• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $125,000- $135,000

Position Summary

The Senior Contract Negotiations Officer reports directly to the Associate Director of Contract Negotiations within Columbia University Morningside Campus Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), with a dotted line reporting relationship to the Office of Research Initiatives and Development (ORID) to prioritize and develop complex research agreements. The Senior Contracts Negotiations Officer plays a critical role in the review, negotiation, and execution of research-related agreements, with a focus on industry and private sponsors. The candidate requires a strong legal background, excellent negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of compliance and institutional requirements in an academic setting.

Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) serves as a central hub of support for Columbia University’s research community, offering expert guidance and responsible stewardship to investigators and administrators across all campuses. The Office of Research Initiatives and Development (ORID) works across disciplines, schools, and campuses to foster interdisciplinary research collaboration.  ORID supports efforts to secure external funding for such collaborations and administers a seed fund for early-stage research that falls outside the traditional boundaries. 

Our mission is to deliver exceptional administrative support that empowers researchers in the pursuit of groundbreaking scholarship while ensuring full compliance with federal regulations, University policies, and sponsor requirements. SPA and ORID operate under delegated authority from the University Board of Trustees as part of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex collaboration agreements that involve multidisciplinary departments and schools to support the research mission.

• Independently negotiate and draft agreements with industry and private sponsors, including:
• Sponsored research agreements
• Collaboration agreements
• complex research agreements
• Clinical research agreements
• Confidential disclosure agreements (CDAs)
• Material transfer agreements (MTAs)
• Data use agreements (DUAs)
• Service agreements
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership within SPA and EVPR, Office of the General Counsel, Columbia Technology Ventures, Clinical Trials Office, Office of Research Initiatives and Development, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, and other internal stakeholders to align agreements with institutional policy and legal standards.
• Ensure timely and accurate contract negotiations, with sensitivity to submission deadlines and time-critical requests.
• Coordinate with key compliance offices, including the IRB, IACUC, and Office of Research Compliance and Training, to ensure adherence to applicable regulations.
• Assist in policy development and implementation to support best practices in research contract negotiations.
• Review contract language for consistency with applicable federal and state laws, including FDA, HHS, CMS regulations, and institutional requirements.
• Maintain digital records of agreements, amendments, and negotiation notes for tracking and audit purposes.
• Act as a knowledgeable resource to investigators and departmental staff regarding industry collaboration policies, federal regulations, and university procedures

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• At least five to seven years of relevant contract negotiation experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience negotiating research-related contracts within an academic medical center, university, or industry-sponsored setting.
• Deep knowledge of federal and local research regulations.
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects with conflicting deadline pressures and competing priorities;
• Work independently; superior verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, city government, and private regulations with respect to non-profit organizations and sponsored research funding;
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with electronic contract management platforms.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.