and amendments
• Evaluate contractual risk and develop appropriate mitigation strategies while exercising independent judgment and serving as a point of escalation for complex agreements
• Collaborate with the Office of General Counsel to ensure all agreements comply with university policies and legal requirements
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and direction to staff involved in contract review and administration, supporting professional development and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment
• Lead and oversee agreement deliverables related to licensing revenue, compliance reporting, and grant requirement adherence
• Develop and maintain frameworks that promote contract quality, accuracy, and consistency in contract management procedures
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the contracts function, including prioritizing workload, monitoring performance, and ensuring timely and consistent service delivery
• Maintain accountability for the performance, effectiveness, and continuous advancement of the contracts function
• Identify and implement process improvements, enhance systems and workflows, and contribute to the long-term strategy for contracts management services

Licensing Support and Commercialization (25%)

• Collaborate with the Commercialization Team to provide specialized expertise related to contract terms, intellectual property rights, and licensing options
• Evaluate the risks and rewards of proposed licensing arrangements and guide decision-making to maximize commercial value while mitigating institutional risk
• Work with internal and external parties to resolve conflicts and explain contract terms
• Monitor contract compliance and track contract-related deliverables for financial reporting and compliance purposes, ensuring alignment with grant requirements and iEdison reporting standards
• Support technology evaluation and licensing strategy development

Research Collaboration and Support (10%)

• Collaborate with Northeastern University Research Enterprise Services (NU-RES) and draft, negotiate, and finalize intellectual property provisions in sponsored research and collaborative research agreements
• Address complex intellectual property issues and negotiate favorable agreement terms
• Respond to inquiries related to encumbrances on university intellectual property and provide guidance regarding licensing and ownership rights
• Provide guidance to researchers and university faculty on intellectual property matters
• Support the identification and evaluation of intellectual property assets generated through university research for potential commercialization opportunities

Professional Development and Relationship Management (5%)

• Maintain professional relationships with the Office of General Counsel, Center for Research Innovation leadership, and external partners
• Stay current on developments in technology licensing and commercialization practices
• Conduct training on licensing agreements and contract processes for internal stakeholders

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in technology licensing, contract negotiation, or commercialization
• Experience in technology licensing, contract negotiation, and commercialization
• Experience negotiating and drafting technology transfer and commercialization agreements
• Demonstrated knowledge of legally binding agreement terms and considerations, including intellectual property rights, indemnification and insurance requirements, publication restrictions, ownership of research data, and export control issues
• Strong knowledge of technology licensing and commercialization principles
• Knowledge of licensing and business principles
• Strong negotiation and agreement drafting skills
• Understanding of key issues faced by academic institutions when negotiating contracts with industry, particularly in the areas of intellectual property management, publications, data ownership, and data rights
• Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills with the ability to establish priorities and drive projects to completion
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and successfully execute competing priorities
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with colleagues, licensees, inventors, and external partners
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to proactively identify and develop solutions to complex problems
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, courtesy, and a collaborative approach to relationship building
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
• Preferred Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree
• Master's degree in Law or Business
• Technology transfer experience

Position Type Legal and Regulatory Administration

Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 112S Expected Hiring Range: $99,010.00 - $143,567.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.

Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.