Senior Director, Industry Contracts & Research Partnerships

University of Utah; Campus (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah seeks an Associate Director for Industry Contracts to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Industry Contracts Team within the Office of Sponsored Projects. This role directs negotiation, execution, and administration of a broad portfolio of industry-sponsored agreements and related transactions.

The position leads staff, sets priorities, develops processes, ensures policy compliance, and partners with General Counsel, Licensing, Research Security,

Qualifications

• J.D. preferred for contract authority and risk management.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required for senior leadership track.
• Extensive experience negotiating and administering complex sponsored research agreements.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily operations of the Industry Contracts Team and manage workload.
• Lead negotiation and execution of complex industry-sponsored agreements.
• Provide strategic guidance on legal, financial, regulatory, IP, publication, confidentiality, and export control issues.
• Establish policies, SOPs, and QA measures to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Escalate complex negotiations requiring executive judgment.
• Develop relationships with faculty, sponsors, and university offices to enable partnerships.
• Coordinate with General Counsel, Licensing, and other stakeholders on contract matters.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive process improvements.
• Communicate university policies and sponsor requirements to stakeholders.
• Deliver training and guidance for staff and faculty on contracting matters.
• Support expansion of sponsored research portfolio through industry engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Contract management

Strategic planning

Communication

Project management

Risk management

Staff development

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The University of Utah seeks an Associate Director for Industry Contracts to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Industry Contracts Team within the Office of Sponsored Projects. This role directs negotiation, execution, and administration of a broad portfolio of industry-sponsored agreements and related transactions.

The position leads staff, sets priorities, develops processes, ensures policy compliance, and partners with General Counsel, Licensing, Research Security,