Contract Negotiator II

Texas A&M • College Station, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Contract Negotiator II independently drafts, reviews, edits, and negotiates non-sponsored agreements and sponsored research agreements for Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The role ensures contracts comply with applicable laws, policies, and guidelines; identifies and escalates appropriate issues to management or legal counsel; communicates with vendors, sponsors, and agency personnel about contract processing and clause implications; and supports contract-file management, tracking, storage, and reporting. The position collaborates with the Contracts Office, Procurement, Administration, Office of General Counsel, System Real Estate Office, Office of Technology Commercialization, and Sponsored Research Services. It requires managing concurrent files and negotiations, prioritizing a high-volume workload, and guiding stakeholders through issues that increase risk or prevent agreement completion. The position requires an on-site presence and is not fully remote. Limited partially remote work and flexible schedules may be available subject to role, eligibility, and AgriLife procedures; remote work is limited to Texas-based locations. The position is prohibited from providing legal services reserved for the Office of General Counsel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of business-related contract experience.
• Ability to review, understand, and revise business and research-related agreements.
• Ability to draft contracts and contract terms without forms or supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate contract terms toward a compromise.
• Strong customer-service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and a deadline-intensive, high-volume workload.
• Excellent organizational, time-management, and analytical skills.
• Detail orientation and excellent proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Ability to learn electronic document-management systems.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• J.D. degree, legal education, or legal experience.
• Experience contracting in a university or research environment.
• Experience negotiating or administering sponsored research contracts.
• Knowledge of contract language and terms.
• Knowledge and experience with sponsored research contracts.
• Knowledge and experience with university or state agency contracts.
• Knowledge and experience in business contracting and administration.
• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Access, Adobe Acrobat, Laserfiche, and Maestro software.

Responsibilities

• Independently draft, review, edit, and negotiate non-sponsored agreements, including confidentiality agreements, MOAs/MOUs, material transfers, interagency and intrasystem agreements, hotel or facility rentals, service contracts, and purchasing terms and conditions.
• Independently draft, review, edit, and negotiate sponsored research agreements.
• Ensure negotiated contracts comply with laws, policies, and guidelines, escalating appropriate issues to management or legal counsel.
• Correspond with vendors, sponsors, and agency personnel about contract processing, including explaining contract-clause effects, associated risks, and legal effects.
• Perform contract-file administrative tasks, including document management, tracking, storage, and reporting.
• Analyze contractual language and draft alternatives or contract terms without supervision or forms as needed.
• Identify contractual risks and suggest potential solutions.
• Gather relevant stakeholder facts for contract drafting, editing, or negotiation and guide investigators, administration, or management on resolving issues that increase agency risk or prevent completion of agreements.
• Manage multiple files and negotiations concurrently, multitask, and prioritize assignments.
• Collaborate with the Contracts Office, Procurement, Administration, Office of General Counsel, System Real Estate Office, Office of Technology Commercialization, and Sponsored Research Services.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, with AgriLife contributions to premiums.
• 12–15 annual paid holidays.
• Up to 8 hours per month of sick leave.
• At least 8 hours per month of vacation leave.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative.
• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level