Senior Contract Analyst

About the role

The Senior Contract Analyst on the Research Contracting team of the Grants & Contracts Administration unit is responsible for the intake, triage, review, negotiation, and administration of non-funded research agreements that do not involve intellectual property or licensing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake, triage, review, drafting, and negotiation of a high volume of non-funded research agreements in accordance with university policies and applicable regulations
• Interpret and evaluate contract terms; advise leadership and stakeholders on contractual risks, compliance requirements, and obligations
• Negotiate agreement terms with external entities to protect institutional interests and ensure regulatory and policy compliance
• Maintain accurate and timely contract records in institutional systems; prepare and distribute status and activity reports
• Develop, update, and maintain standard agreement templates; collaborate on process improvements and standard operating procedures
• Communicate effectively and build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate timely execution of agreements

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Higher Education or related field and five years of related professional work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Knowledge of contract law principles and contract negotiation practices
• Understanding of federal, state, and institutional regulations relevant to research agreements
• Ability to review, interpret, draft, and revise contractual language
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate effectively and resolve issues collaboratively
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with electronic document management and data systems
• Strong customer service orientation with commitment to responsive service
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across stakeholder groups

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal certification/degree
• Experience in higher education research contracting, or sponsored programs administration
• Familiarity with Texas state laws, university policies, and federal regulations
• Experience negotiating complex master or high-volume non-funded agreements, including date-related agreements
• Knowledge of compliance areas such as data privacy, confidentiality, and export control
• Experience demonstrating standard operating procedures and improving business processes
• Experience using contract lifecycle management or research administration systems