Jobs UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

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Manager, Service Contracts

Requisition Number:

56166

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

University Staff

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

08-May-2024

Date Posted:

23-Apr-2024
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Job Summary

The Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) welcomes applications for a Manager, Service Contracts! This role is responsible for protecting University interests relating to the business of University Service Activities while also managing individual contributors on the Service Contracts Team. Support of University Service Activities is performed throughout the life of the contract and often starts prior to the contract being awarded. 
This position will spend approximately 50% of their time in a Managerial role including supervising and managing personnel, attending Senior Leadership meetings, working on high level projects. The second 50% of time is to serve as an Authorized Organizational Representative facilitating the negotiation and execution of contract documents to support sponsored project proposals and awards, with a focus on Service Agreements, on behalf of the University, while protecting the legal and business interests of the University. The Manager, Service Contracts will represent the University and work directly with Sponsors: Federal and non-Federal, State agencies, businesses, foundations, and other universities; is responsible for a specific set of University clients including a variety of institutes, schools, and academic departments; works directly with PIs, DRAs, and students to ensure that contracts reflect the Sponsor and University requirements, and that they are processed and completed in a timely manner. This position will collaborate with campus departments and Sponsors to address issues and solve problems during proposal review and evaluation when requested and during the contract negotiation and execution process as well as throughout the contractual term.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

OCG works in partnership with CU Boulder's faculty and staff to prepare and submit proposals, including budgets, for external research funding. OCG has the authorization to negotiate and accept sponsored research agreements on behalf of the Regents, monitor and provide guidance throughout the life of an award, and ensure final project closeout.
OCG commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from candidates whose knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Point of contact and campus expert for Sponsored and Rate Based Service Agreements:
  • Understand OCG’s business processes and procedures for the preparation and/or review of contract documents and templates, both internal and external to the University, including consistency of provisions and terms within the contract documents (i.e., statement of work, contract, attachments), from proposal development through submission, award, contract negotiation, execution, management, and closeout.
  • Maintain basic knowledge of cost accounting standards and specific requirements for Federal awards.
  • Identify and address potential risk and/or contractual issues; e) an ability to guide PIs, DRAs, and other University personnel through business decisions related to contracts.
  • Set priorities, manage time effectively, and meet multiple timelines simultaneously.
  • Provide prompt and effective customer service to University partners.
  • Form and maintain strong working relationships with peers, supervisor, OCG Teams, and university partners including PIs, DRAs, Export Control Office, Information Technology Security Office, Project Management Office, Research Financial Services, Technology Transfer Office, and University Legal Counsel, as well as Sponsors, to support review and negotiation of contract terms and conditions, along with general contract administration. 
  • Represent the University to Sponsors and provide liaison with internal departments, (ex. Office of Research Integrity, Research Financial Services, Technology Transfer, Export Control, academic departments, centers, and institutes).
  • Develop and maintain proficiency with applicable electronic systems and related processes and requirements.
  • Continuously build and maintain a knowledge base of OCG business processes by attending training sessions, conferring with supervisor and peers, and reviewing written guidance documents.
  • Understand and ensure implementation of eligibility requirements as related to Sponsored and Rate Based Service Agreements.
  • Make service activity determinations, ensuring steps to complete set up of departments with Rate Based Service Activities are met.
Supervision and Management: 
  • Annual performance planning and evaluations for each direct report.
  • Routine mentoring to include correction when performance goals are not met as well as positive reinforcement and feedback for high achievement.
  • Providing approvals for planned and unplanned leave taken by each direct report.
  • Tracking workflow for each direct report and the comprehensive team.
  • Performing Quality Assurance audits on work products.
  • Provide both technical and developmental support.
  • Lead training of team members, members of the University community, and of other research administration and/or contract-related professional associations.
  • Assist Service Contract Team in processing, reviewing, and negotiating the most complex research agreements.
  • Lead identification and development of potential solutions to business processes and other gaps.
Authorized Organizational Representative: 
  • Prepare, redline, negotiate, and manage service-related contracts (with and without funds) between the University and Sponsors, including industry partners, Federal agencies, other Universities, foundations, and other nonprofits with legal entities and offices located domestically and abroad.
  • Manage all aspects of the University’s contracting process from contract terms and requirements review at proposal development and submission, as needed, through contract receipt, review, negotiation, and execution, lifecycle administration and management, and contract closeout.
  • Prepare initial and modification drafts of contract agreements ensuring full compliance with Federal and State legal and regulatory requirements, University policies and procedures, unique requirements based on the Sponsor, and the scope of work being performed.
  • Review and negotiate changes to each University or Sponsor drafted contract and its financial and in-kind commitments, ensuring that they are acceptable to the University, the PI, and the Sponsor.
  • Work with University partners and Sponsors, incorporating and reviewing requested contract changes.
  • Identify and understand terms and conditions options and carve out approaches to resolve negotiation challenges while limiting University and PI risk.
  • While performing review and negotiation, ensure that the final contract is clear, comprehensive, and that it includes provisions protecting the interests of the University.
Contract Support:
  • Serve as the main point of contact and campus expert for a wide range of business and contracting topics being requested from University partners and Sponsors as they relate to Service Activities.
  • Provide general contract administration support to both University partners and Sponsors on topics that may include explanation of contract interpretation, coordination, and communication to address funding issues, contract requirement issues and/or disputes, and contract modifications.
  • Following OCG processes, uniformly enter, maintain, and track the contract documents, requirements, communication, and financials in infoEd, the University’s electronic research administration system.
  • Advise PIs and DRAs on policies and procedures for obtaining approval from offices outside of OCG when contract requirements deviate from acceptable contract language.
  • Work with peers, supervisor, other OCG Teams, and other University partners to develop and continually refine standard contract language, ensuring consistency of contractual terms and conditions across contracts while maintaining the protection of University and PI interests.
Leadership and Projects:
  • Contribute experiences and knowledge at team meetings by developing and presenting on agenda items and engaging with fellow peers to increase team and personal knowledge base.
  • Develop and edit process documentation as it relates to the work of the Service Contracts Team. Provide support to team members in meeting this objective as needed.
  • Involvement and participation in University internal, external, and research administration trainings and/or contract-related professional associations.
  • Demonstrate leadership proficiency, providing coverage for OCG Senior Leadership as needed.
  • Distill and provide regulatory updates to OCG and the campus community.
  • Represent OCG in a wide variety of situations as needed.
  • Assist in training of more junior team members, members of the University community, and in other research administration and/or contract-related professional associations.
Signature authority: 
  • This role may possess signature authority for certain agreements. The following list of agreement actions serves only to illustrate the anticipated signature authority of this position. These signature authorities are performed on behalf of the University, while protecting the legal and business interests of the University, and under the supervision of the Assistant Director, Contracts. 
Various agreement actions including:
  • Quote Issuance
  • Pre-Award At-Risk SpeedType Setup
  • Initial Agreements including Scope and Rate-Based Service Agreements
  • Budget Revision Modifications
  • Funding Modifications
  • No Cost Extension Modifications
  • Administrative Modifications

What You Should Know

  • This position offers the option of either a hybrid format (virtual and in-person support) or fully remote work.

What We Can Offer

  • The salary for this position is $86,900 annually.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be driven. Be excited. Be Boulder.

What We Require

  • A Bachelor’s Degree and three years of translatable work experience (including any combination of contract formation, negotiation, administration and/or management, familiarity and work with research, research compliance, other highly regulated industries and/or Federal or other government policies). 
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

  • Ability to think critically and to determine and ask appropriate questions.
  • Exceptional attention to detail.
  • Basic understanding of research and/or service agreement administration or translatable business experience.
  • Ability to work independently much of the time, with supervision.
  • Excellent organization skills successfully managing multiple ongoing tasks.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with University partners and sponsors across multiple subject areas in a constantly evolving environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and meet timelines, prioritizing effectively.
  • Flexible and adaptable.
  • Willingness to learn, problem-solve, and research solutions when completing a wide variety of tasks.
  • Inquisitive and solutions-based approach with the ability to solve sophisticated problems.
  • Deep and broad knowledge as a subject matter expert in the field of Research Administration.
  • Current knowledge of national policies and standards.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, providing excellent customer service to all levels of constituents.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in the use of computer systems including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

What We Would Like You to Have

  • 7 years of relevant professional work experience including a combination of contract formation, negotiation, administration and/or management, familiarity and work with research, research compliance, and other highly regulated industries, and/or Federal or other government policies.
  • At least 2 years experience managing and supervising personnel.
  • Experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, managing, and supporting the administration of research and/or service contracts, confidentiality agreements, data transfer use agreements, material transfer agreements, and/or intellectual property agreements with Federal and Industry Sponsors.
  • Expert knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations ("FAR").
  • Involvement and participation in research administration and/or contract-related professional associations and/or Contract Research Administration.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials: 
  1. A current resume. 
  2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by May 8, 2024 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu