We are looking for an experienced contracts professional to be an integral member of the Contracts Team, which provides a professional, effective and efficient service for King’s researchers by drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on contracts from private and public sector organisations for King’s research and consultancy activity.

 

The Senior Research Contracts Associate will input into the Contracts Team’s contractual and costing processes. The candidate should have experience of negotiation with different stakeholders and preferably be familiar with issues relating to legal. Experience of costing and pricing project budgets is desirable but not essential.

Applicants also require excellent organisational and communication and literacy skills, proven decision-making ability and be able to work well under pressure, both individually and as part of a team.

The Senior Research Contracts Associate will be responsible for specific departments within the Contracts Team remit.

 

The Senior Research Contracts Associate will secure optimum terms in research or research related agreements (including publication and intellectual property rights, institutional risk and liability exposure, strategic value general provisions, apportionment of risk and reward, reputational management), referring to the Contract Team Leads and Director of Research & Consultancy Agreements where appropriate.  This will involve collaboration with partner organisations as well as service providers. To ensure the contracts they negotiate comply with King’s regulations and policies and, where relevant, those of external funding organisations and NHS collaborators.

 

The post holder will draft legal agreements for projects and provide a level of expertise in contractual negotiation. To recommend the acceptability of contracts in their area for signature in conjunction with the Contract Team Leads and the Director of Research & Consultancy Agreements.

 

The post holder will have the delegated authority and responsibility within certain limitations to negotiate contractual conditions, draft agreements and submit official costs.

 

To foster a strong working relationship with the academic community, the Senior Research Contracts Associate will disseminate information on King’s policy and procedures and explain them as appropriate to academic and research support staff, including participating in seminars as necessary and hold meetings with academic and departmental staff, senior managers and/or external organisations as necessary to develop relationships and negotiate terms for activity.  To give academic staff accurate, clear advice on legal / contractual and policy matters – working in conjunction with the Contract Team Leads, Director of Research & Consultancy Agreements and senior managers and deliver training where required.

 

The Senior Research Contracts Associate will be personally responsible for their own work and ensure that proper records of their activity are maintained and contribute to the preparation of Divisional and Directorate reports and analyses of activity. They will prepare detailed information and instructions as may be necessary for the financial administration of contracts they negotiate so they can be administered and managed properly and efficiently by the Award Management Team

 

These are full time (35 Hours per week) roles, offered on fixed term contracts to cover maternity leave within the team until January 2027.