Contracts Associate (Research Administration & Sponsored Programs)

About the role

We are seeking a Contracts Associate to manage a portfolio of grant, contract, and institutional agreement activities within the research administration office.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft sponsored agreements for assigned departments.
• Serve as the primary negotiator on complex, high-risk, educational and research agreements, including terms related to FERPA, data privacy, branding, intellectual property, confidentiality, export controls, research security, and liability.
• Collaborate proactively with academic leadership and business development to structure agreements that align with university goals while protecting the academic mission, school interests, and institutional risk posture.
• Design, maintain, and evolve standard agreement templates, fallback positions, and playbooks to improve cycle time, consistency, and negotiation outcomes.
• Work with compliance offices, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), and the Office of General Counsel to resolve conflicts regarding award terms and conditions.
• Serve as liaison to funding agencies for pre-award problem resolution, agreement negotiations, and post-award matters. Provide advice and counsel to faculty and staff during proposal development and submission. Manage a portion of pre-award activity.
• Interpret, communicate, and provide detailed advice to faculty and staff regarding proposals, interpretation of rules, regulations and compliance issues, and assist in applying them to specific applications, awards, and issues. Review proposals for completeness and compliance.
• Serve as signature authority on proposals. Review contract or grant documents with faculty, staff and leadership to advise on proposal and award strategy.
• Ensure all approvals are obtained, draft agreements or other documentation, and negotiate and sign award documents. Advise faculty and staff regarding institutional compliance requirements.
• Work with collaborators, business partners, and sponsors for problem resolution in award matters.
• Take active role in supporting the Office of Research Information Services in supporting users of research administration software.
• Continually expand knowledge of research compliance to advise and guide faculty and staff. Support effective, ongoing training programs for key positions and processes supporting research administration.
• Act as office liaison to ensure effective performance and integration of the office with university legal, compliance, information technology, JHTV, and post-award budget offices.
• Contribute to an office work environment focused on providing excellent customer service and seeking continuous process improvement, including cross training in a variety of functional areas for the purpose of job enrichment and expanding knowledge of research administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Three years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
• Master’s, PhD or JD in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Additional years of demonstrated experience in drafting and negotiating documents in a sponsored project environment at a university, non-profit, state or federal agency, legal private practice or similar environment.
• Understanding of research compliance regulations.
• Experience working with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and other federal agency terms and conditions.
• Experience with contract management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with academic leadership and business development, legal counsel, faculty, and external collaborators.