Research Contract Specialist

UMass Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Amherst is seeking a Research Contract Specialist (Non-Funded Agreements) to draft, review, and negotiate nonfunded research contracts with external partners. You will guide faculty on contractual issues, ensure alignment with university policies, and support efficient research operations.

The role requires strong analytical, negotiation, and risk assessment skills, plus experience with NDAs, MTAs, and DUAs. Hybrid or remote work options and a focus on compliance are emphasized.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3+ years in research administration, contract administration, or legal support.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating NDAs, MTAs, DUAs, or similar agreements.
• Knowledge of contract principles and federal regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance).
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to interpret policies and communicate complex terms.
• Experience using contract tracking systems.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, redline, and negotiate non-funded research agreements with external entities.
• Develop and maintain a clause library and standard templates.
• Advise on IP, data rights, confidentiality, publication, and ownership.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and university policies; perform risk assessments.
• Serve as primary contact for PIs and administrators on contractual requirements.
• Track agreements through electronic research administration systems.
• Coordinate with offices to secure approvals and compliance checks.

Skills

Analytical skills

Risk assessment

Policy interpretation

Contract tracking systems

Communication with non-legal audiences

Education

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree in Business/ Public Administration/ Legal Studies or related field

Tools

Kuali

Job description

Title: Research Contract Specialist

Executive Area: Research and Engagement

College/School/MBU: Research and Engagement

Department: VC Research & Engagement

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid or Remote

Job Summary

The Research Contract Specialist (Non-Funded Agreements) reviews, drafts, and negotiates nonfunded research agreements that support collaborative work with external partners. The role ensures agreements align with University policies, regulatory requirements, and riskmanagement standards, and provides guidance to faculty and staff on contractual and compliance considerations. The Specialist contributes to efficient research operations by supporting consistent practices in agreement review and stewardship.

Essential Functions

• Drafts, reviews, redlines, and independently negotiates a broad range of non-funded research-related agreements with external entities, including industry partners, academic institutions, foundations, and non-profits, such as Non-Disclosure, Material Transfer, Data Use and Collaboration agreements, memorandums of understanding, and other research agreements, assessing terms for acceptability and recommending revisions or alternative language as needed.
• Develops, uses, and maintains a clause library consisting of language of approved exceptions, explanations, and policies. Maintains and improves standard agreement templates, ensuring they remain aligned with evolving University policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identifies and addresses intellectual property considerations embedded in MTAs, DUAs, NDAs, and other research agreements, ensuring appropriate rights and protections for University researchers.
• Uses knowledge of intellectual property rights to advise researchers and administrators on implications of agreements language for data rights, confidentiality, publication, and ownership.
• Maintains a high level of familiarity with university research-relevant laws and regulations. Ensures all agreements comply with federal and state laws, regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance), and University policies and procedures. Performs risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential legal, financial, regulatory, and operational risks to the University and its Principal Investigators (PIs) and communicate those to research administration leadership.
• Serves as a primary contact for PIs and department/college administrators, providing guidance on contractual requirements for all non-funded agreements, including interpreting terms and conditions as well as advising on operational implications, and internal University policies.
• Utilizes electronic research administration systems to track, document, and manage the lifecycle of agreements from initial review to execution and closeout, supporting accurate recordkeeping for audit and compliance purposes.
• Coordinates with other university offices, to ensure all necessary approvals and compliance checks are completed and incorporates outcomes of specialized compliance reviews into final agreement terms.

Other Functions: Performs related duties as assigned to support departmental, college, and university objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Over three (3) years of relevant experience in Research administration, contract administration, or legal support.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating NDAs, MTAs, DUAs, or similar agreements.
• Working knowledge of contract principles (liability, indemnification, IP, confidentiality) and federal regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance).
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret policies and apply them to agreements and communicate complex terms to non-legal audiences.
• Experience using administrative or contract tracking systems.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Administration, Legal Studies, or related field.
• 5-7+ years of progressive contract/research administration experience.
• Experience in higher education research environment.
• Direct experience with intellectual property provisions and data privacy regulations (HIPAA, FERPA, GDPR exposure).
• Experience with agreements requiring secure computing/CUI.
• Experience developing contract templates or clause libraries.
• Familiarity with electronic research administration systems (Kuali).
• Experience negotiating with industry sponsors or complex external partners.
• Prior experience providing training or guidance to faculty/staff.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm; 37.5 hours per week.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee's work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 26