Contracting Officer

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill; Elkins Hills (NC); On-site; USD 71,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional training opportunities

Benefits package

Campus discounts

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a Contracting Officer to support PIs and sponsors in a fast-paced environment, handling negotiations, drafting, and compliance for sponsored programs.

The EHRA Non-Faculty, full-time role offers a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in North Carolina.

Qualifications

• Requires strong critical thinking and risk assessment abilities.
• Excellent teamwork and communication in a deadline-driven environment.
• Experience interpreting and applying complex rules and policies.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft funded contracts and amendments with sponsors and partners.
• Draft contract language on IP rights, cost sharing, and data use terms.
• Review financials for allowability and compliance; support PIs and sponsors.

Skills

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Posting Information

• Department: Office of Sponsored Programs-621100
• Career Area: Research Professionals
• Posting Open Date: 10/22/2026
• Application Deadline: 11/12/2026
• Open Until Filled: No
• Position Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
• Working Title: Contracting Officer
• Appointment Type: EHRA Non-Faculty
• Position Number: 00060649
• Vacancy ID: NF0010136
• Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time Permanent
• FTE: 1
• Hours per week: 40
• Position Location: North Carolina, US
• Hiring Range: $71,000-$84,000
• Proposed Start Date: 11/30/2026

Position Information

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) partners with the research community to support and advance the University's research mission by providing leadership and expertise in research administration. OSP facilitates and manages all aspects of sponsored research administration for over $1B in sponsored awards each year while developing and maintaining strong relationships with campus partners and external sponsors. OSP is responsible for the following primary functions: (1) proposal review and submission, (2) award negotiation, (3) award management, (4) financial reporting and cash management, (5) F&A rate development, negotiation, and review, (6) cost analysis and research service center (recharge) rate development, (7) monitoring and oversight of time and effort reporting, (8) oversight of regulatory compliance, (9) training and development for research administration personnel, and (10) Project closeout and final reporting requirements. OSP provides complete sponsored project life cycle support (sometimes known as pre-award and post-award services) to faculty and staff.

There are four functional areas of responsibility within the Office of Sponsored Programs, which have the following types of positions: (1) program administration; (2) accounting, financial reporting, and cash management; (3) data management reporting and analysis; and (4) financial compliance, effort reporting, cost studies, and cost accounting standards (CAS).

OSP serves as the official institutional signatory for the Chancellor and is responsible for reviewing and authorizing proposal submissions, as well as negotiating and administering awards on behalf of the University. These activities include monitoring institutional compliance for research and training activities, pre-award services, billing and financial reporting, cash management, cost analysis and compliance of research-related activities, verification of technical report and patent & invention report submissions by principal investigators (PIs), award closeout, and the implementation of information technology into research administration activities. OSP's centralized administrative functions facilitate the development and implementation of standardized policies & procedures across the University. They also provide training opportunities to improve University-wide efficiencies and communication to increase the quality of research administration.

Position Summary

The Contracting Officer is responsible for supporting Principal Investigators (PIs) and sponsors in a fast paced, high volume team environment for administrative, financial, and compliance aspects on all sponsored programs award negotiations/setups on behalf of UNC. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Negotiating and/ or drafting funded contracts, agreements, subcontracts and amendments with both industry and non-industry partners/ sponsors as well as other unfunded sponsored project agreements, and actively participating in negotiation of complex contracts and agreements with other institutions of Higher Education (IHE), non-profit organizations, federal sponsors, foreign entities, industry partners, and various other types of entities;
• Drafting technical contract language in regards to intellectual property rights, cost sharing, fiscal/ procedural constraints, data use, material transfer and other complex terms and conditions;
• Negotiating terms and conditions that impact all financial aspects, including the budget, payment schedules, financial resources in the event of breach, and financial/ compliance audits;
• Financial review of allowability and compliance with state, federal, and sponsor specific requirements;
• Providing thorough explanations to diverse customer inquiries.

The Contracting Officer will be the central point of contact for all assigned contracts, agreements, subcontracts, amendments, or unfunded agreements for UNC-Chapel Hill. This position also interacts with departmental administrators, external sponsor personnel, sponsor research administration staff or legal teams, and PIs to ensure timely and compliant processing of all agreements types.

The principal function of this position is to facilitate the negotiations of various sponsored projects at UNC with an emphasis on providing the highest level of customer service to campus and sponsors while considering all applicable federal regulations and state laws, and University guidelines and policies. The Contracting Officer will have knowledge of award management and be able to be a source of guidance for a variety of sponsors as well as knowledge of standard templates and other contract formats; appropriate flow-down of award terms and conditions when required, including changes to contract format during the negotiations stage; and working knowledge of the various sponsor requirements for all types of sponsors.

The Contracting Officer works independently to conduct risk assessments for all assigned contracts/subcontracts, including consulting with PIs and department staff regarding the nature of each project and the impact of unique aspects of the project on the legal language contained in the contracts/ subcontracts, representing the best interests of the University and the PI. For incoming funded contracts and agreements, this position will review the scope of the work or protocol and compliance considerations to appropriately draft and/or review funding mechanism accurately. The Contracting Officer must keep abreast of new developments in research administration policies and requirements to serve as an up-to-date source of information, guidance, and training for the campus and research community.

The Contracting Officer will provide accurate and timely documentation of the status of contract negotiations in the appropriate document tracking systems throughout the lifecycle of the drafting process, negotiation, and final execution until such time as the executed document is set up in our financial system. The position will monitor for accuracy as amendments are issued throughout the award life cycle to ensure continued programmatic correctness and compliance with various regulatory requirements including OSP policies and procedures. The position will work to maintain OSP's high customer service standards for service to faculty and sponsors, which includes supporting OSP's target times for task turnaround.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Mid- to late-career with Masters and 2- 4 yrs experience; Bachelors and 3-5 yrs experience

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Ability to utilize critical thinking skills, assess risk, make independent decisions based on risk assessment, and collaborate with others to problem solve and facilitate timely execution of agreements.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply complicated rules, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to prioritize and balance a shifting workload in a deadline-driven work environment.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work with a consistent degree of accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• JD, MBA, or experience negotiating contracts in a university setting.
• Understanding of non-fiscal compliance areas such as conflict of interest regulations, human subjects, and animal care policies.
• Understanding of copyright law, publication policy, intellectual property rights, data ownership, material transfer, and other legal terms and conditions.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Quick Link

https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/327330

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title: Laura Parker Pilkenton

Department Contact Telephone or Email: [e-mail]

Office of Human Resources Contact Information: If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or send an email to [e-mail] Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.