Senior Contract Specialist and Export Control Officer

Florida Institute of Technology; Melbourne (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL seeks a Senior Contract Specialist and Export Control Officer to manage a comprehensive pre-award portfolio and support research administration, contracting, and export controls.

You will assist faculty and staff with proposal development and submission, interpret sponsor guidelines, review budgets and forms, and negotiate terms to ensure compliance with university policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent knowledge
• 5–8 years of related experience
• Experience interpreting sponsor guidelines and reviewing proposals

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining a secure research environment by supporting CUI requirements and other federal regulations.
• Assist faculty and staff with proposal preparation, sponsor requirements, and award term negotiations.
• Assist with export control duties to ensure compliance with US export laws and monitor conflicts of interest.
• Collaborate with principal investigators and sponsors to ensure grant terms compliance and modifications.
• Develop, negotiate, and maintain various agreements including sponsored research and NDAs.

Skills

Export control

Contracting

Proposal development

Research security

Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Senior Contract Specialist and Export Control Officer (SCSECO) is responsible for managing a comprehensive pre-award portfolio and supporting the University's research administration, contracting, export control, and secure research compliance activities. This position serves as a key resource for faculty, staff, and administrators in the development and submission of externally funded proposals, as well as the review and negotiation of research-related agreements. The SCSECO assists principal investigators with all aspects of proposal development and submission, including interpretation of sponsor guidelines, proposal budget development and review, completion of sponsor-required forms, certifications and assurances, collection of subrecipient documentation, and review of proposal packages for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements. The position ensures the timely completion of internal approvals and assists with the submission of proposals to federal, state, industry, and foundation sponsors. The SCSECO reviews, negotiates, and facilitates the execution of research-related agreements, including sponsored research agreements, industry and government contracts, non-disclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding, material transfer agreements, teaming agreements, data use agreements, and other research-related documents. This role works closely with institutional leadership, legal counsel, and sponsoring organizations to clarify terms and conditions and ensure consistency with university policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The position researches and applies relevant laws, regulations, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies related to sponsored programs, contracting, export controls, and research security. Responsibilities include supporting the University's Export Control Program and assisting with compliance requirements related to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), research security, foreign influence and disclosure requirements, technology control plans, restricted research, and other federal regulations governing sensitive and secure research activities. The SCSECO provides guidance and training to faculty and staff regarding export control, research security, and sponsor compliance requirements and assists with institutional efforts to expand participation in secure and government-sponsored research programs. This is not a remote position.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining a secure research environment for FTRI by supporting compliance with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requirements, technology control plans, sponsor security requirements, and other federal regulations governing sensitive, restricted, and classified research.
• Assist faculty, administrators, & staff with proposal preparation & submission; review sponsor requirements; develop & negotiate award terms & conditions; secure required institutional approvals; coordinate with principal investigators, departments, & sponsors to ensure compliance and process award modifications, budget revisions, & NCEs.
• Assist with the export control duties to ensure its industry, research and scholarly activities are conducted in compliance with the US export control laws and regulations, and monitor the university's conflict of interest program.
• Work with the principal investigators, department administrators and the sponsors during the term of the award to ensure compliance with grant terms. Submit requests for modification, no-cost extensions, budget revisions and other activities.
• Develop, negotiate, and maintain various agreements, including but not limited to sponsored research agreements (e.g. master agreements, SBIRs/STTRs, and subawards), confidentiality, material transfer, collaboration, and teaming agreements.
• Research and apply rules, laws, and policies concerning higher education contracts. Assist with the development and implementation of Sponsored Program Policies and Procedures and research compliance policies and procedures (export controls, COI, RCR, etc.) that are consistent with Federal and State laws.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent knowledge obtained through a combination of education, training and experience)
• Minimum 5–8 years of experience required in area of expertise

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Export Compliance Professional (CECP), Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) (preferred for secure research environments), NCURA Research Security Certificate, NCURA Export Controls Certificate

Preferred Skills

• Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200, ITAR, EAR, OFAC sanctions regulations, deemed export requirements, foreign national participation reviews, restricted party screening, NPSM-33 requirements, CHIPS and Science Act research security provisions, foreign influence and foreign talent program regulations, research security training requirements, DoE, DoD, NSF, and NIH security mandates. CUI categorization and marking requirements, controlled environment requirements, data handling and safeguarding procedures, incident reporting requirements, Technology Control Plans (TCPs), establishing secure research environments, conducting facility and project security reviews.

Equal Opportunity Florida Institute of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics in its activities and programs. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Florida Tech does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Inquiries concerning the application of the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policy may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Director and Investigator at 150 West University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, or email [e-mail], or [phone]; or to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Americans with Disabilities Act Please notify us at least five days in advance if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed by calling the Office of Human Resources at 321-674-8100.

Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

The federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus safety information, and imposes certain basic requirements for handling incidents of sexual violence and emergency situations. Florida Tech’s 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Florida Tech; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The numbers provided include crime statistics that were reported to local law enforcement agencies, campus security and other Campus Security Authorities. The report also includes institutional policy statements regarding campus safety and security measures; descriptions of prevention and awareness programs; related university procedures and important guidance; and other essential safety information. You can obtain a printed copy of this report at the Department of Security Welcome Center located at 3126 Panther Place, during normal business hours, or by accessing the following web site 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts of all collegiate work must be sent directly from the attended institution to the Office of Human Resources prior to the first day of employment. All international degrees must have a course-by-course official evaluation and translation sent to the Human Resources Office directly from an evaluation company affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES).

We are an E-verify Employer

The premier private technological university in the Southeast, Florida Tech is a Tier 1 Best National University (U.S. News & World Report) and a Top Technical Institute (Fiske Guide to Colleges), as well as a Best Value University (Forbes) and a top 100 global university for graduate employability (GEURS). Florida Tech is known worldwide for its strengths in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, aviation, autism treatment, biomedical science, cybersecurity and machine‑learning, and marine science. It offers more than 150 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computing, aeronautics, business, psychology and the liberal arts. The university is located in the dynamic and innovative city of Melbourne in the heart of the “Space Coast,” where students have been watching rocket launches from campus since the dawn of the Space Race. Learn how Florida Tech is making history and shaping the future at floridatech.edu. Find stories about our relentless pursuit of greatness at floridatech.edu/news.