Research Contract Officer

The University of Texas at Arlington; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The University of Texas at Arlington seeks a Research Contract Officer to assist the Program Director in managing, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating the University's portfolio of academic, industrial, and government research contracts. The role protects intellectual property and ensures sponsor compliance.

You will prepare redlines, summaries, and packets for review, maintain contract templates and records, and collaborate with stakeholders to align terms with scopes of work and budgets.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the State of Texas or ability to obtain a Texas license within twelve (12) months of employment.
• One (1) year of legal experience.

Responsibilities

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates University research agreements including Sponsored Research Agreements, NDAs, MTAs, Data Use Agreements, and other contract documents.
• Evaluates terms for alignment with UT System rules, federal requirements, IP, publication rights, and liability exposure in public higher education contracts.
• Coordinates with Pre-Award, the Office of Grant and Contract Services, UTA/System legal resources, PIs, and departmental admins to align terms with scopes of work, budgets, and compliance.
• Prepares redlines, negotiation summaries, background briefs, compliance checklists, and signature packets for review by the Program Director and authorized institutional signatories.
• Maintains template agreements, workflow documentation, contract records, status tracking, and auditable electronic files in support of efficient agreement management and reporting.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Purpose of Position

The Research Contract Officer assists the Program Director in managing, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating the University's portfolio of academic, industrial, and government research contracts. The position supports the protection of University intellectual property, compliance with applicable institutional and sponsor requirements, and the timely execution of research agreements.

Essential Functions

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates customary and nonstandard University research agreements, including Sponsored Research Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, Data Use Agreements, equipment loans, and third-party commercial contract documents.


• Evaluates agreement terms for alignment with UTA policies, University of Texas System rules, federal requirements, controlled information obligations, export control considerations, intellectual property rights, publication rights, and liability exposure in public higher education contracts.


• Coordinates with Pre-Award, the Office of Grant and Contract Services, UTA/System legal resources, Principal Investigators, and departmental administrators to align contract terms with scopes of work, budgets, compliance requirements, and institutional signature authority.


• Prepares redlines, negotiation summaries, background briefs, compliance checklists, and signature packets for review by the Program Director and authorized institutional signatories.


• Maintains template agreements, workflow documentation, contract records, status tracking, and auditable electronic files in support of efficient agreement management and institutional reporting.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.


• Active license to practice law in the State of Texas or the ability to obtain a Texas license within twelve (12) months of employment.


• One (1) year of legal experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with higher education law, research administration, technology transfer, federal grants or contracts, state procurement, public-sector contracting, or sponsored research agreements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of contract drafting, negotiation, and legal issue spotting in a public university or research environment.


• Understanding of intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, data use, export controls, controlled information, and liability concepts.


• Ability to manage multiple active workflows, proofread complex documents, and communicate clearly with faculty, administrators, sponsors, and legal stakeholders.


• Ability to prepare concise summaries, redlines, briefing materials, and escalation notes for institutional decision-makers.

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday; 8:00am through 5:00pm

Benefits Information

Position is benefit eligible: Yes

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees at the University.

https://www.uta.edu/hr/employee-benefits