Contract Negotiator II

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

3d • 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 negotiated contracts comply with applicable laws, policies, and guidelines, escalating appropriate issues to management or legal counsel. It communicates with vendors, sponsors, and agency personnel about contract processing, clause effects, associated risks, and legal effects, and supports document management, tracking, storage, and reporting for contract files.

The position collaborates with the Contracts Office, Procurement, Administration, the Office of General Counsel, System Real Estate Office, Office of Technology Commercialization, and Sponsored Research Services. It gathers facts from stakeholders, explains and resolves issues that may increase agency risk or prevent agreements from being completed, and manages multiple files, negotiations, and competing priorities. Other duties may be assigned. The position is not authorized to provide legal services, which are the exclusive responsibility of the Office of General Counsel.

The role requires an on-site presence and is not fully remote. Flexible schedules and limited partially remote work may be available depending on the role and employee eligibility, under AgriLife procedures; remote work is limited to Texas-based locations. Employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of business-related contract experience.
• Ability to review, understand, and revise business agreements and research-related agreements.
• Ability to draft contracts and contract terms without forms or supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to negotiate contract terms to reach 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-oriented with excellent proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Ability to learn electronic document management systems.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

• J.D. degree, legal education, or legal experience.
• Experience related to contracting in a university or research environment.
• Experience in sponsored research contract negotiation or administration.
• 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 and MOUs, material transfers, interagency and intrasystem agreements, hotel and 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.
• Communicate with vendors, sponsors, and agency personnel about contract processing, contractual clauses, associated risks, and clause effects.
• Manage contract-file document tasks, including tracking, storing, and reporting.
• Analyze contractual language and draft alternative language or contracts without forms or supervision.
• Identify contractual risks and propose potential solutions.
• Gather factual information from stakeholders for contract drafting, editing, and negotiation.
• Guide investigators, administration, and management in resolving issues that prevent agreement completion or increase agency risk.
• Manage multiple files and negotiations, 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 as appropriate.
• 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.
• 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