Contracting Officer I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Contracting Officer I is responsible for the review and negotiation of complex federal, industry contracts, grants, and agreements. This includes non-disclosure agreements, data use agreements, and other agreements related to research, training, and sponsored programs. The role involves representing the Division in sponsor relationships, interpreting complex contracts for compliance with University policies and governmental regulations, and evaluating various conditions of awards such as Conflict of Interest, Export Control, and Intellectual Property. The Officer will coordinate with various University experts and offices throughout the negotiation process and ensure awards reflect proper indirect cost rates, budget expectations, and timelines. The position also requires maintaining knowledge of electronic research administration systems, managing award files in UFIRST, and acting as a liaison between faculty, administrators, and agency officials. Additionally, the Officer will assist in interpreting and implementing new regulations, identifying and resolving operational problems, and identifying necessary improvements for efficient processing of contracts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in research administration.

Nice To Haves

J.D.
Experience negotiating complex agreements
Research administration experience with a focus on federal grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts and the related regulations.

Responsibilities

Review and negotiation of complex federal, industry contracts, grants, and agreements, non-disclosure agreements, data use agreements, and other agreements relating to research, training and other sponsored programs, including any modifications or amendments thereto.
Represents the Division in relationships with sponsors.
Reviews, evaluates and interprets complex contracts and agreements for compliance with UF Policies and Procedures, and applicable governmental regulations.
Evaluates, interprets, negotiates and applies federal and sponsor policy and regulations to determine acceptable conditions of awards including such areas as: Conflict of Interest, Export Control, Intellectual Property, Indemnity, Governing law, Cost Principles, data and information security requirements, Human use, Animal use and lab safety.
Coordinates with appropriate University experts and offices (i.e., the Office of Technology Licensing, Contracts and Grants Accounting, General Counsel, Research Security Integrity and Compliance, IRB, IACUC, Privacy Office) as needed throughout negotiations for review and feedback.
Reviews official budget and scope of work to ensure the award reflects the proper indirect cost rate, budget expectations and timelines.
Maintains knowledge with university and sponsor electronic research administration systems in order to ensure timely and compliant post award activities.
Maintains accurate and complete files and records for each award or agreement in the University of Florida Integrated Research Support Tool (UFIRST).
Ensures that proposals are in UFIRST as the basis for negotiating the award.
Ensures that agreements and modifications are entered in UFIRST accurately and completely.
Maintains positive and productive business relationships within the University and with its Sponsors.
Acts as a liaison between faculty, campus administrators, agency officials, as well as federal, state, and local offices to troubleshoot problems or issues that develop during the course of a project.
Participates in the shared responsibility for ensuring responsible stewardship for funds provided by external sponsors through responsible payment structures in agreements.
Maintain knowledge of federal, state and non-profit sponsor regulations, policies, requirements, procedures, and other areas pertinent to the scope of work assigned through self-study, research, participation in professional development, and attendance at webinars and conferences.
Assist in detecting areas where new regulations need to be interpreted, implemented and communicated into existing and, as warranted development of new, policy statements, procedural guidelines and associate business objects.
Responsible for identifying operational problems and deficiencies of any nature and when problems are discovered, resolve those within limits of authority or coordinate resolutions with the Associate Director of Sponsored Programs.
Identify necessary reports, upgrades, enhancements and innovations to ensure transparent and efficient processing of industrial and federal contracts.