Contracts Officer

at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Job Opening Id: 49981

Department: Office Sponsored Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/9
 

Job Summary:

As a professional staff member of Northwestern Sponsored Research (SR), the Contracts Officer is integrally involved in the review and analysis of complex contractual issues including the preparation, drafting, review, redlining, and negotiation of sponsored research contracts and related agreements that require advanced knowledge of University, sponsor, and Federal regulations and policy. The Contracts Officer will manage a range of research agreements with federal, corporate and private industry, subcontracts, and associated agreements pertaining to nondisclosure, confidentiality, licensing, data use, and material transfer for all academic departments on Northwestern’s Chicago, Evanston and Doha, Qatar campuses.

The Contracts Officer interfaces with a number of individuals in SR, in other Northwestern offices and departments, and outside the university.  Incoming agreements and proposals may come from Senior Contract Officers in OSR, from the faculty members proposing the research, or from the entities seeking to sponsor the research.  The Contracts Officer works with these individuals and coordinates compliance with the University’s Innovations and New Ventures (INVO) office, Office of Corporate Relations, Office of General Counsel, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and others.  Reporting to the Assistant Director, Contracts & Negotiations, the Contracts Officer has autonomy and ownership over particular agreements, transactions, relationships, and issues.

Northwestern Sponsored Research is committed to being BRAVE (Battling Racism and Valuing Equity). Through deliberate words and actions, we endeavor to confirm to our colleagues that we see them and acknowledge their humanity and value. 

The Contracts Officer will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

Specific Responsibilities: