Contracts Officer REF: ALC773

Transcription

1 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SERVICES The Post Contracts Officer REF: ALC773 Research and Innovation Service is seeking applications from experienced and motivated candidates for the post of Contracts Officer. The duties of the post include supporting the Research Services team under the direction of the Contracts Managers in drafting and negotiating complex contracts for research or other activities, and where appropriate lead on various strands/pieces of work. Informal Discussions For an informal discussion please contact, Contracts Manager Tracy Moulton (Tel: or Job Description A job description is attached as Appendix A. The precise duties will be agreed in discussion with the Manager. Person Specification The person specification for this post is attached as Appendix B. GENERAL Salary Salary will be 32,548 to 38,833 per annum, on Grade 7 on the single salary spine. The normal expectation is that starting salary will be at the minimum of the advertised salary scale. Starting Date The post is available immediately on a full-time, indefinite basis.

2 Terms and Conditions of Appointment Full details of terms and conditions of employment for Administrative Library and Computing (ALC) Staff will be made available to the candidate to whom the appointment is offered. Relocation Expenses Relocation expenses are reimbursable under certain conditions. Residence The University is strongly committed to providing an excellent student experience and research environment, and it is expected that all staff will be available on campus to carry out their duties during the working week in support of these goals. Absences for significant periods are by agreement with the Head of School or Head of Division. Annual Leave Entitlement There is an annual holiday entitlement of six weeks plus statutory (8 days) and customary (6 days) holidays. Superannuation The post is superannuable under the Universities Superannuation Scheme. Proof of Qualifications The person specification for this post lists qualifications that are essential and you may hold some or all of these qualifications. Please note that if you are offered the appointment you may be asked to provide original certificates of these educational and professional qualifications. Please DO NOT provide these with your application. Entitlement to Work in the United Kingdom If you are shortlisted for interview you will be asked to bring to interview original documentary evidence of permission to work in the UK in line with a list of acceptable documents which we will provide to shortlisted candidates when invited for interview. Please DO NOT provide this with your application. This vacancy may be eligible for sponsorship under Tier 2 depending on a number of factors set out under UKVI immigration rules. Where appropriate, the University will apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship and non-eea workers who do not have residency status within the UK and will require entry clearance or further leave to remain should familiarise themselves with the Tier 2 (General) Guidance.

3 Occupational Health Assessment Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health Assessment to be carried out by the University s Occupational Health Service. APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS To apply for this vacancy, please follow the online instructions at: Your completed application and CV should be submitted by 7 June Please note that feedback will not normally be provided to those applicants who are not shortlisted for this post Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form Please note that the application form contains an Equal Opportunities section which must be completed. The Equal Opportunities information will not be made available to the selection panel and will not form any part of either the short-listing or decision making process. Referees In naming referees in your application, you are requested to give only those who can immediately be approached and one of these must be your current employer, or if not employed your most recent employer. Interviews It is anticipated that interviews and presentations will take place on 29 June 2018 and candidates who have not heard by this date should assume their application has been unsuccessful. Successful shortlisted candidates may be notified of their interview times by telephone and/or and it is therefore essential you include both of these in your application. Reasonable travel and incidental expenses incurred in attending the interview will be reimbursed. (Please ensure that you keep all receipts). Please note that if you are offered a post and decline the offer, travel and incidental expenses will not be reimbursed. Detailed information on the allowances will be provided on the expenses claim form which will be sent to you if you are invited to interview. This document is available in alternative formats e.g. large print, disc and on-line. If you need this document in an alternative format please contact us on , fax , or hr@uea.ac.uk

4 APPENDIX A JOB DESCRIPTION REF: ALC773 Role Title: Contracts Officer Grade: 7 School/Division: Reporting to: Research and Innovation Services (RIN) Contracts Manager, Research and Innovation Services Role Function/Purpose: The post holder will support the Research Services team under the direction of the Contracts Managers in drafting and negotiating complex contracts for research or other activities, and where appropriate lead on various strands/pieces of work. The post holder will be expected to work as part of a team to actively manage UEA s research contracts process to ensure the highest quality of support is provided. To facilitate these outcomes they will assist in the development and linkage of various University systems, processes and training programmes. This is a new role within Research and Innovation Services. The Service is a fully centralised and integrated function supporting all the externally funded research and innovation project activity at the University. This support extends throughout the projects lifecycle from applications for funding, contract negotiation and acceptance, post award matters and development of outcomes (impact, IP exploitation, further funding, etc). This new role will primarily support the existing Contracts Managers and Project Teams. Key Responsibilities Negotiating, drafting, signing and recording contractual agreements including collaboration, studentship, industrial, consortium and partnership contracts/agreements under the guidance of the Contracts Managers. Liaising with Project Officers, relevant RIN Managers and other members of the RIN team to ensure consistency and appropriateness of activities. Act as a point of contact for internal University contacts, external collaborators and funding organisations during contract development and negotiation. Assist the Contracts Managers in developing standard template contracts, working procedures and other documentation as appropriate, to improve the efficiency of contract negotiation and acceptance of awards, in collaboration with other Research and Innovation Managers. Where appropriate, interface with Innovation Service staff to ensure that: i) contracts reflect the University s policy with respect to background and foreground intellectual property, ii) where academic staff that already have exploitable intellectual property any subsequent contract is negotiated to protect that intellectual property, iii) relationships with companies are managed in a professional and appropriate manner and that contracts for commercial or collaborative research are managed consistently.

5 In undertaking the above, the aim is to: Assess the risk to the University in accepting contractual terms (liability, indemnity, warranties, termination, jurisdiction, profile of payments) and discussing with others as appropriate. Where the post holder judges that there is a high level of risk, to work with relevant RIN Project Officers, RIN managers, academic staff, Heads of Schools and other professionals within the University as appropriate to identify ways of mitigating that risk to an acceptable level before proceeding Assist the University to work closely with external partners to the mutual benefit of all parties while promoting economic and social benefit from the University s research Ensure the right to publish and maintain academic impartiality Understand the extent to which the project will generate exploitable intellectual property and protect the University s interests in any exploitation Ensure compliance with relevant internal processes, systems use and filing, and authorisation processes Ensure compliance with relevant legislation or codes of practice where appropriate, e.g. research ethical approval, research governance approval, clinical trials legislation Ensure compliance with the recovery of full economic costs and enhance industrial income through market based pricing of research contracts. Where relevant understand and advise on current VAT legislation in order to help reduce the risk of the University being exposed to retrospective VAT liabilities. Provide training, either one to one, or in group sessions, to administrative and academic staff on issues related to contracts or relevant post holder specific areas of Universitywide responsibilities e.g. material transfer of human tissue. Other office responsibilities that may arise from time-to-time. Key Contacts and Communication The post holder will communicate regularly (both formally and informally) with colleagues in RIN, UEA and commercial and public sector partner organisations. He or she will develop contractual relationships between academics at UEA and external organisations requiring effective negotiation skills, and be able to offer clients a consistent, high-quality and professional service. Complexity, Problem Solving and Decision Making The role involves the management of a number of strands of activity engaging with a wide range of internal and external clients. The post holder will have responsibility for noncomplex contracts, including the authority to sign contracts/agreements on behalf of the University (following completion of a successful probationary period), and be supported by more senior members of the Research and Innovation Team when working on large-scale or complex projects. Prioritisation, project management and team working are therefore key requirements for the role. May 2018

6 APPENDIX B PERSON SPECIFICATION REF: ALC773 Post title: Contracts Officer (Grade 7) Research and Innovation Services May 2018 Criteria Essential Desirable Education Experience Skills & Knowledge Education to degree level or demonstrable experience of having decision making responsibility in the areas of research and innovation Experience of working in a similar or transferable role Experience in identifying and developing policies and procedures (in support of research) Experience of initiating and fostering effective networks and relationships in order to forge agreements or bring benefit to an organisation Experience of working with a range of staff and as part of a team within an organisation Experience of negotiating and prioritising own workload Experience of supporting and where appropriate leading on negotiating and drafting contracts, often with multiple external agencies Experience of recommending actions to improve and develop services. Demonstrable communication skills in English language Evidence of effective negotiation, influencing and strong communication skills Competent in use of MS Office packages, corporate systems and databases Ability to generate accurate data/information from IT systems and work with others to develop improvements Knowledge of contractual terms (liability; indemnity; warranties; termination; jurisdiction etc.) within a research environment Undergraduate law degree or equivalent legal qualification A higher degree in a relevant subject Experience/knowledge of company formation Previous experience of working at the interface of academia and industry Experience/knowledge of winning venture capital funds Experience and understanding of the knowledge exchange environment. Evidence of providing advice to individuals and training to staff who do not directly report to post holder Able to demonstrate an in depth knowledge of a university wide area of responsibility e.g. ethics, research governance etc. Technical insight to understand expertise of staff in working in different disciplines Able to conduct due diligence checks and market research An understanding of the academic environment and research culture in

7 Able to draft, assess and negotiate legal agreements Excellent written and oral skills e.g. ability to produce grammatically accurate letters, reports etc. higher education or equivalent Personal Attributes Ability to work sensitively with different peoples needs A keen interest in issues affecting higher education Willingness to undertake continued professional development, apply and share skills learnt Willingness to be flexible in the nature of the support role by undertaking additional duties and/or on occasion working in different office locations