Contracts Negotiator

Virginia Tourism Corporation; Blacksburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech seeks a Contracts Negotiator within the Office of Sponsored Programs to oversee comprehensive contract administration for sponsored research and related agreements with federal agencies, industry sponsors, and partners.

The role negotiates terms on legal, financial, IP, publication, confidentiality, data security, export control, and other research contracts, ensuring compliance and timely execution.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or significant professional experience in public/business administration, finance, law.
• Experience in financial, contract administration, procurement, or sponsored research operations.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex contracts, incl. IP, publication rights, confidentiality, data protection, and compliance.
• Experience managing contracts that include classified/FAR clauses.
• Independent initiative to interpret regulations and apply compliance frameworks in research or related fields.
• Experience building processes for efficient research administration and contract negotiation.
• U.S. citizenship with an active security clearance and ability to maintain it.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, review, and draft complex sponsored research contracts and amendments.
• Serve as liaison between sponsors, departments, PI's, and internal offices to facilitate timely agreement execution.
• Contribute to development of administrative procedures to ensure regulatory compliance in research contracts.
• Support negotiations involving IP, publication rights, confidentiality, and export controls.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Intellectual property rights

Publication rights

Confidentiality management

Data protection

Regulatory interpretation

Education

Advanced degree or significant experience in public/business administration, finance, law

Bachelor’s degree with significant professional experience

Job description

Job Description

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to InclusiveVT—serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. We seek candidates who adopt and practice the Principles of Community, which are fundamental to our on-going efforts to increase access and inclusion, and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members. Virginia Tech actively seeks a broad spectrum of candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world.

Contracts Negotiator serves in an important position in the Office of Sponsored Programs responsible for comprehensive contract administration, including the review, drafting, negotiation, and execution of sponsored research and related agreements with federal agencies, industry sponsors, nonprofit organizations, international entities, and other external partners. The position serves as one of the university's direct representatives for negotiating legal, financial, intellectual property, publication, confidentiality, data security, export control, and other research-related contract terms. Responsible for exercising sound judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills in the negotiation of contracts (including amendments, modifications, subcontracts, and master agreements as necessary), and for assisting in the development of administrative procedures to comply with regulations affecting governmental, international, and industry-sponsored research. Liaison between sponsors, departments, principal investigators, internal compliance offices, University Legal Counsel, LINK, and other sponsored programs teams as necessary to facilitate timely agreement execution and support strategic research partnerships. This position offers the opportunity to negotiate cutting-edge research partnerships involving emerging technologies, intellectual property, data sharing, and global research collaborations.

The position is located on the Blacksburg, Virginia campus and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with a weekly in-office presence. Given the sensitivity of the contracts under negotiation, this position is restricted to U.S. citizens with an active security clearance.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Public or Business Administration, finance, law, or related field(s), or Bachelor’s degree with significant professional experience.
• Demonstrated financial, contract administration, procurement, legal, sponsored research administration, or related experience supporting complex business operations.
• Ability to analyze, negotiate, and interpret complex contractual terms and conditions, including intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, liability allocation, data protection, and regulatory compliance provisions.
• Experience in the management and/or negotiation of complex contracts that include classified contracts and federal FAR clauses.
• Independent initiative to interpret and apply regulations, policies, contractual requirements, or compliance frameworks in a research, government, higher education, legal, contracting, or business environment.
• Experience building processes and strategies to facilitate efficient and effective research administration and/or contract negotiation.
• U.S. citizen with an active security clearance with the ability to maintain the clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and efficiency serving as the lead negotiator in the negotiation of complex contracts (such as those involving intellectual property, publication restrictions, export control, proprietary and confidential information) as well as familiarity with federal and non-federal regulations and guidelines.
• Experience negotiating research, technology, business, or commercial agreements in a corporate, government, nonprofit, academic, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, technology, defense, or research environment.
• Experience negotiating agreements with industry sponsors, multinational organizations, or foreign institutions.
• Knowledge of university administrative and/or accounting practices and procedures.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), or similar professional credential.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$95,000 - 115,000, commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

December 10, 2026

Additional Information

Due to the nature of contracts, this position will be responsible for reviewing, the position is restricted to US citizens with an active clearance.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Renee VanDyke at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.