Carnegie Mellon University

Contracts Officer

Carnegie Mellon University$70K — $95K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting, or equivalent experience.
  • Minimum 5 years of administrative experience, with 2+ years in research contracts negotiation preferred.
  • Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 10%) to support SEI's mission.
  • Subject to a background investigation.
  • Preferred education includes MBA, JD, or certification in contract management.

Responsibilities

  • Develop creative solutions to complex contract challenges and negotiate stakeholder agreements.
  • Draft contract language in accordance with university policies regarding intellectual property and licensing.
  • Negotiate and finalize agreements, documenting the entire negotiation lifecycle.
  • Investigate and prioritize contracts or inquiries, identifying relevant issues.
  • Collaborate with business managers, technical staff, and legal counsel to resolve contract-related challenges.
  • Conduct training sessions for stakeholders on contract requirements and processes.
  • Lead special projects as required.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive employee benefits package including health and wellness programs.
  • Opportunities for growth within a leading educational institution.
  • Supportive work environment fostering innovation and collaboration.
Full Job Description

Position Summary: Are you a creative, enthusiastic negotiator with a contracts background?  We are looking for an innovative problem-solver to join our contracts team as a Contracts Officer. Under the general direction of the Contracts Manager and the Director of Contracting, you will prepare and negotiate a wide variety of agreements and other documents including but not limited to, project work plan agreements, memorandums of understanding, collaboration agreements, consortium agreements, teaming agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, licenses, membership agreements, educational agreements, data use agreements, visitor agreements, and software license agreements, with industry, federal agencies, non-profits, foundations, and other universities.

Requirements:

-Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting or other related field or equivalent combination of training and experience. MBA or similar degree or JD Preferred.
- A minimum of five (5) years of administrative experience, with two plus (2+) years of experience preferred or relevant education dealing with research contracts negotiation and administration, government contracts, and/or intellectual property agreements preferred.
- Willingness to travel to various locations to support the SEI’s overall mission. This includes within the SEI and CMU community, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings on occasion.  Occasional travel (Less than 10%)
- You will be subject to a background investigation.

Duties:

-Developing creative solutions to complex contract problems and resolving issues by negotiating solutions that respect the policies and needs of each stakeholder, and reducing risk for the University.
-Drafting contract language related to university policies on intellectual property, no warranty, publication, indemnification, and licensing.
-Negotiating and closing agreements as assigned. Documenting and monitoring the contract negotiation lifecycle.
-Triaging agreements or inquiries to spot relevant issues.
-Collaborating with business managers and technical staff, other internal departments, the Office of General Counsel, and Risk Management, to coordinate and resolve issues.
-Providing informational training sessions on relevant topics and communicate requirements with stakeholders.
-Leading special projects, as requested.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

-Demonstrated experience in and working knowledge of Federal contracting terms and conditions, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, applicable agency supplement requirements, and government accounting practices for contract administration activities.
-Knowledge of federal acquisition regulations and in-depth understanding of legal and contractual terminology.
-Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills.
-Ability to rapidly review and analyze accurately, in detail, complex contract documents, written procedures and correspondence.
-Comprehensive computer skills including Microsoft Office suite.

Desired Experience: 

-Preferred Licenses: Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) Education in Contracts Management.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Legal

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

SalaryMore Information: 
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About Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university that was founded in 1900. The university is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is known for its programs in computer science, engineering, and the arts. Carnegie Mellon has a diverse student body and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields. The university has a strong focus on research and has partnerships with a number of companies and organizations. Carnegie Mellon is consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States.
Learn more about Carnegie Mellon University
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