Senior Contracts Specialist

Job Responsibilities:

• Ensure timely processing of contacts and other award agreement for proper signature as well as other aspects of agreement execution (e.g. coordinating with sponsoring agencies, collaborating institutions, PIs and departments to obtain the appropriate final documents, coordinate with investigators to make sure all appropriate signatures are obtained, and compile the agreement and all other contractual documentation for signature
• Customizes and/or composes letters on own initiative or in response to request for information; actively educates departments and PIs as appropriate to ensure expeditious use of sponsored awards administration systems
• With other OSR and sponsored awards administration leadership, assists with prioritizing sponsored awards administration activities (e.g. respond to inquiries using comprehensive knowledge of sponsored awards administration activities, policies, and procedures)
• Assists supervisor in development of new forms, guidelines, manuals, and directions in connection with sponsored awards administration contracting process; suggests change to sponsored awards administration processes to increase efficiency or clarity or otherwise improve them
• Participates in activities related to systems improvement within sponsored awards administration.
• Develops courses and provides training sessions for the NYULH research community that covers basic information about the world of sponsored awards administration and related research contracting including, but not limited to, preparing budgets, developing proposals, and responding to compliance requests.
• Develops training program and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for new and current sponsored awards staff that provide uniform instructions enabling consistent information being provided to the NYULH research community.
• Provides instructor lead training sessions and develops training materials relating to sponsored programs and related research contracting to faculty and staff.
• Works with OSR and sponsored programs leadership to identify and implement opportunities for training and educational improvements (procedures, policies, consistent approaches, new communication vehicles).
• Designs, develops and implements educational and training programs for research faculty and staff; and sponsored programs administration staff.
• Updates other departments and stakeholders of statuses and maintains such information with an accessible system for all contracts, grant agreements and other agreements in accordance with sponsored awards administration procedures; manages delays by coordinating with departments and PI as appropriate
• Provides legal review of, negotiates and processes industry-sponsored clinical trial agreements, foundation and government grants and contracts, peer institution memorandum and related agreements (e.g., marking up agreements based on templates, guidelines and training; and seeking advice and direction form sponsored awards administration supervisor, Office of Legal Counsel, and Insurance for situations independently identifies as outside scope of training or presenting risk to the institution) within prescribed timelines.
• Acts as principal liaison on agreement review, negotiation and processing between sponsored awards administration and sponsoring agencies (including government, foundation and industry sponsors) collaborating institutions, the research community, OSR and corporate partners and individuals involved in sponsored awards administration contract review and negotiation, all in accordance with sponsored awards administration guidelines and supervisor instruction, incorporates and reconciles conflicting advice, proposes appropriate solution and harmonizes processed between conflicting departments when necessary
• Drafts agreements leveraging existing templates based on circumstances of specific matters, using a familiarity with the templates, interacting with department, knowledge of existing laws and regulations to ensure that the NYULH and the PIs interests are properly protected.
• Crafts persuasive arguments to influence external sponsors and collaborating institutions during negotiations
• Identifies and implements useful precedents for the agreement based on patterns established by previously reviewed contracts
• Resolves contract and contract-related issues (such as invoicing issues, study start-up delays, requests related to audits)
• Obtains all required internal supporting documents for each agreement, including insurance, indemnification, compliance and internal approval documentation as required per the agreement and internal policy. Using knowledge of various processes of other departments, sponsored awards administration guidelines, advise sough from supervisors, liaises with principal Investigators, research community, OSR units and corporate partners

Additional Position Specific Responsibilities:

Participates in activities related to systems improvement within sponsored awards administration. Performs general word processing duties utilizing intermediate to advanced-level functions. Maintains current knowledge of all relevant procedures, forms, guidelines, manuals, directives, laws, etc., that apply to the contracting process at NYULH. Modifies and/or creates databases and complex spreadsheets.