Strategic Contracts and Trusted Research Manager

This exciting new role within our Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD) has been created to assist with the development and delivery of institutional operating frameworks, to support the Trusted Research agenda, including Export Control and to provide support on strategic research contracts.

If successful, you will work closely with the Assistant Director, RSSD (Head of Contracts Policy & Compliance) to develop and deliver a suite of Standard Operating Procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, and adherence with funder terms and conditions as well as to support contracts negotiation. This will also involve the regular delivery of training and development sessions, with Professional Services and Academic staff. You will also be instrumental is assessing the risk profile of research interactions, have your own portfolio of strategic research contracts and will provide advice and support on complex contracts to colleagues from across the RSSD.

The role would be ideally suited to candidates with proven experience of working within a contractual/legal environment, who enjoy liaising with a wide range of staff and have an ability to de-mystify legal and/or regulatory matters.

The successful candidate will join a welcoming, inclusive team, and will have the opportunity to work on a range of interesting projects in a supportive environment. We operate a hybrid working environment, being on campus three days a week

Main Duties

• Support the Assistant Director, RSSD (Head of Contracts Policy & Compliance) and the RSSD College Hubs Leadership Teams to develop an internal framework for the negotiation of strategic contracts and the delivery of the Trusted Research agenda at the University;
• Receive and review queries relating to Export Control (research), support referrals to the ECJU and licence applications where required;
• Advise senior academic and Professional Services leaders on risks and potential mitigations/ways forward on matters relating to strategic research contracts, Export Control, and data security;
• Assist in the review of complex contractual risks and requirements in conjunction with RSSD colleagues and wider professional services teams.
• Implement, oversee, and regularly improve processes, associated guidance and best practice to ensure demonstrable compliance with:
  • Trusted Research Agenda including Due Diligence;
  • Export Control;
  • National Security and Investment Act;
  • Nagoya Protocol and ABS regulation;
  • Complex contract requirement.

Person Specification

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus significant relevant practical experience – where no equivalent qualification is held substantial practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required;
• Experience of providing senior specialist support to complex issues relating to legal compliance and regulatory functions including assessing risk, understanding and interpretation of complex contract terms and relationships, research culture and with an ability to disseminate that expertise to others to ensure understanding and compliance at all levels of the University;

Informal enquiries to be sent to Amelia Petch, email: a.petch@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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