Contract Administrator II

Colorado School of Mines•Colorado, CO

1d•$72,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Colorado School of Mines (Mines) in Golden, Colorado, is seeking a dedicated and skilled Contract Administrator to join our Office of Research Administration (ORA). This is currently a hybrid position, successful candidates must be able to commute to Golden, CO at least twice per week. The Contract Administrator will play a crucial role in drafting and negotiating sponsor agreements at this esteemed institution.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in business or related field. Work experience or associate’s degree which provides the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired for a BA may be substituted for the degree.
3 or more years in research administration.
Knowledge and experience with implementation of government regulations.
Demonstrated customer service skills.
Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
Ability to meet multiple deadlines.
Analyzation and problem-solving skills including the ability to use independent judgment.
Ability to use databases, presentation software, and enterprise financial systems.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
Skill in establishing and fostering a cooperative work environment.

Nice To Haves

Contract negotiation experience.
Knowledge of University environment and policies.

Responsibilities

Negotiate unacceptable terms with the research sponsor, suggesting or insisting on alternative language or deletion of terms and conditions.
Collect relevant information and ensure approval of all terms and conditions.
Perform cost negotiations with sponsors, including justification of costs and explanation of school policies and business practices.
Maintain awareness of contractual language regarding intellectual property rights, confidentiality, liability, indemnification, risk, publishing rights, invoice and payment terms, governing law, and confirmation of sponsor's corporate registration, and identify terms that are compliant with university policies and state law.
Successfully navigate diverse workload for differing sponsors and individually prioritize research agreements to meet deadlines set by funding agencies.
Draft or review research-related contracts and other agreements, funded and unfunded, such as research and research services and consulting, memoranda of understanding, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, master agreements, cooperative research and development agreements, data use, equipment loans, proprietary information, intergovernmental personnel assignments, and other agreements.
Review sponsored research agreements, both initial and modifications, received from external organizations to Mines.
Analyze the agreement to determine if the terms and conditions meet federal and state regulations, Mines policies, and project requirements.
Escalate non-standard contract terms, as needed, in accordance with approved escalation procedures.
Determine if changes to a research project require prior approval from the project’s sponsor and coordinate with the faculty member to create and submit the change request.
Submit and approve requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending based on sponsor requirements.
Perform initial reviews on deficit spending requests (currently, At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to Mines is acceptable under current policy and practices.
Work with applicable faculty members, ORA staff members, other departments and/or project sponsor, as applicable, to address concerns that arise during the performance of a research project.
Initiate, negotiate and manage research subcontracts including a review of the subcontractor’s proposal; determining which subcontract template is applicable, determining the applicable prime contract flow-down terms and conditions; negotiating the subcontract; maintaining subcontract documentation to meet federal and state audit requirements; and manage annual review of subrecipients.
Work with applicable departments to establish the payment mechanisms for subcontractor invoices.
Maintain communication with faculty to ensure all information for sponsored research agreement is outlined along with the process to negotiate the agreement.
Interpret and explain federal, state, and Mines regulations and policies to faculty and other Mines personnel to help them understand the contracting process and how the regulations apply to individual agreements.
Maintain ongoing contact with sponsoring agencies and other external personnel for the purpose of agreement negotiation and management, including outlining Mines policies, business practices, and other applicable regulations.
Meet with faculty to answer questions and/or assist with a sponsored research agreement.
Ensure accurate data is entered into the data repository, including contract and project information and notes.
Upload all fully executed agreements, modifications, and sponsor prior approvals into the system.
Provide formal and informal training to faculty members and departmental staff regarding school policy and procedures and sponsoring agency rules and regulations in relation to negotiating and accepting a sponsored research agreement.
Provide support for Contract Administrator unit, particularly regarding contract language and University initiatives.
Actively participate in office-wide process evaluation and reengineering efforts.
Critically evaluate process and procedures with a goal of efficiency and optimal resource utilization.
Make recommendations for improvements to management and lead improvement efforts if approved.

Benefits

Flexible health and dental care plans
Generous sick/vacation time
13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
Free RTD Ecopass
Discount programs through the State of Colorado
Free tickets for Mines Athletics home games
Access to the on-campus Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more)
Equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center
Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP)
On-campus daycare center (coming soon)