Grants Contracts Negotiator

Department: UW–Madison, College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Research Administration · Employment Type: Regular · Job Profile: Pre-Award Sponsored Programs, Grants & Contracts Manager

About the role

The Grants Contracts Negotiator will support proposal development and submission, budgeting, agreement negotiation, and award setup activities. This role would help ensure timely and compliant submissions, provide oversight of pre-award operations, and establish consistent workflows for tracking, monitoring, and managing proposal submissions to support the continued growth of the research portfolio.

Responsibilities

• May be responsible for new account setup
• Develops, implements, and evaluates pre-award research administration operational policies and procedures including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance
• Serves as a key resource to leadership and staff in the unit as well as a liaison to partners and stakeholders
• Works with researchers and prepares budgets, proposal submissions, agreements, or other agreements for sponsor consideration
• May review and negotiate agreements on behalf of the unit
• May supervise activities of research administration staff

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of experience in contract negotiation, research administration, sponsored programs, grants and contracts administration, or a related field
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering research-related agreements, including sponsored research agreements, subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and other research contracts
• Experience interpreting and applying contractual terms and conditions, sponsor requirements, federal regulations, and institutional policies
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing sponsored research and research agreements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), research security requirements, export controls, cybersecurity requirements, intellectual property, and data management and sharing requirements
• Experience supporting agreements funded by federal sponsors, including NSF, NIH, DOE, and DOD, and/or industry sponsors
• Demonstrated ability to analyze contractual risk and negotiate terms and conditions that align with institutional policies and objectives
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex contractual and regulatory requirements to a variety of stakeholders
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and customer service skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience negotiating and administering research-related agreements in a higher education, academic medical center, research institution, or similar environment
• Experience negotiating sponsored research agreements, industry-sponsored research agreements, subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, and other research-related contracts
• Experience working with federal sponsors, including NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and other federal agencies, as well as industry and nonprofit organizations
• Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating contractual, intellectual property, regulatory, and research compliance risks
• Experience collaborating with principal investigators, research administrators, legal counsel, technology transfer offices, and other administrative partners
• Experience using electronic research administration and contract management systems such as RAMP, Cayuse, Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, or similar systems
• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), or other relevant professional certification

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, research administration, public administration, law, life sciences, finance, or a related field.

Pay

The minimum salary is $74,154, depending on qualifications and experience. Salary will be assigned within the appropriate range, commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off
• Competitive insurances and savings accounts
• Retirement benefits

Contact: Meghan Cobb, cobb5@wisc.edu · Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1