Contracts Associate (Research Administration & Sponsored Programs)

The Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 73,300 - 128,300; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University seeks a Contracts Associate to manage a portfolio of grant, contract, and institutional agreements within the Research Administration Office. You will draft, negotiate, and execute domestic and foreign agreements, covering sponsored research, NDAs, data use, MTAs, and education programs.

Lead negotiations on complex agreements, advise faculty, and design standard templates to improve cycle time and risk posture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required and three years related experience.
• Advanced degree or additional related experience may substitute for education/experience.
• Familiarity with grant and contract regulations and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft sponsored agreements for assigned departments.
• Serve as primary negotiator on high-risk educational and research agreements.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to align agreements with university goals.
• Design, maintain, and evolve standard agreement templates and playbooks.
• Advise faculty and staff during proposal development and submission.
• Travel to multiple campuses 1–2 times per week as hybrid role.

Skills

Analytical skills

Contract negotiation

Grant regulations

Interpersonal skills

Proposal review

Regulatory compliance

Research administration knowledge

Research administration systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred (Master’s/PhD/JD)

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

We are seeking a Contracts Associate who manages a portfolio of grant, contract, and institutional agreement activities within the research administration office's purview. The role leads the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of domestic and foreign agreements, ensuring favorable terms and conditions that support the university's research, educational, and training missions. Agreement types include, but are not limited to, sponsored research agreements, service agreements, material transfer agreements, non‑disclosure agreements, data use agreements, memorandum of understanding, collaboration agreements, student and scholar placements and exchanges, internships, visitor agreements, and degree and non‑degree educational programs.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft sponsored agreements for assigned departments.
• Serve as the primary negotiator on complex, high‑risk, educational and research agreements, including terms related to FERPA, data privacy, branding, intellectual property, confidentiality, export controls, research security, and liability.
• Collaborate proactively with academic leadership and business development to structure agreements that align with university goals while protecting the academic mission, school interests, and institutional risk posture.
• Design, maintain, and evolve standard agreement templates, fallback positions, and playbooks to improve cycle time, consistency, and negotiation outcomes.
• Work with compliance offices, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), and the Office of General Counsel to resolve conflicts regarding award terms and conditions.
• Serve as liaison to funding agencies for pre‑award problem resolution, agreement negotiations, and post‑award matters.
• Provide advice and counsel to faculty and staff during proposal development and submission.
• Manage a portion of pre‑award activity. Interpret, communicate and provide detailed advisory to faculty and staff regarding proposals, interpretation of rules, regulations and compliance issues, and assist in applying them to specific applications, awards, and issues. Review proposals for completeness and compliance.
• Serve as signature authority on proposals. Review contract or grant documents with faculty, staff and leadership to advise on proposal and award strategy.
• Ensure all approvals are obtained, draft agreements or other documentation, and negotiate and sign award documents.
• Advise faculty and staff regarding institutional compliance requirements.
• Work with collaborators, business partners, and sponsors for problem resolution in award matters.
• Take an active role in supporting the Office of Research Information Services in supporting users of research administration software.
• Continually expand knowledge of research compliance to advise and guide faculty and staff.
• Support effective, ongoing training programs for key positions and processes supporting research administration.
• Act as office liaison to ensure effective performance and integration of the office with university legal, compliance, information technology, JHTV, and post‑award budget offices.
• Contribute to an office work environment focused on providing excellent customer service and seeking continuous process improvement, including cross training in a variety of functional areas for the purpose of job enrichment and expanding knowledge of research administration.
• This is a hybrid position. The successful candidate will be required to travel to multiple campuses for meetings and other working engagements 1–2 times per week.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Three years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s, PhD or JD in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Additional years of demonstrated experience in drafting and negotiating documents in a sponsored project environment at a university, non‑profit, state or federal agency, legal private practice or similar environment.
• Understanding of research compliance regulations.
• Experience working with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and other federal agency terms and conditions.
• Experience with contract management systems.
• Educational and research contract negotiation, including intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, data rights, indemnification, and liability provisions.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with academic leadership and business development, legal counsel, faculty, and external collaborators.

Technical Skills & Expected Level Of Proficiency

• Analytical Skills - Intermediate
• Contract Negotiation - Intermediate
• Grant Database Management - Intermediate
• Grant Regulations - Intermediate
• Interpersonal Skills - Intermediate
• Proposal and Agreement Review - Intermediate
• Regulatory Compliance - Intermediate
• Research Administration Knowledge - Intermediate
• Research Administration Systems - Intermediate

Classified Title: Contracts Associate

Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE

Starting Salary Range: $73,300 - $128,300 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: 5 Day 37.5 Hours/Week

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Hybrid/Eastern High Campus

Department name: Research Administration Office of

Personnel area: University Administration