Research Contracts Officer

COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements

Prior to May 1 2022 the University required all students faculty staff and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1 2022 but the University may reinstate them at any point.

About Queens University

Queens University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research faculty administration engineering & construction athletics & recreation power generation corporate shared services and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women racialized/visible minorities Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples persons with a disability persons who identify in the LGBTQ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

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Job Summary

A Brief Overview

As a member of the Grants and Contracts team in Research Services Vice Principal Research portfolio (the Portfolio) the Research Contracts Officer plays a critical role in supporting the research mission at Queens University by reviewing drafting and executing research contracts between Queens University and external partners/collaborators. With direction from and reporting to senior management in Research Services the incumbent will also hold responsibility for supporting and collaborating with in-house Legal Counsel.

Working in close collaboration with faculty members to deliver research contracts that support their research program goals the Research Contracts Officer ensures contract terms and conditions align with Queens policies legal requirements and funder guidelines. The Research Contracts Officer will lead the end-to-end process of timely contract development review and execution and will escalate high risk or complex agreements. The Research Contract Officer works in a team environment alongside members of the Grants and Contracts team and supports colleagues across the Portfolio in the shared mission to deliver high quality customer service.

The Research Contracts Officer is a key leader who provides expertise on triaging contractual issues and is a central resource that provides training and mentorship for other Research Services staff while keeping their own training up-to-date for emerging issues impacting the research enterprise.

This position drafts and reviews research agreements ensuring that contracts align with university policies ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations. This position liaises with affiliated hospital partners research centers institutes and groups and supports principal investigators and staff in understanding contractual terms university policies and risks. This position also identifies and contributes to internal processes and provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution.

Job Description

What you will do

• Drafts and reviews research agreements for the university escalating contractual clauses of concern complex or high risk files to Legal Counsel or senior leadership.


• Liaises with affiliated hospital partners research centers institutes and groups to ensure all contracts and processes are aligned with expectations compliance legal and funding term requirements.


• In collaboration with Legal Counsel advise principal investigators and staff on contractual terms university policies and risks while ensuring appropriate protections for intellectual property publication rights liability and confidentiality.


• Maintains accurate use of contract management systems while ensuring review turnaround signature deadlines and service delivery expectations are met.


• Reports on progress and proactively identifies potential risks to reporting timelines and deliverables.


• Ensures contracts align with universitys policies ethical standards and applicable laws and regulations formatting agreements for consistency clarity and accuracy.


• Identifies and contributes to internal processes regarding the development revision and implementation of standard operating procedures workflows and checklists to promote compliance and improve process quality.


• Provides strategic operational guidance and project management to ensure efficient contract execution including delegation of tasks as needed.


• Contributes to national working group initiatives promoting best practices in research contract review and administration.
• Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.

• Four-Year Bachelor Degree or addition requires trade certification qualification or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.

• More than 5 years of experience.
• Experience working in a general legal environment considered an asset


• Experience in contract management including one or a combination of drafting negotiating executing and/or amending contracts is considered an asset.


• Knowledge of relevant laws regulations policies standards and/or guidelines considered an asset.


• Experience in writing interviewing reviewing editing and/or proofreading internal and/or external communications and documents considered an asset (e.g. social media policy manuals newsletters handbooks legal documents forms/templates blogs training/reference materials technical documents webinars etc.).


• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  Job Knowledge and Requirements
  • Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or significant work experience.
  • Provide expert advice guidance and consultation on highly complex issues and/or where the outcome may be contentious.
  
  
  • Interaction with others requires highly developed interpersonal skills to effectively persuade negotiate counsel and/or consult.
    
  
  
  • Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
  • Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
  
  
  • Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
  
  
  • Lead team and project meetings and develop team/unit and departmental project plans.
  
  
  • Lead procedural or technological change within a unit or across broader university functions.
  • Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
  
  
  • Anticipate complex challenges to ensure activities are completed on time.
  
  
  • Effectively leverage relevant data as input to making decisions.
  
  
  • Appropriately assess risks before making a decision.
  • Comprehensive understanding of what sexual violence harassment and discrimination are and their varying effects on diverse members of the community.
  
  
  • Question and take appropriate steps to address attitudes macroaggressions and other behaviours which are discriminatory. Acknowledges and respects diverse cultural traditions abilities and beliefs.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queens is strongly committed to employment equity diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black racialized persons Indigenous people women persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at .