Contract Negotiator

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin–Madison's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) seeks a Contract Negotiator to manage extramural research funding and agreements across UW–Madison and UW–System. The role involves negotiating terms, advising staff and PIs, and ensuring policy compliance across campus.

Key responsibilities include liaising with legal and external stakeholders, training on extramural policies, and reviewing complex contracts.

Qualifications

• Experience interpreting policies and procedures (state, federal, university rules)
• Strong customer service orientation
• Ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships
• Excellent written and oral communication with attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Liaise with legal professionals and stakeholders to negotiate terms (ownership, compliance, reporting, payment schedules).
• Collaborate across disciplines by connecting internal and external research administration contacts.
• Train and advise on extramural support policies and contracting terms for colleges, PIs, and researchers.
• Review and negotiate complex contracts and award documents for compliance with policies.

Skills

Policy interpretation

Customer service

Relationship building

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

J.D. preferred

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Agreement & Contract Negotiator (Inst)

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) is responsible for administration of the extramural research grants and contracts to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-System. RSP currently manages an open portfolio of over $4 Billion with annual awards over $1 Billion. The Contract Negotiator will assist in the management of both UW-Madison's and UW-System's sponsored projects by processing and negotiating research funding and related agreements. The person in this position will also advise RSP staff, department administrators, researchers and faculty across campus on the implications of the terms and conditions with respect to the research and UW-Madison and UW-System policies.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as a liaison to legal professionals and internal and external stakeholders in negotiating terms and conditions such as ownership of intellectual property, research compliance, fiscal reporting requirements, and payment schedules as needed (35%)
• Assists in collaborations across disciplines and functional areas by building relationships between internal campus contacts responsible for research administration and external stakeholders (20%)
• Train, advise, develop, and instruct on extramural support policies and procedures, serving as a resource to colleges/schools and PIs/researchers on contracting issues, contracting terms and conditions, and University policies (10%)
• Reviews, interprets, and negotiates complex extramural contracts, agreements, and award documents for compliance with Federal, State, and University fiscal and administrative policies on behalf of the institution (35%)

Department:

Office of Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP), Pre-Award, Contracts Team

Compensation:

The starting salary for this position is $70,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position will receive a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications:

-Experience with interpreting policies and procedures (e.g. State, Federal, University rules and regulations).

-Evidence of strong customer service philosophy.

-Evidence of fostering and maintaining effective working relationships.

-Excellent written and oral communication techniques with attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

-Contract negotiation experience is strongly preferred.

-Experience building consensus

-Background in Research or Experience in Research Administration

Education:

Bachelor's Degree is required
JD preferred

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.