Job Description

Join one of the world's leading universities

We are looking for an experienced Legal Contracts Manager to join our Research and Innovation Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting world-leading research by negotiating and managing a diverse portfolio of research-related contracts.

The Role

As a Legal Contracts Manager, you will review, draft and negotiate a wide range of research and innovation agreements, ensuring contractual risks are appropriately managed while supporting the successful delivery of research projects.

You'll advise academics and departments on contractual obligations, legal and commercial risks, intellectual property, publication rights, confidentiality, liability, data protection and other key contractual matters.

This is a varied role where you'll work collaboratively across Research and Innovation Services, Business Development teams and academic departments to facilitate research partnerships and support continuous improvement of processes and best practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of research-related agreements, including:

Research funding agreements

Research collaboration agreements

Framework agreements

Studentship agreements

Confidentiality (NDA) agreements

Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)

Data sharing agreements

Equipment loan agreements

• Provide commercial and contractual advice to academics and professional services colleagues.
• Assess and manage contractual risks, ensuring commercially acceptable outcomes.
• Advise on intellectual property, licensing, publication rights, confidentiality, liability, indemnities and data protection.
• Work closely with colleagues responsible for intellectual property and commercialisation opportunities.
• Manage contract workflows using the University's research management system.
• Ensure contractual compliance with funding terms and relevant legislation.
• Build strong relationships with academic departments and deliver guidance and training where required.
• Experience identifying contractual and commercial risks and providing practical advice.

Your Experience:

• Degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant field: Law degree or graduate diploma of Law
• Experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating legal contracts with knowledge of key contracts topics (warranties, liabilities, governing law and jurisdiction etc)
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex contractual matters to non-specialists.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines.

Desirable

Experience within Higher Education, research funding, research support or a commercial research environment would be advantageous but is not essential.

Important Notice: Noble Recruiting Limited, based in Billericay, Essex, is an equal opportunities employer. With over 17 years of industry experience, we specialise in both permanent recruitment and the provision of temporary workers. By submitting your application, you consent to the processing of your personal data by Noble Recruiting Limited. For further details on how we manage applicant data, please refer to our Privacy Policy available on our website.

Application Status: Due to the high volume of applications received, we regret that if you do not hear from us within 14 days, your application has not been successful on this occasion.