Announcement

Details

Open Date
08/19/2026

Requisition Number
PRN45961B

Job Title
Legal Counsel Management

Working Title
Associate Director - Industry Contracts

Career Progression Track
M00

Track Level
M5 - Associate Director

FLSA Code
Administrative

Patient Sensitive Job Code?
No

Standard Hours per Week
40

Full Time or Part Time?
Full Time

Shift
Day

Work Schedule Summary

Days

VP Area
President

Department
00644 - Office of Sponsored Projects

Location
Campus

City
Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment
External Posting

Pay Rate Range
$125,000 - $145,000

Close Date
11/19/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Associate Director for Industry Contracts provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University's Industry Contracts Team within the Office of Sponsored Projects. This position directs the negotiation, execution, and administration of a broad portfolio of industry-sponsored research agreements, including research agreements, clinical research agreements, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, subcontracts, service agreements, and related sponsored project transactions.

The Associate Director supervises professional staff responsible for negotiating sponsored research agreements, establishes operational priorities and performance expectations, develops and implements business processes, and ensures consistent application of University policies and applicable sponsor requirements. The position works collaboratively with faculty, colleges, University leadership, the Office of General Counsel, Technology Licensing Office, Research Security Office, Risk Management, and other administrative partners to facilitate timely execution of agreements while appropriately managing institutional risk.

This position serves as a senior advisor on industry-sponsored research contracting, develops operational strategies to improve efficiency and customer service, resolves complex contractual and legal issues, and supports institutional initiatives to expand industry-sponsored research and strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the daily operations of the Industry Contracts Team, including assigning workload, establishing priorities, managing performance, and supporting the professional development of staff.
• Lead the negotiation, review, interpretation, and execution of complex industry-sponsored research agreements and related contractual instruments.
• Provide strategic guidance to contract officers regarding legal, financial, regulatory, intellectual property, publication, confidentiality, indemnification, insurance, data security, export control, and other contractual issues.
• Establish operational goals, policies, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance measures to promote consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex contract negotiations requiring executive judgment or coordination across multiple University offices.
• Develop collaborative relationships with faculty, department administrators, college leadership, external sponsors, and University administrative offices to facilitate successful research partnerships.
• Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel, Technology Licensing Office, Research Security Office, Risk Management, Purchasing, and other institutional stakeholders on complex contractual matters.
• Monitor workload, operational metrics, contract turnaround times, customer service performance, and staffing needs; recommend and implement process improvements to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Interpret and communicate University policies, federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and emerging legal and regulatory developments affecting sponsored research contracting.
• Develop and deliver training, guidance documents, and educational resources for faculty, research administrators, and contract professionals.
• Support strategic initiatives to expand and diversify the University's sponsored research portfolio through effective industry engagement and operational excellence.
• Represent the Office of Sponsored Projects on institutional committees, cross-functional workgroups, and external professional organizations.
• Participate in organizational planning, budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation for the Industry Contracts program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Associate Director: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering complex sponsored research agreements, including industry-sponsored research contracts, clinical trial agreements, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and intellectual property-related agreements, ideally within institutions of higher education.
• Significant leadership experience supervising professional staff, managing operational performance, and fostering employee development in a collaborative, customer-focused environment.
• Extensive knowledge of sponsored research administration within institutions of higher education, including federal regulations, sponsor requirements, University policies, and research compliance considerations.
• Demonstrated understanding of intellectual property principles, technology commercialization, publication rights, data rights, research security, export control, and related legal issues affecting academic research.
• Proven ability to balance institutional risk management with strategic business objectives while facilitating productive research partnerships.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, implementing process improvements, and improving operational efficiency through data-informed decision making.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively advise faculty, executive leadership, sponsors, legal counsel, and research administration professionals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently evaluate complex contractual, legal, and operational issues and develop practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries and work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience establishing operational metrics, managing performance, and leading continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service while maintaining high standards of compliance, professionalism, and operational excellence.

Type
Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.